I love South Florida nature and all of its beautiful gifts: the lush tropical greenery, the warm salty air and the deep blue ocean that hugs the Magic City in the most awe-inspiring way. I would never have imagined in a million years, however, that if I hopped into my car and drove north for less than an hour, I would be able to feast my eyes on the most spectacular Japanese-inspired gardens I’ve ever seen. Yes, a full-blow Japanese garden(s) in Florida.
The “Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens” in Delray Beach is a sprawling sixteen acres of meticulously manicured greenery; with rushing waterfalls, ponds filled with Koi fish, curious swimming turtles and immaculately kept Bonsai trees, it’s like something out of a movie. It’s official name…
The Roji-en: Garden of the Drops of Dew (which, in essence, is about renewal,) is split up into six different gardens: Shinden, Paradise, Early Rock, Karesansui Late, Hiraniwa Flat and Modern Romantic (all of which are modeled – but not copied – after famous gardens in Japan.) On Mondays, (that’s the only day of the week Morikami is closed) seven gardeners pour their blood, sweat and tears into perfecting its already pristine grounds.
Marketing and Special Events Coordinator, Monika Armar, who calls the group “small yet mighty,” also says the gardeners work tirelessly mowing, weeding and mulching on just that one day to allow visitors an uninterrupted experience the rest of the week. And boy, is it ever and then some. Which begs the question: how did these surreal, serene and sumptuous gardens grow here in the first place?
Back in the early 1900’s, a group of young Japanese farmers were invited to form a colony to revolutionize agriculture in Florida. They did so with gusto, calling it Yamato (an ancient name for Japan,) in the northern Boca Raton area. Unfortunately, sustaining the land didn’t take root (so to speak) and eventually each returned home, except for George Sukeji Morikami.
In a twist of fate, George stayed in the Sunshine State and eventually prospered, buying land in Delray Beach and farming it for almost thirty years. He passed away in the mid ‘70’s at the age of eighty-nine, but not before donating his land to Palm Beach County, in hopes that his “Japanese Dreams” would be granted: a park built to preserve the memory of the Yamato Colony.
Shireen Sandoval: The gardens are spectacular! How would you describe them?
Monika Amar: They truly are, Shireen! Visitors often mention the transformative personal experience that the contemplative and serene gardens provide. Featuring six diverse periods in Japanese gardening, Roji-en leads guests approximately one mile through meandering greenery, past towering bamboo and rushing waterfalls and beside beds of carefully raked pebbles
SS: What is the mission of Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens?
MA: To provide authentic Japanese cultural experiences that entertain, educate and inspire.
SS: The museum itself is modeled after a Japanese villa. How long has it been there and what will people experience when visiting?
MA: The original museum building, named the Yamato-kan, was built when Morikami opened in 1977. It offers a permanent exhibit chronicling the history of the Yamato Colony, as well as ‘Japan Through the Eyes of a Child,’ an interactive exhibit that transports young visitors to Japan, allowing them to get a taste of everyday culture.
SS: The museum hosts a lot of events. Can you tell me about some of your stand-out summer programs?
MA: Morikami offers a culturally rich and diverse calendar of annual events and programs. Sushi & Stroll Summer Walks are our most popular summer events, where visitors can beat the heat with a sunset garden stroll, grab a bite to eat at the Cornell Café, discover their new favorite sake and experience a heart-thumping taiko drumming performance. Sushi & Stroll is a great date night, happy hour with co-workers or a family night out!
SS: How long does it take to enjoy the grounds?
MA: There’s so much to see and do at Morikami. Visitors can spend the entire day strolling the gardens, checking out our museum exhibitions and dining at our renowned Cornell Café. Our Museum Store also offers a taste of Japan and allows visitors to take a piece of Morikami home with them.
SS: Do you host private events?
MA: Most definitely! From sunset wedding ceremonies overlooking Morikami Lake to corporate presentations, Morikami provides a memorable location for stunning celebrations. Our facility rental staff works closely with the event hosts to make their dream event come to life.
