Japanese Gardens
Garden History
The Willow Pond Japanese Gardens have been progressively constructed since 1985 and have reached a semi-matured stage with the growth of the larger trees. The original design was carried out by Eiji Morozumi with construction and revised design by Norma and Ramon Lawrence (and family).
Zen Garden
The Zen garden to the left hand side to the entrance to Ramon's at Willow Pond (in front of the Willow Room) is based on the famous Japanese Zen Garden at the Ryuanji Shrine in Kyoto, Japan.
The garden is constructed in the "dry landscape" style called Karesansui. The rocks of various sizes are arranged on small white pebbles in five groups, each comprising five, two, three, two, and three rocks. The garden contains 15 rocks arranged on the surface of white pebbles in such a manner that visitors can see only 14 of them at once, no matter what angle the garden is viewed from. It is said that only when you attain spiritual enlightenment as a result of deep Zen meditation, can you see the last invisible stone.
The raked lines are circles around the rock groups and yet straight elsewhere - and you will love how the lines stop without a single misplaced pebble when they touch the circular patterns, and then resume unchanged beyond them as if the rocks are islands.
Wabi-sabi is a powerful design technique that uses simplicity and understatement to allow the viewer's imagination to "fill in the blanks". The design generates tension, drawing the viewer to contemplate the mystery of Zen. It can't be photographed in entirety, the dimensions could drive any photographer to distraction, but that is the beauty of it. All you can do is just put the camera away, sit down and contemplate it. Especially when you realise that no matter where you sit, you will only see 14 of the rocks at any one time.
A second Zen Garden was designed and constructed at the rear of the lake by Ramon Lawrence in 1994 in dedication to the Tsukimino Kenyu Kai, a Kendo Association in Japan which visited Budokan Academy that year. Other parts of the garden have been dedicated to senior martial arts teachers who have been directly involved in the development of arts practiced at the Budokan Academy or on a National basis.
Garden Weddings
Two gazebo's and a pergola are sited around the gardens and are suitable for wedding ceremonies of varying sizes. Up to twenty chairs are provided adjacent to the wedding ceremony site so that ample seating is available for the elderly or those who may require to be seated. Additional chairs can be provided at a small charge if required.
During wedding ceremonies the bridal cars are permitted to drive on the lawn areas to delegated drop off points close to the venue being used in the gardens. A popular item is the horse and carriage or the Harley Trike motorcycles. These are often retained for photographic sessions on completion of the wedding ceremony.
Seminar Breakout Area
The garden atmosphere is an excellent venue for rest periods during intense seminars or for breaking into syndicate groups for discussions. Clients find the gardens very relaxing and obtain a more focused response from attendees at the seminars.
