The site that is now the Japanese Garden was originally a reservoir that collected winter storm runoff and provided irrigation water for Kinton Stevens’ nursery. He also grew Indian lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) in the pond. During 1968 to 1974, Madame Walska converted the pond and its surrounding plantings to a Japanese garden. The garden was built for her by Oswald da Ros, a stone mason who had done most of the other stone work she commissioned for the estate, with design and planting done by Lotusland’s own Frank Fujii. Major features of the garden include a small Shinto shrine surrounded by Japanese cypress (Cryptomeria japonica) and coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens cv. Santa Cruz), and a wisteria arbor. Both were added to the garden in 1990 at the advice of garden designer Koichi Kawana. Plantings include Japanese maples (Acer palmatum), camellias, azaleas, and several species of pine, which are pruned in the traditional Niwaki style. To see a 360° panorama of the Japanese Garden click here. Back to the Map