Known as Tenshin-en, or the “Garden of the Heart of Heaven,” this serene 10,000 square-foot space behind the Museum of Fine Arts merges Japanese symbolism with the natural beauty of New England. Designed by Kyoto garden master Kinsaku Nakane, the contemplative space is a karesansui (dry landscape) that uses meticulously raked gravel to mimic water and over 200 carefully placed stones to represent mountains and islands. It features over 70 plant species, including towering pines, cherries, and Japanese maples.

Jeanine and I have decided to integrate a Japanese garden into our home’s landscape. It is still an early notion, and we have decided to visit several gardens to seek inspiration. Our outing this morning also included a visit to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and a rare rhinoceros sighting.