Hidden Treasure In SoCal; Japanese Garden Long Beach

Located in California State University Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Blvd, Long Beach CA 90840. Open Tuesday - Friday 9am - 4pm. Sunday's Noon - 4pm. Admission is $4 Adults, $2 Children.
The 1.3 acre lot is located in the University car park, with lot 16 (G4) directly across from it, with 8 paid parking slots available for use.
The garden was dedicated in 1981 by Earl Burns Miller's widow. Mrs Collins had 3 years of planning in cooperation with California University and hired landscape architect Edward R. Lovell to design the garden.

"I have a dream for this garden. When a person is tired, or anxious, or in a quest of beauty, may they enter and come forth refreshed to meet the problems of the day. There will be music of the wind through the pines, music from the waterfalls and the birds. There will be serenity as you walk around the lake, and joy, I hope, in the beauty of the reflections in that lake. There will be iris and azaleas in the Spring. Flowering magnolia in Summer. In the Fall, chrysanthemums and the gold of the liquid amber trees. There will be strength and solidity in the rocks and the wooden bridges. And, of course, there will be bamboo, a favorite wood of the Japanese because it is so useful and beautiful. There is an old proverb that says, 'Bamboo bends but never breaks.' It is my hope that as you leave your tour of the garden, you will find in your heart that proverb, and the day will be filled with joy." – Loraine Miller Collins

There is a winding path that leads you round the garden

Taking you over a beautiful bridge next to a waterfall

I can not explain how peaceful it is here, with a large koi pond in the center of the garden

Colorful dragonflies buzzing around

even a reiki garden

All photographs are my own

So if you are looking to escape the city hustle and bustle but don't have hours to drive somewhere, take a trip to this garden. Take a book or a blanket to lay out in the sun on, take some friends and a picnic!
The garden is also available for rentals, can you imagine you're guests faces when they walk in and see this view:

Image source

Thanks for reading! Till next time :-D

!steemitworldmap 33.785186 lat -118.1216497 long ´Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden California´ D3SCR