Quiet Beauty: The Japanese Gardens of North America

Brown (Asian art history, California State Univ.) and photographer Cobb, the coauthors of Visionary Landscapes, publish a new collaboration that conveys the history, serenity, and beauty of Japanese-style gardens in North America. The gardens they chose are open to the public and historically significant. They’re located in compelling destinations too, ranging from Canada to Florida and the West Coast of the U.S. The book is divided into five eras of Japanese-style gardens in North America: “Oriental Exotica,” “Building Bridges,” “Innovation by Adaptation,” “Expansive Visions,” and “Traditions Transformed.” The 26 gardens are arranged by era, and each entry includes a history and description of the garden, its designer(s), and mentions of changes made over the years. Gardens range from ones striving for authenticity, to plots that use their region’s native plants, to spaces that aim to capture the vibe of a Japanese garden. Cobb’s stunning photographs give readers a taste of each garden and its notable features. Appendices contain contact information about the gardens, plus a listing of 75 additional important Japanese gardens in North America.