Experience the beauty of fall at Gibbs Gardens’ ‘Tsukiyama’ Japanese hill and pond stroll garden considered largest in the nation
By: Barbara Schneider
Fall’s beauty and dazzling autumn color arrive first at “Tsukiyama,” Gibbs Gardens’ Japanese hill-and-pond stroll garden. Covering more than 40 acres, it’s considered the largest Japanese Garden in the nation. Each fall thousands of Japanese maples of every size, shade and variety steal the show with vibrant displays of red, orange, amber and burgundy color.
The spacious garden—with its subtle design, awesome views, natural beauty and carved stone artistry—evokes the sense of serenity, age and character found in ancient Japanese gardens. Inspired by his travels in Japan, Jim Gibbs, owner/designer/developer of Gibbs Gardens, planned and designed every aspect of the Japanese Garden.
Visitors enter the four-season garden through the Torii Gate then follow a meandering path for a gentle walk around spring-fed ponds. Reflections in the seven tranquil ponds mirror the stately trees, colorful flowers and exotic sculptures. Gibbs added two islands for visual interest and sight lines; one called the Masters Island built as a peninsula protrudes into the water. The location offers visitors a breathtaking 360-degree view of the garden.
Gibbs’ Japanese Garden is filled with ancient symbolism. Everything has meaning from the size and shape of stones—some signifying happiness and good fortune—to the Zigzag Bridge built with three turns to chase away evil spirits. Forty Japanese stone lanterns—hand-carved by Japanese traditional artisans—are placed around the garden, similar to traditional tea ceremonies.
Japanese pagodas are positioned throughout the gardens; one is flanked by two hand-carved stone kirin, a mythical creature with dragon heads, lion tails, hoofs of a bull and fish-scale body.
More than 170 varieties of plantings—from ground cover and perennials to vines, shrubs and trees—create a magnificent, but subtly changing, living balance to the traditional man-made Japanese elements. Millions of ferns, along with native azalea, dogwood, mountain laurel and cherry trees bloom in spring.
Photographers are drawn to the Japanese Gardens and the opportunity for an infinite variety of magnificent photos—from dragonflies hovering over cobalt blue water iris to reflections of billowing clouds and vibrant fall foliage in the ponds.
“The Japanese garden is a balance of natural and man-made beauty, a garden of meditation that delights the senses, challenges the soul and for many is a spiritual experience,” explained Gibbs.
A visit to Gibbs Gardens’ “Tsukiyama,” is an unforgettable experience.
A world-class garden experience
Honored with the National Garden Club’s Award of Excellence, Gibbs Gardens was named one of the “Thirteen Best Botanical Gardens in America,” “2020 Best American Botanical Gardens,” one of the “World’s 10 Best Places to See Daffodils”, USA Today’s “Best Flower Festival” for 2025 and 2026; a top garden in Georgia by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Explore Georgia. To learn more, go to gibbsgardens.com.
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Dark, moody hues can create the prefect fall palette in the garden. This on-trend can be especially fun for spooky season decorating.
To learn more click here for an interesting article.
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