The Official Kentucky Japan Friendship Garden features the traditional elements of a Japanese garden with plants and landforms native to Japan and Kentucky. The site's flat land was converted with 1400 truckloads of earth into gentle rising hills with gravel paths and arched bridges leading through a water garden, a Zen rock garden, and past the banks of Elkhorn Creek. The Tokugawa Gates at the entrance to the garden depict the Tokugawa Shogunate era in the form of Medieval European castle gates. A zigzag path leads into the garden through a patch of native cane. The Tahara Snow Lantern and Maple grove are gifts from the citizens of Tahara. The Maple grove includes species from America and Japan. A koi pond is the central feature of the garden. Above the koi pond is the Upper Waterfall and Mountain. This feature depicts limestone waterfalls along Elkhorn creek with the cone shaped mountains representing the island of Yakushima, where streams flow down the mountain. The Kazan Sculpture/Tahara Waterfall Garden area has a sculpture of a young Watanabe Kazan, a Japanese painter, scholar and statesman. The Elkhorn viewing hut is a log structure that is similar to local log buildings in form, but differs with its triangle cut logs representing the treasury building in Nara. The Zen rock garden, best seen from the Elkhorn Viewing Pavilion, has patterns created by local volunteers. The Arched Bridge, painted Japanese red, goes over a dry rock stream that represents streams flow down volcanic peaks in Japan. Yuko-en on the Elkhorn is maintained by the Scott Education and Community Foundation, a non-profit 501c3, with no paid staff. We rely on volunteers, donations, in-kind contributions, rental fees, and support from the City and County Public Works to maintain the Yuko-en grounds. All programming and tours are provided by the Trustees. Please call us at 502.316.4554 to discuss ways you can help. Photographers: we encourage photography in the Garden. Please be respectful of other visitors, however, so they can enjoy the venue as well. Photographers whose work is for profit, especially, are encouraged to make a donation to enable us to continue to maintain this beautiful space. Please pick up an envelope at the kiosk at the entrance to the Garden or call 502.316.4554 for more information about making a donations.http://www.yuko-en.com/self-guidedbrochure2-15.pdf
http://www.yuko-en.com/StoneGarden2015.pdf
