Plan of the Japanese Garden. Photo : Médiathèque du Jardin botanique de Montréal

1940. Henry Teuscher, the landscape architect who designed the Montréal Botanical Garden, wrote:

"There may also be a Japanese garden, but it seems to me decidedly not worth while to make this only a weak imitation which is all the average occidental gardener can possibly produce. To lay out such a garden properly one must secure the aid of a skilled Japanee gardener [...] who understands thoroughly the relationship between the various symbols which have to be employed."

	Ken Nakajima was born in 1914, and studied at the Higher Landscape School, now the Tokyo University of Agriculture. He is an expert in the ancient gardens of Kyoto, and a master in the school of modern landscape architecture in Japan. In 1986, he received the ultimate honour when he was deemed a ningen kokuho, "Living National Treasure," by the Emperor for his exceptional contribution to promoting Japanese culture. Photo : Médiathèque du Jardin botanique de Montréal

1966. The City of Montréal asked Ken Nakajima, designer of the Japanese garden around the Japanese Pavilion at Expo 67, to sketch out a plan for a Japanese garden at the Botanical Garden.

1984. When Lord Abbot Koshin Ohtani, spiritual leader of millions of Japanese Buddhists, visited Montréal, a grove of trees was planted not far from here, and a fund-raising campaign to build this garden was launched.

Shortly afterward, Mr. Nakajima submitted a plan for a garden that could withstand the Montréal winters. And the work began...

On June 28, 1988, the Japanese Garden of the Montréal Botanical Garden was officially opened.

Then, in 1989, this shoin-zukuri style (15^th and 16^th centuries) pavilion was added.

Open Windows on Japanese Gardens 1. Opening a window onto a universe 2. A very famous Zen garden 3. Step by step on stepping stones 4. Endless maintenance 5. Key to the project: the choice of stone 6. The birth of a "Japanese" garden in Montréal 7. Wanted: Hardy species 8. The three religions of Japan 9. Three gardens, three relationships between man and Nature 10. Shakkei or borrowed scenery 11. Living symbols 12. 3, 5, 7 13. Of appearance and essence 14. Precious, colourful carp 15. Mineral strength 16. Changing scale 17. The spirit of stone 18. Islands of the Immortals 19. Plants and time 20. Discreet but essential ground covers 21. Shrubs and the art of plant sculpture 22. Trees, venerable above all 23. Water, a moving mirror of life 24. A pond and its fish 25. Islands and bridges 26.Flowing, shimmering water 27. Listen to your Heart 28. Some important dates

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