The Botanic Garden unveiled its Sasebo Japanese Garden on Saturday with a ceremony featuring performers from around the world.
"The whole thing is just absolutely phenomenal," visitor and Dubai resident Inge Krieger said. "It's very yin-yang."
Outside the garden entrance, there's a basin for ceremonial cleansing. After visitors wash up, they walk along a gravel path beneath a tile-roofed entryway.
The bamboo fence that surrounds the garden is short enough for people to enjoy the outlying cottonwoods.
The artistry extends to the koi pond, surrounded by a striking line of rocks. According to the Shinto faith, object-spirits, or kami, are more likely to live in rocks that are unusual or ancient; this enrichment is desirable in a Japanese garden.
The garden's symbolism and meaning kept visitors interested. A tall waterfall calls to mind the legendary carp that fought its way to the top of a waterfall to become a dragon, part of an ancient Japanese legend. The hill also has spiritual meaning because the Buddha was said to live on top of a mountain.
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The walk around the pond is a journey, as the garden reveals different compositions as one walks the circle.
"(Japanese designers) like to use the concepts of hide and reveal," tour guide Andre Peek said. "They make you stroll through the whole garden and pick up concepts along the way."
The garden seems simple, but its relaxing atmosphere was not achieved without meticulous attention to detail.
"It's really authentic," visitor Nico Krieger said. "The woodworking is really impressive."
The celebration's performances included Eastern-themed dances and songs, an African musical group, Hawaiian hula dancers and Irish step dancers.
"International Day highlighted the fact that we have a lot of ethnic and cultural diversity here in Albuquerque, and we celebrate that," said Terry Axline, marketing manager for the Biopark.
The entertainment made for a good family outing.
"It was nice to see the kids there learning about different cultures," visitor Sarah Gonzales said.
While the celebration is over, the garden will remain for Albuquerque residents to enjoy and explore for years to come.
"I would like to go over there every day for my break and just sit there and enjoy it," Axline said.