SS: You have memberships. What does that entail?
MA: There are various membership levels that allow visitors to enjoy the gardens all year long. A general individual membership is $60 and includes unlimited free admission to the museum and gardens, exclusive invitations to member-only events, discounts at the Museum Store and Cornell Café, and free admission to Oshogatsu, Hatsume Fair, and Sushi & Stroll Summer Walks, among other perks.
SS: You offer a Tea Ceremony. What does it involve and what is its significance?
MA: Guests can observe Japanese sado, or “the way of tea” on select Saturdays throughout the year. The tea ceremony demonstrates strict etiquette, which serves as the foundation of its choreographed movements, and showcases its overall form and aesthetic. Participants are meant to involve all of their senses and experience a serene feeling of spiritual discipline, harmony and tranquility.
SS: What is the Lantern Festival?
MA: Lantern Festival, on Saturday, Oct. 17, is Morikami’s most iconic celebration. Inspired by Obon, Japan’s traditional three-day holiday honoring ancestors, guests get to enjoy Japanese folk-dancing, taiko drumming, an Ennichi street fair and so much more! The highlight of the evening begins at sunset when the lake is transformed into a sea of lighted lanterns that, in accordance with Japanese custom, serve to guide the departure of ancestors’ souls who have come for a brief visit among the living. The evening wraps up with a spectacular fireworks show over Roji-en. Tickets to Lantern Festival for the general public go on sale Sept. 1 and the event sells out every year!
SS: 2015 is the year of the sheep. What does that mean?
MA: The zodiac was introduced to Japan from China and there are several tales of how the animals were selected and in what order. This year, we celebrated the year of the sheep at our annual New Year festival, Oshogatsu, with games and entertainment throughout the museum and gardens. Some of the highlights were Japan’s customary rice-pounding tradition, the first tea ceremony of the year, and appearances by shishimai, the lion dancer! We’re excited to celebrate the year of the monkey during next year’s festival on Jan. 10th.
Shooting photos at Morikami was a dream come true for my blog team. More specifically, my photographer James Woodley and I totally get it now. Everywhere you look (or point the camera for that matter,) a beguiling beauty awaits you. Interestingly enough, though, it’s kind of hard to put it into words. It’s just that kind of place.
The museum totally gets it, choosing not to give visitors too much technical information in hopes of allowing the individual to find their own “personal insight, discovery and invigoration.” In other words, it’s about finding your own kind of beauty in the Gardens and that’s a great testament to Japanese culture itself.
Matching that spirit and the gorgeousness of the grounds (fashionably speaking) wasn’t an easy job. The clothing had to compliment nature, express a sense of freedom and convey a bit of enthusiasm for South Florida’s hot summer months. La La Couture Boutique in Fort Lauderdale was up for the task and made sure I was gussied up in the latest and greatest free-flowing dresses (featuring spectacular seasonal colors,) along with interchangeable jewelry and belts (all pictured in the blog.)
Bright pinks, different hues of green and a bright white will get you through the next few months. Summer dresses should be clean and simple with a little sex appeal. I especially love this season’s play on purple, paired with yellows, greens and blues (like the buttery fly dress I’m wearing in the blog.) Flash tattoos are slowing fading away style-wise, but I couldn’t resist adding a little pizzazz to my geisha-like game, with two bold, silver and gold flash flowers. In the meantime…
I can’t help but wonder what George Morikami would think of what was built in his memory and how, from the very soil he farmed with such love and devotion, grew a garden of such grandeur. It’s inevitably touched the lives of so many people. I suspect it’s what George and the Yamato Colony were trying to do all along and that’s why “Japanese Dreams” will always be one of my favorite things.
Website: morikami.org
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Twitter: @ShireenSandoval
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Photographer: James Woodley
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Hair & Make-up: Odette Hernandez
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Styling & Assist: Jackie Kay
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Editor: Matthew Auerbach
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