Elements of the garden
Architect Ken Nakajima chose peridotite, a rare stone glazed with emerald-green serpentine, to give the design a distinctive character. The stones used were found in the asbestos mines of Thetford Mines in eastern Quebec.
The plans for the Tea Garden were donated by the city of Hiroshima.
Fish and plants
A Koi carp can live to be 50 years old.
The lotus or “flower of Buddha,” does not float on the surface of the water, like a water lily. Instead, it is supported by a strong stem anchored on the bottom of the pond.
Shrub peonies, which were introduced to Japan in the 8th century, require so much care and attention that traditionally only wealthy Japanese people could afford to have them in their gardens. Today, they symbolize prosperity in Japan.