Taniguchi Garden If this garden were a book I believe it would be a long and involved one with a definite hard cover. When first walking out of the hut the stone walk way makes a good hard cover for the book as it was hard under my feet. As if the garden wanted people and us to read further into the story, it doesn't reveal itself fast, but rather slow and gradual. First I saw ivy which covers various parts of the garden; this ivy seemed to be an introduction of sorts to me because it shows the beauty and sense of community that each plant and animal in the garden have without revealing the feelings of those things. As if trying to ensure further reading of the garden the ivy presents an introduction that captures curiously yet falls short of revealing what lies ahead. As I went further along the stone pathway I start to see it more as a path that the book wants me to go, like a mystery book which leads you to stray away from the real villain and then reveals everything later. However, in this book of nature there are many clues as to what the spirit of the garden is trying to do. As I walked over the bridge it was a sort of transformation for little did I know that a revealing clue ly just ahead. As if moving from the intro of the book to its body, the bridge provided this portal. After admiring the cool water from the bamboo pipe I was suddenly suprised by the sweet and luscious smell of what I believe to be honey suckle. Through my sense of smell the garden spoke to me, but what was it saying? We then read further into nature's book and came upon ferns who were interconnected like a neighborhood or family would be. These ferns seemed to reach out with every leaf to be noticed, and noticed they were. They were not noticed by smell, however, but by touch, as I brushed against them while walking by. In this book of mystery this was definitely another clue or perhaps a warning, questioning my readiness. Once I faced the Mother Tree I realized that it was a warning by the ferns. As they were trying to grav me and tell me something. I didn't realize their significance until facing the tree. Upon reaching the tree it was as if I was facing Taniguchi himself. The tree stands old and wise, brittle yet full of knowledge and spirit. This realization increased my heart rate and breathing as I discovered the voice of the garden. Seemingly hlfway through this book I can only wonder what lies in store in the near future and like a book that you can't put down, I read on. I read on to see the tall and proud bamboo forest. Every bamboo stem is rigid and strong as if they represent the strength to the voice.It is trying so hard to be heard by each individual's heart; it was heard by mine. As I read on I can hear the voice loud and clear coming from the little waterfalls. The running water fills my ears and doesn't stop there but reaches the far corners of my heart. Moving along I pass a huge palm tree (I think) and also several ponds with minnows, lilies, other plant life,and Koi. These fish called Koi consume my eyes as if I succenly have tunnel vision. I can only see and concentrate on them, thinking this garden has put some sort of spell on me. As I watch and obseve the fish their grace is exposed and their beauty shines through the deflected light of the water. With colors of white bright orange, and those spotted withe black dots I realize the power of nature to create such vivd colors that just seize my eyes. And later to my unexpected surprise I once again hit a wall of honey suckle aroma and it just sends a current of beauty realized through my nose. This made me see how every sense of mine except taste was grabbed by this garden and its spirit. Finally we move onto the soft ground, not coverd with rocks, but exposed like the chocolate inside of the candy shell of an M and M. As if the Spirit of the Garden finally fully exposed itself to me the ground is soft, uncovered by any ivy or plants or even rock. This was like the end of a book shere everything has been dixcovered and is now settling down, and I must say that the Taniguchi Oriental Garden is a wonderful book with a happy ending.