Birmingham Botanical Gardens

This is probably one of my most favorite places to go. I discovered them not long after I had moved to Birmingham, almost three years ago now. And though I didn't care much for the city, this was a refuge within a place where I never found much to identify with. The peace and tranquility there are not common things to be found within our everyday lives.
The Japanese Gardens area in particular holds a special place in my heart, and it is there that I spend most of my time whenever I visit. The following are some photographs I've taken at various times...I hope you enjoy them half as much as I loved taking them...

This lies directly before the entrance to the Japanese Gardens...I thought it was beautiful. It reminds me of a path leading into darkness but surrounded by light...perhaps drawing us into another life that we never even imagined...

Depending on when you go to the Japanese Gardens determines what exactly you'll see there. Just as the seasons change, so do the foliage and many of the blooms. This picture was taken in the Fall months when the mostly dark landscape truly brought out the qualities of red, providing for a wonderful contrast.

In order to get this shot, you have to crouch down on top of a lovely bridge made directly from large chunks of smoothed stone. It was definitely worth it, it's amazing.

I love this shot. It's taken from a larger wooden bridge that spans a lake filled with various Japanese carp. The fish themselves and huge and normally variations of white, orange and black. The little red bridge itself leads back into a small cove that houses a four or five foot tall shrine given as a gift from a city in Japan.

When this pool is dry during the summer, you can walk up the rocks to where the primary stone is with a large hole carved into it. The hole looks worn away by water and time and the stone itself is wonderful to touch. To the left of this stone, tucked away is a stand of bamboo...and before it, a stone statue of Buddha. The statue itself is hard to see unless you get at just the right angle and if ever you make it up there, it's very much like discovering a wonderful, sacred secret.

More Japanese Garden pictures...

More Botanical Garden pictures...

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