You've heard us mention it; well, recently, we met up with Mr. Charles Wood, the visionary behind the aptly named Charles Wood Japanese Garden in Mobile, Alabama.
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| Melanie Lobel (PTS, on left) and Charles Wood (on right) |
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| Japanese Magnolia |
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| Two of Mobile's happiest gardeners. |
"The Mobile Japanese Garden is the brain child of Mr. Charles Wood. A student of various forms of painting, Mr. Wood became interested in the ancient art of Sumi-e, a Japanese art form based on wash painting pioneered by the Chinese during the Tang Dynasty.
Mr. Wood's interests in Sumi-e piqued his interest in Japanse culture. As a result he became interested in Japanese gardens. In a chance opportunity with one of his wife's garden club meetings, he suggested that Mobile would do well to have a traditional Japanese garden for people to enjoy. As it turned out, the association to which his wife belonged had leased a large piece of property from the city. Their needs were modest compared to the size of the property so the director of the association suggested that Mr. Wood could lease approximately fourteen acres of the property. Coincidentally, the property had been a fishery that was designed and managed by a Japanese-American.
Mr. Wood immediately fell in love with the property and his vision for a Japanese Garden was born."
The Japanese Garden is located on Forest Hill Drive (Near Municipal "Langan" Park).
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