The Nanjing Friendship Garden

By Hilary Daniel, Gardens By Hilary, Inc.

	The Nanjing Friendship Garden at the Missouri Botanical Garden is a Chinese Scholar's Garden that is true to its 2500-year-old origins. 

	'Scholar Gardens' were originally designed to provide scholars a place to separate themselves from the city and its distractions, so that they could study calligraphy, music, and poetry (as well as providing them a great place to throw parties for their friends - true fact).  

	Plants play a minimal role in the true Chinese scholar garden.  More importance is attached to the 'hardscape' features.  Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism are all influences in the garden.  Water is always found in a scholar's garden, as it is the 'origin of life'.  The water, however, will usually be murky, as it provides a better reflection for staring at oneself and thinking deep thoughts, then clear water does.

	The most important aspect of the layout of a potential garden is how it 'sits on a dragon's back'.  A Geomancer is responsible for checking the orientation of the garden.  He will sit in the center of the garden and direct the placement of its central elements in relation to North and South.

	The MBG's Scholar Garden, opened in 1996, is slightly different then the scholar gardens in China.  For example, the MBG's garden places more focus on plants, as they want to highlight the diversity of plants native to China.  In addition, plant material has been substituted as a 'wall' surrounding the garden, instead of a standard14 to 15 feet high stone wall.

	The entrance to the garden is through a 'Moon Gate', the circle being a symbol of perfection.  Three Bamboo stones greet you at the entrance; these are stalactites carved to resemble bamboo shoots.  These stones represent 'bamboo renewing itself', which is very important in the Chinese culture.

	Upon entering the garden you will find that all paths are curved - so that evil spirits cannot follow you as you walk.  Mosaics, including  storks or swans (two ways the Gods traveled), cherry trees, or the yin/yang symbol, are set in concrete in the pathway.  There are benches in the garden, inviting you to sit and enjoy the view surrounding the seating area.  

	Also in the garden are Tai hu; these are stones can be viewed as sculpture.  These stones are from an area near Lake Tai in China, and can be 30 million years old.  The stones are selected for size and color, and are used as sculpture.  They are placed to look as if they are floating.

	In the center of the garden is the Pavilion.  This pavilion was assembled with no nails or mechanical fasteners.  Each piece was fitted into the other, with a 1/16th-inch tolerance.  The pavilion and other garden features were shipped from China in 150 crates. 

	The roof edge of the pavilion has medallions ringing it, each with a pointed edge. When it rains, these tile called 'di shui' channel the water off of the roof, making a curtain of water to surround you as you sit and meditate in the pavilion.  Atop the center of the pavilion is a lotus flower, which is symbolic of many things; in this case it represents summer.  The pavilion is painted brown, which is the color representing scholars.  Red would represent an emperor, and yellow an empress.

	The Pavilion sits beside the water element.  In the water are five stones, representing the five sacred mountains of China.  Goldfish complete the water element.  (Koi are distinctly Japanese.)

	Potted plants, or 'Penjing', are included in the garden tableau.  These potted gardens were originally very popular in China for people who could not afford to establish a scholar's garden of their own; these planters can represent a scholar garden in miniature.  

	When plants die in the Penjing, they are not always removed.  Instead, they are left to represent their own architecture.  (A good idea to use in your own garden.)  These Penjing are similar to Bonsai, which are the Japanese form.  (However, the Chinese form is rumored to be much older.) 

	Plants in the garden include Acer triflorum, or 'Three Flowered Maple', with a nice exfoliating bark; Prunus mume, Flowering Apricot 'Peggy Clark'; Jasminum nudiflorum, 'Winter Jasmine' (which is very hardy and sprouts like Forsythia); and Syringa wolfii or 'Chinese Lilac', which blooms later then standard Lilacs and is mildew resistant with a good fragrance.  

	There is also Musa basjoo (Banana), which Alan Boefer, Senior Horticulturist at the Garden, has had great success overwintering in the garden by cutting it to the ground and placing a 14" layer of mulch over it.  (However, it will not fruit without 18 months of continuous warm weather, so you would have to bring it inside in winter if you wanted it to fruit).  

	Then there are the Tree Peonies. The emperor of China revered tree Peonies, and they were his alone to grow.  Anyone caught with one would be executed.  In addition, the emperor, to impress his visitors, would have his staff force the Peonies so that they bloomed off-season. 

	As you exit the garden, you will see the undulating top of the back wall; this represents mountains, or a dragon's back (depends upon your interpretation).  At the exit gate, you will also find 'exit poetry' carved into the wall.  

	In summation, "The earth is a living entity and the dragon lives within" would be the motto of this garden.