collage of various images of Portland Japanese Garden

Here is a fantasy created with images from the Portland Japanese Garden. This photographic collage includes the Garden's Sapporo Pagoda, the stone steps in the Natural Garden, and one of the Garden's magnificant Japanese Maples, shot in the Fall. Portland Japanese Garden is worth a visit during all seasons. These above prints can be purchased either matted or framed from our Fine Art Photography website

2009 Japanese Garden Calendar

©Portland Japanese Garden / David M. Cobb

If anyone on your gift list enjoys scenic calendars and you'd like to support a good cause, the Portland Japanese Garden is currently selling their 2009 calender as part of their fund-raising efforts. Featuring images of the garden taken throughout the year, the full-color pages measure 12" x 12".

The calendars can be purchased at the garden's gift shop or online along with other unique gifts here: 2009 Japanese Garden Calendar

What is the Portland Japanese Garden?

In 1958, when Portland became a sister city of Sapporo, Japan,
a broad interest in Japanese culture was created.

On June 4, 1962, the City Council created a commission to
establish a Japanese garden on the site of the former
Washington Park Zoo.

In 1963, professor Takuma Tono was commissioned to design
and supervise the developement of the garden. In the summer
of 1967, the Portland Japanese Garden formally opened to the
public.

The 5.5-acre Japanese Garden is composed of five separate
garden styles:
a Strolling Pond Garden
a Tea Garden
a Natural Garden
a Flat Garden
a Sand and Stone Garden

In 1988, His Excellency Nobuo Matsunaga, Ambassador from
Japan to the United States, proclaimed it to be “the most
beautiful and authentic Japanese garden in the world outsite
of Japan.”

Source: Japanese Garden Society of Oregon

Some of our own images of the garden appear on our website:

Japanese Garden Triptychs
Another Japanese Garden Triptych
Alternate Frame
One More Japanese Garden Triptych
Alternate Frame

Portland Japanese Garden
611 SW Kingston Ave.
Portland, Oregon 97205
(503) 223-1321

New "TTV" Images

We've been adding to our "through the viewfinder"/vintage-style images. These pink rhododendrons were captured during a recent visit to the Japanese Garden.

Thanks for supporting independent artists and buying hand-made!

Rhododendron images © Mesman Images

Happy New Year

© Mesman Images

The New Year brought a close to our busiest holiday season ever. On top of the usual December rush and exhibiting at Studio 101, the shows we had going on at the Japanese Garden and at Coopers Coffee really kept us occupied.

The "Through the Lens" show at the Japanese Garden was a great venue that gave us an opportunity to sell our framed and matted prints, note cards, and magnets. The garden did a great job of converting their pavillion into an art gallery. It was a very classy place to shop for gifts or to simply enjoy the work of the 13 participating photographers.

Coopers Coffee provided us with a large space on which to hang a number of our framed images. After enjoying multiple sales there, we closed out that show by selling a small version of our popular Portland neon sign collage shown above.

Now that those two shows are over, we'll take a little time to improve our presence online.

It was great to have family visiting over the holidays! When you work long hours, seven days a week as we do, it means a lot to be able to spend a little time with loved ones and escape the daily grind. As always, it went by way too fast . . .

"Through the Lens" Exhibit Comes to a Close

Japanese Garden, Portland, Oregon
© Mestre/Manahan

The "Through the Lens" photography show and sale at the Portland Japanese Garden came to a close on Christmas Eve. Our thanks to all who came to view the exhibit during its month-long run (and, especially to those who bought something!).

We'd also like to thank the garden and its staff for hosting this wonderful event and giving local photographers such a great venue in which to show and sell their work. The number of places that any photographer can display work is limited, so it's always very much appreciated when a place like the Japanese Garden, with its prestige and large number of visitors, gives us such an opportunity.

Now that the Portland Saturday Market has ended its 34th season, we'll have a little more time to devote to our wholesale and online sales and to the gallery and coffee house exhibits we currently have going on.

Reception at the Japanese Garden

Japanese Garden, Portland, Oregon
Mesman Images

This afternoon, December 9, 2007, there will be a "Meet the Artists" reception in the pavilion at the Portland Japanese Garden from 2:00 to 4:00. This event is part of the "Through the Lens" photography show that's running until December 24th. This is a juried show (and sale) that includes images of the garden taken by 13 photographer members. Hope to see you there!

Through the Lens Photography Show

We're proud to announce that Yvonne's images from the Portland Japanese Garden are part of the photography show and sale taking place at the garden through Christmas. Titled "Through the Lens", the show features the work of thirteen of the garden's photographer members and is being held in the garden's beautiful pavillion. The participating works were selected by a jury. All of the featured images and related products are for sale. In addition to framed, matted, and un-mounted images, we are also selling note cards and magnets that Michael makes by hand.


The Portland Japanese Garden is widely considered to be the most beautiful and authentic Japanese garden outside of Japan. One Japanese dignitary even went so far as to proclaim it the most beautiful Japanese garden in the world, period.

Entry to the show is free with your garden admission. If you are going to be in the Portland area this month, why not drop by the garden and do a little unique Christmas shopping? Here are a few useful links:

Portland Japanese Garden
Map/Directions
Through the Lens

Fall Colors Are Here

The leaves are a' changin'! Along with the arrival of cold, wet weather, we're starting to get fall colors around town. Last year, it was difficult to photograph the beautiful trees because they took so long to change in the mild fall weather we had. Shouldn't have that problem, this time around. If we can just get a day or two with some sun breaks, we're going to go get that shutter clicking! This is a shot of a Japanese Maple that we took last year.

Japanese Garden, Portland, Oregon

Prints available on Etsy : Japanese Maple
or our own website: Colorful Garden Prints