The Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden at California State University Long Beach

October 5, 2013 by RMW 16 Comments

According to the website: “Situated on the campus of CSU Long Beach, our 1.3 acre Hill and Pond Japanese-style garden was built through a generous donation from Mrs. Loraine Miller Collins in honor of her late husband Earl Burns Miller. Following three years of planning, and in collaboration with the University, Mrs. Miller Collins selected University master plan landscape architect and longtime friend Edward R. Lovell, ASLA to create its design. Construction began in the summer of 1980 and it was dedicated in the spring of 1981.

Several weeks ago my mother’s assisted living group made the trip to California State University Long Beach to visit the garden. Japanese gardens are popular in the Los Angeles area.

The Koi fish were looking pretty healthy. There were plenty of baby koi which is why I am sure the ducks were hanging around.

As with all Japanese gardens the idea is to create a place of peace and contemplation.

Of course, as usual, we were on a schedule as some of the folks had to get back for the ice cream social or some other activity. It’s a non-stop party at my mom’s assisted living home!!!

You can see the size of the babies compared to the big old grownup Koi at the bottom right.

This is a Chinese Flame Tree. Spectacular!

I probably shouldn’t point this out as perhaps it isn’t that noticeable but I have been attempting to get out of “auto” mode with my DSLR. I was fooling around with the exposure mode and all these photos came out with an incredibly high contrast. Really over-exposed in the sun and really under-exposed in the shade. I did my best to correct it in Photoshop but I need to figure out how to correct for that properly with the camera. It’s a slow slow learning process…

As this garden is on the campus there seemed to be plenty of students taking a break from their studies…. what better place than a Japanese garden?

This was our docent who led us around the garden.

This reminds me of the pebble beach in my hometown of Brighton, England!

Although this is a small garden there are many different viewpoints which create the illusion of a bigger area.

I love wooden bridges.

If you click on this link there is a map of all the trees in the garden and an inventory. A profile is kept on each tree indicating its species, health, and maintenance profile.

Love those reflections!

Zig zag bridges are often found in Japanese or Zen gardens. Some say it is because evil spirits can only walk in a straight line and therefore cannot cross the bridge. Others say it is to keep you mindful as you walk or you will crash into the railings. Whichever it is, they are aesthetically pleasing.

More Koi and their duck friend.

Can you see the duck with his head submerged in the water?

Just as we were leaving, this Great Blue Heron showed up. No doubt a little Koi delicacy was on his mind. But a good thing or the pond would be over-run with big fat Koi.

Please click on all the photos for a larger view.

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