Not far from my home is a lovely Japanese friendship garden; Penticton has been a sister city with Ikeda, Japan – located in the Nakagawa District of Tokachi in Hokkaido – since 1977 and this garden is in honour of that relationship. I frequently walk through it as I like to see ongoing seasonal changes and it’s also a very comforting, peaceful place.

There are tranquil paths …

… a koi pond with a fountain …

… and best of all, it was painstakingly and artistically planned to ensure that it would be visually appealing all through the seasons.

Spring petals decorating the pond’s surface …

… and autumn leaves doing the same.

The garden abuts Okanagan Lake which even in summer can be seen through the trees and contributes further to the soothing atmosphere.

In winter, this garden is still serene and relaxing. If it’s warm enough, a little time on one of the benches can be a lovely way to decompress.

Right now however it’s displaying the best of autumn, including the fiery red lace leaf maple bushes that are at their most beautiful.

Happy Tuesday.