“In order to comprehend the beauty of a Japanese garden, it is necessary to understand-or at least to learn to understand-the beauty of stone.” ~Patrick Lafcadio Hearn

 I was off from work on Friday and had had this grand plan of driving to Central Oregon and hiking at Smith Rock State Park. A place I've wanted to hike for years and have never been. Timing has never worked out real well. It is recommeded that you hike early in the season or late in the season because in the middle of summer the heat can measure over 100degrees easily. It's always warmer in Central OR than in Portland and then with the heat coming off the rocks it can get real warm. I read one hikers account that by noon it measured 110 degrees up near the rocks. I thought that the end of May would be perfect. I shared my plans with a few people and everyone (minus one friend) was against it. They all had a variety of reasons. I was still going to go, but then on Thursday evening I was driving home late from work and feeling exhausted and had a stern talk with myself that maybe this wasn't the ideal time. Getting up early and driving 2.5 hours to Central OR and hiking and driving back in a day when I was already tired and hadn't prepared at all might not be the best idea. So...I had a game plan change because I know myself well enough to know that I needed to do something.

I decided I'd go to the Japanese Garden. It had been nearly 10 years since I'd gone. My mom and I went the summer of 2004 when she was visiting while I staying in Portland to take summer classes. It was a lovely time and one of my favorite charms from my charm bracelet came from there....and silver origami cane. I got up Friday and got all ready and just as I was walking out my door it started downpouring. Now, the last thing I really wanted to do was go to an outdoor garden in the West Hills of Portland in the pouring rain. So instead I ran errands, planned a spur of the moment lunch with a friend and continued to be a bit bummed, knowing full well that it was sunny in Central OR. Oh well. I'd get there another day.

Saturday was also a bit rainy so I decided to go to the Japanese Garden on Sunday after church-so that I did. As I was walking up the hill to the garden entrance I discovered that my camera was on its last of battery power and really debated about leaving and coming back Monday (Memorial Day) or another weekend. But, I decided I'd go and make it work.

Here is the lower entrance from above it before hiking (or you can ride in a shuttle) up to the main entrance. As the title quote says, it is necessary to understand the beauty of stone in a Japanese Garden because it is everywhere. I love it.

 Such a peaceful place.

I love the picture below. Love it. I don't know why exactly, I just do.

 Love watching the Koi. Fish are so calming.

So right about here my camera battery died so I pulled out my cell phone (my non-smart phone) and took some pictures and they weren't too bad.

It was a cool and overcast Portland day, of course until I was leaving the garden, but it was wonderful to go back and see things that I didn't even recall having seen 10 years ago. Maybe I will try for 5 years between visits this next go-round.

Also, plans for that Smith Rock State Park hike are being dreamed about for the fall. Stay tuned. I will get there sometime.