There’s certainly no shortage of places to go when you feel like immersing yourself in Northern California’s natural beauty. The nearest park will usually do the trick if you don’t feel like venturing too far, and some of them contain amazing surprises just waiting to be uncovered. For instance, Micke Grove Park is an urban oasis in Lodi and it’s even home to a beautiful Japanese garden. Finding this garden feels a lot like finding the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, so be sure to check this beautiful place out!
Located in Lodi, Micke Grove Regional Park is a wonderland of natural beauty and family-friendly attractions. Home to the Micke Grove Zoo, Wortley Lake, the Historical Museum, and Fun Town, it seems like the park has something for you around every corner.
In fact, there's a Japanese garden hiding within the park that is a nature lover's dream come true. With iconic features including cherry blossom trees, a tea house, and even a Koi pond, this garden is the place to go when you need some quiet time with nature.
This beautiful garden had its beginnings all the way back in 1959 at the hands of "Duke" Yoshimura. A worker of the park, he built the garden as a symbol of the Japanese community's solidarity with the people of San Joaquin County.
The garden was designed by Nagao Sakurai, a notable landscape architect who has designed gardens all over the United States. The garden was dedicated in 1965, and it's acted as a place of peaceful respite for Lodi residents ever since.
The Koi fish pond is one of the park's most fun features. These majestic fish can grow up to three feet in length and have been known to live for 200 years. They are amazing to watch swim around below your feet!
The garden's red arch bridge makes for an especially striking sight. Typical of Japanese design, it looks absolutely gorgeous among the backdrop of flowering cherry trees.
Take a stroll through one of the most charming gardens in San Joaquin County. This Japanese garden will remind you what's so good about being in nature with no distractions! Learn more about this brilliant garden here.
Did you know about the hidden Japanese garden in Micke Grove Park? Tell us about the last time one of Northern California’s beautiful parks surprised YOU in the comments below!
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