26 June 2014: Picnic and Community Service at Maymont

6/26 

Word of the Day: Garden, niwa

Stone bridge in the Japanese gardens at Maymont

We were able to visit the beautiful Japanese gardens at Maymont in Richmond, VA. There were various aspects of a typical Japanese garden including a waterfall, stone islands, and a meditation rock garden. The irregular paths in the garden are designed to have the visitor slow down, stop, and look at the beauty and wonder around them. Some of the trees original to the owners are over a hundred years old.  It was a hot and humid day; so many were thankful to find areas of shade and cool off. 

-Melissa

Yesterday, the Japanese Academy visited the Maymont Japanese Garden in Richmond. The students split up into two groups and went on a tour with Ruth and Diane. After the brief tour, the groups split up once again to participate in some community service. Each group had an individualized task to help the garden. The tasks included students cutting down bamboo, picking out weeds, and cleaning algae from the pond. A few willing students got the opportunity to enter the pond itself and sweep algae towards the edges of the pond. The group worked for about an hour, but it was intense and productive. Maymont Estate does not receive funds to maintain the garden, so it relies on volunteers such as us.

              -Matias

GJA Students crossing the pond on stone steps