| "Are you looking for peace and harmony on the | | | | does there need to be a garden of serenity on the |
| Internet? Enter Seiwa-en where you can experience | | | | Internet? Do we lack our own “real” |
| such quietude. This garden is a project of the Missouri | | | | gardens? Do we spend so much time in virtual reality |
| Botanical Gardens, designed by 'Koichi Kawana, M.F.A, | | | | that an Internet garden is preferable to one in the |
| Ph.D., a native of Japan and Principal Architecture | | | | backyard? |
| Associate and lecturer in Japanese art, architecture | | | | Zen gardens have a serenity that plenty of regular |
| and landscape design at the University of California, | | | | earth gardens do not. They borrow scenery, they |
| Los Angeles. Kawana Sensei not only designed | | | | show us imperfections, they exemplify nature. |
| Seiwa-en but also supervised its construction and | | | | What I began to wonder was if we need, in addition, |
| development until his death in 1990. Here's your | | | | to summon, build, create, maintain and nourish a place |
| opportunity to experience this 'wet strolling garden' in | | | | of pure, clear harmony and peace within ourselves so |
| the solitude of your home and maybe even develop | | | | that we are able to find peace in any scenario? |
| a few ideas of your own for recreating a similar | | | | There is a Greek word that I’ve loved for a long |
| masterpiece in your own backyard!" | | | | time: temenos. It means sanctuary. |
| Seiwa-en, a Japanese garden of pure, clear harmony | | | | This week I offer you temenos. Sanctuary. On the |
| and peace | | | | Internet in a virtual sense, and on offer from within |
| Did I go to the garden? Of course. It’s beautiful. | | | | yourself at any moment you make that choice. |
| It also made me sad and glad at the same time. Why | | | | |