The Japanese gardens in Portland, Oregon are strikingly beautiful, even off-season in mid-November.

The size, texture, color, and location of every plant, stone, timber, waterway, bench, building, and lantern have been selected to give the visitor pleasure. Each angle of each pathway is arranged for the best view of the garden or the most harmonious sound of a quiet waterfall. Each bench is in the most restful location. Every bush has been pruned to its best shape, one that will most complement the surrounding plants and structures. Tree limbs are carefully trained to follow the most desirable lines.

Even in the so-called Natural Garden nothing, but nothing, has been left to chance.

In the autumn garden, I have begun to suspect that every morning the staff arranges even the fallen leaves on the pathways in patterns of perfect and only-apparently-random beauty.