“A garden isn’t meant to be useful. It’s for joy.
Rumer Godden
So soon I read this week’s subject … my thoughts went straight to the Shukkei-en Garden in Hiroshima, as I call the garden of umbrellas. 
This garden was completed in 1620 and in 1940 the Asano family donated them to Hiroshima Prefecture. With being so close to the Ground Zero of the A-bomb in 6th August 1945, it was server damage, but only 9 years later it was restored and opened for the public again.
Carefully restored!!! 
Today the Hiroshima Prefectural Art Museum is located adjacent to the garden. Situated on the banks of Kyōbashi River, an oasis in the middle of a modern buzzing city.
When I visit in May this year … the weather was very nice and the sun was high on the sky most days. 
In the garden they protected their most delicate flowers with umbrellas from the sun … that is what my entry is about .. the carefulness and love of the beauty in a garden and for nature.
“Hana wa Saku” (Flowers Will Bloom) – was produced to build public support for the 3.11 earthquake disaster recovery effort, in 2011.
“In the spring wind that blows softly
Over the snow-covered road.
I remember that town,
My sweet old town.
I was there chasing my dreams.
I was there trying to change myself
Now I just miss those people,
My dear old friends
I can still hear them singing
They are singing to cheer up someone else.
I can still see them smiling
Somewhere beyond the sorrow and pain
Flowers will bloom, oh yes they will,
For you, who are yet to be born someday
Flowers will bloom, oh yes they will.
What have I left behind for you?
Feeling the morning light beyond the dark night,
I remember those days
Those sweet old days.
I hurt people, I hurt myself
I wept over my lost loves.
Now I just miss those people,
My dear old friends.”
myguiltypleasures 
What a neat place to visit. Thanks for taking me there through your photos!
Thank you so much … my pleasure !!.. it is a fantastic garden, had a couple of relaxing hours there … I have done a post about my visit if you’re interested . http://wp.me/p293Pw-aSV – have a lovely weekend
Just a lovely post. I have never seen these gardens so this post was especially special for me.
Yes, this post is for you and everybody else that hasn’t been to a Japanese garden. My pleasure. Japanese gardens … very special and very peaceful … I did a post about my visit if you’re interested. http://wp.me/p293Pw-aSV
The word “Resilience” came to mind as I looked at the photos. Again, thank you.
Resilience – a word I never come across before .. and google doesn’t make me any wiser. Johanna, my pleasure.
New Oxford Dictionary:
resilience |riˈzilyəns|
noun
1 the ability of a substance or object to spring back into shape; elasticity: nylon is excellent in wearability and resilience.
2 the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness: the often remarkable resilience of so many British institutions.
DERIVATIVES
resiliency noun
Thank you so much … for that. I wouldn’t say umbrellas are tough .. at least not in my hands or our weather … so I have given up on them. But I understand what you mean.
I was thinking of the entire gardens.
Sorry … that is me getting nylon into my head. Getting wiser by the minute. *smile
🙂 How interesting! My first thought was that the umbrellas stood for the victims of the Hiroshima bombing. – How sweet to protect the flowers with them!
Have a good weekend. how’s your packing going?
xoxo 🙂
That is the careful soul of the Japanese people. Their respect for for nature. Packing done, but I only need knickers and raincoat .. it’s going to be rain and thunder my whole stay.
I wish you a pleasant weekend too. Regards to … K *smile
I would love to see the Hiroshima gardens… And I chuckled at your packing – only need knickers and a raincoat…..😳
Sue, I’m sure that you will get there … one day, it took me a while too. Yes, checked the weather today … rain and thunder, day and night .. for all 7 days. But I have booked tours .. but I hate when I get raindrops on the lens. But after Japan I should be able to do the best of the rain too. Have a pleasant weekend, Sue …
I’m sure you’ll do very well, Wivi! Have a great trip!
Thanks, Sue … I try my best.
Although I very much enjoyed the post, seeing a quote by Rumer Godden brightened my day. I love her work!
janet
Janet, thank you so much … your comment brighten my evening. *smile .. I haven’t read anything by of her work . I love the quote.
Wish you a pleasant weekend.
And you as well.
I love how you’re all instant response to the WP challenge, Vivi. 🙂 That last shot of the roses is really beautiful and I know you love this place. I can see why. It does make your heart sing 🙂 Happy weekend, darlin’.
Jo, the same to you ….!!!! Yes, that garden I often go back to .. because it was something I shared with myself and those umbrellas told me that we should be careful with things … so when I so the subject. Yes, the garden make my heart sing… you said it.
Jo, I’m not sure it’s a rose … I think it’s a peony. It was too early for the roses, but it really enjoying being protected.
Sorry peony! I wasn’t sure either 🙂 Love you, honeybun!
Love you too!!!!!!
Absolutely beautiful Viveka. What a magical place this is. I would have loved to have seen it in 1620 as well. Lovely choice of music…love it 🙂
Rhonda, it have me some magical … hours and I had the honour to meet a Japanese new wed couple too – that was taking their wedding photos in the park. Hiroshima has very special place in my heart. I think the garden today is very much how it was in 1940. A sanctuary!!!
I would be very humbled to visit there I think. One day maybe I’ll be so fortunate. A sanctuary indeed V…you’re blessed to have walked through it and taken so much of it home with you.
Rhoda, you’re so right .. I did a post about my hours in the park … called garden of umbrellas.
I’ll have to go read that post Viv…I bet it was an unbelievable experience
A really lovely post, Viveka. Loved listening to the song too.
Thank you, Sylvia …. for your lovely comment … those umbrellas taught me that we have to be careful with all the delicate things in our lives. I think it’s a lovely little song .. don’t need to understand the words.
Me too. 🙂
Isn’t this a beautiful thing! So lovely, Viveka.
Loisa, the hours I spent on my own in this garden, is priceless .. and those umbrellas made me so humble.
I never knew it existed. Thank you for sharing and for the beautifully taken photographs.
Thank you so much. I didn’t neither until I was in Hiroshima.
Love the images, what a beautiful place ! Thanks for sharing, a wonderful interpretation of the challenge this week 🙂
Thank you so much … for your sweet comment. Those umbrellas is one of the strongest memories I have from Japan.
Beautiful gardens and cascading music, perfect Sunday treat.
ThAaaAaAnk you!