Various water features such as waterfall, pond and fountain can be found in the compound of Dong Zen Fo Guang Shan monastery. The water features adds tranquility, reflection and ambiance to its landscape. It provides restful sanctuaries to those who seek for serenity to meditate or read.
Close to the Main Shrine Hall is this pond with a tall rock feature in the middle of it. The rock boulders are arranged beautifully in a triangular manner, allowing plants such as money plant, spider lily to grow in between the rocks and water to flow into the fish pond. Koi fishes with wonderful patterned of red, orange, yellow and black were swimming happily in the pond. It's fun to watch the active koi fishes. It is also calming to listen to the water trickling into the pond. The breeze was swaying the willow branches that are reaching low towards the pond. The combination of water, greens, fishes and rocks create a peaceful, soothing spot for quiet reflection. Everthing tends to slow down when one is surrounded by such environment. It is nice if we can have such garden in office buildings where workers can always go to during their lunch break and enjoy a peaceful moment, calming down their active working mind before going back to their work terminal again.
Multi-coloured orchids have been planted bordering this pond, in preparation for the Floral Festival that will begin on 10 Feb. A bed of Cat's whiskers are planted beside the pond as seen in the forefront of the photo below. There is a plank walkway for one to walk across with grillings painted in yellow & green resembling bamboo. Rows of lanterns lining the edge of this section makes the place looks festive and ready for the Chinese New Year celebration which is less than a month away.
In a quiet corner of the monastery is a water lily pond. It has the figurine of a little boy holding a lily leave above its head.
Next to this pond is a wall lined with dragon heads spouting water with LED-lit dolphins lining the whole pond. The curvy flower bed and the two different coloured plants (green & maroon) add to the attraction of this spot in the monastery.
The LED-lit dolphins and this wall is beautifully lit-up on the first night of our stay at this monastery. This is the scene that visitors will be treated to during the Floral Fest.
Trees lined up across this water feature provide shades to visitors to sit underneath those trees and enjoy the sound of the water.
I look forward to returning to Fo Guang Shan Monastery again during the Floral Festival. I believe the garden would look more stunning than what are seen here. There are some more photos from other parts of the garden in this monastery that I will share in my next posting. Meanwhile, I hope you will continue your blogging and gardening!
6 comments:
Lovely place... and just look at the fish! ~bangchik
A good place to spend a few days to meditate among serene and peaceful environment. A very beautiful garden indeed.
This is my kind of place...it is so beautiful, serene and perfect for soothing the mind.
What a nice place JC! I like the fact that they have a koi pond. I like to see koi fish swimmming around too. But I hope that it is a easy to maintain type of pond.
Regarding my mother-in-law's garden, it does put me to shame also. Not to mention about the arrangement of pots but keeping the garden tidy is another matter. Gosh I wish one day I would learn how to manage my garden better. But JC, I am sure your garden is nice too. Thanks for your kind words. Have a great day!
I amazed at the rock garden, I guess it must be an island in the middle of the pond?
If it is, then it really a self-sustaining by itself getting its water from the fountain itself.
Thanks for sharing.
This looks like it would be a great place to take kids. There's a lot to see!
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