I’m impressed by the Japanese zen design esthetic, every element so carefully chosen and deliberately placed to craft an atmosphere that’s both sparse yet intimate, minimalistic yet richly experiential. These sublime little vignettes are everywhere you look here in the Portland Japanese Garden and this was one of my favorites – the little waterfalls gently meeting the otherwise still garden pond and the vibrantly colored maple tree perched perfectly over the scene dropping a couple leaves to decorate the mossy boulders below.