Walking down the dirt path, passing by plum trees and other native Chinese plants, the short trail leads to a garden seemingly out of place and time. It is not thousands of miles away during the reign of a dynasty in China, but it is the newest addition to the Huntington Library’s collection of botanical gardens – the Garden of Flowing Fragrance.The Garden of Flowing Fragrance, also known as Liu Fang Yuan, centers around its Lake of Reflected Fragrance that creates the illusion of the garden rising from the lake. With wooden platforms and cloud-white bridges overlooking the water, an overwhelming serenity is the feeling one gets surveying the surroundings.
In the tradition of Suzhou-style, the garden marries stone and wood in a bold yet elegant architectural design. The curling rooftops and circular entryways are sights refreshing and unique from everyday design. The garden has a teashop and areas to enjoy a cup of tea, whether it is in the teahouse or out in the open on the main terrace.
Even with its recent opening and high volume of visitors, the vast 3.5 acre garden still provides a calming seclusion. The peacefulness of the lake drowns out the sounds of chatter while the surrounding noises become distant. The beauty of the garden will demand all of your attention, making you forget that you have to share the space with the rest of the public.
Each piece of architecture has awe-inspiring intricacy, from the sculptured rocks scattered around the lake to the inscriptions carved on the pillars of the pavilions. The wooden panels as seen on the walls of the Love for the Lotus Pavilion are carved in a style reminiscent of Shan Shui painting, known mainly for its focus on landscape and scenery.
Looking beyond the architectural beauty, the outskirts of the garden are still a work in progress as the garden has yet to expand to its 12-acre potential. The scenery beyond the main center of the garden is like a sudden flash back to reality. With the area bare and dirt engulfing the newly planted shrubbery, it is a visual parallel to what lies at the focal point of the garden.
The Huntington Library has said the Chinese garden was about ten years in the making, and it will be interesting to anticipate future developments it makes in the next ten.
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