Two Garden Gems in the City

T
Two Garden Gems in the City
he ten-acre Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine, established in 1950 by
Paramahansa Yogananda, author of the
acclaimed spiritual classic, Autobiography
of a Yogi, is an inviting oasis in the midst
of the Pacific Palisades. Surrounding a
lovely central lake, the gardens contain a
rich variety of plant life native to all six of
the world’s inhabited continents and not
commonly seen growing together. Rose
gardens bloom near tropical ferns,
passionflowers and wisteria vines. On the
lake’s steep banks, Cyprus and gingko
trees grow alongside clusters of flax,
papyrus, and water iris. Desert cacti share
the grounds with towering California
coastal redwoods and rare Mexican
weeping bamboo. The Lake Shrine’s
by Carol Sutherland
A
midst the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles, one can find peace, tranquility and
refreshing beauty in a number of verdant gardens that dot the cityscape. Some are wellknown, such as the beautiful Huntington Gardens in San Marino. Other, less-frequented
gardens are rare gems in the City of Angels, perfect for a rejuvenating mini-vacation in the
middle of a busy week.
Two of my favorites are on the Westside: the UCLA Hannah Carter Japanese Garden,
north of the UCLA campus in Bel Air and the Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine in
the Pacific Palisades.
The UCLA Hannah Carter Japanese Garden is a relatively unknown treasure covering
just over one acre and located in the community of Bel Air about one mile from the UCLA
campus. Completed in 1961, the garden was inspired by the gardens of Kyoto. Many
structures in the garden – the main gate, garden house, bridges and shrine – were built in
Japan and reassembled locally. Ancient stones carvings, water basins and lanterns, a
five-tiered pagoda, and key symbolic rocks are also from Japan.
The gardens were originally part of the estate owned by the then Chair of the Regents
of the University of California, Edward W. Carter, and his wife Hannah. They donated the
garden to the University of California in 1965.
Set on a steep hillside and overlooking a central pond containing colorful koi, winding
stone paths and stairs lead the visitor through the small, intimate garden to a secluded
garden house, an outdoor sunken bath, and up the hill to a lovely hokora, or family shrine.
Be sure to follow the path behind the garden house to the secluded Hawaiian garden with
lush ferns, a wide variety of palms, tropical flowers, and a pond fed by a gently cascading
waterfall.
The UCLA Hannah Carter Japanese Garden is open to visitors by reservation only on
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 10am-3pm. For more information: 310-794-0320;
www.japanesegarden.ucla.edu.
TOP: Hokora, or traditional family shrine,
at the UCLA Hannah Carter Japanese
Garden.
ABOVE: Thousand-year-old carved stone in
the Japanese Garden showing the Buddha
seated in 16 different positions of worship,
signifying immortality.
ABOVE: Statue of Buddha in the garden at
the Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine,
which honors all religious faiths.
LEFT: Authentic reproduction of a 16thcentury Dutch windmill, the original
meditation temple at the Lake Shrine.
Resident swans glide nearby.
many varieties of trees include an African
tuliptree, a Chinese pistachio tree, fragrant
Himalayan champaks, and dwarfed
Japanese black pines. Impatiens, cyclamen
and other colorful blossoms line the lake’s
footpath; while above them sway evergreens, palms, and stands of South
American pampas grass. Several waterfalls
add to the tranquility with the soothing
sound of flowing water.
The Lake Shrine serves as a refuge for
migratory birds, including herons, wild
ducks, and mudhens. The lake also
shelters several resident swans and an
abundant population of brightly colored
koi, as well as numerous turtles, who can
often be spotted slowly paddling through
the water or sunning themselves on lily
pads.
The Lake Shrine grounds are open to
the public Tuesdays through Saturdays,
9am-4:30pm, and on Sundays, 124:30pm. For more information: 310-4544114; www.lakeshrine.org.
Carol Sutherland, PhD, MA is an
integrative life coach with a passion for the
restorative power of nature. She can be
reached at www.midlifejourneys.com.
THE WHOLE PERSON CALENDAR / JUNE 2011