Japanese Garden

Small but exquisite, the Japanese Garden is one of the oldest areas of the Atlanta Botanical Garden, begun in Piedmont Park in the 1960s before the Atlanta Botanical Garden was chartered. Irises and azaleas bloom in spring, maples change color and drop their leaves in the fall, but most plants in the Japanese Garden are evergreen; color is used sparingly to highlight seasonal change since reverence of nature is the guiding philosophy in a Japanese garden.

Traditional Japanese architecture and bamboo fences frame the garden, where a magnificent pruned pine tree, waterfall, and pond are central features. The compact design combines several styles of Japanese gardening, including elements of a hill-and-pond garden, courtyard garden and tea garden. Japanese maples, a rare weeping persimmon, and a collection of dwarf Nandina are highlights. A 300-year old lantern from Japan and a Chinese-style moon gate are also quite impressive.