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STORRIER STEARNS GARDEN

Cause Area

  • Arts & Culture
  • Community

Location

270 ARLINGTON DRPASADENA, CA 91105 United States

Organization Information

Mission Statement

Our mission is to restore and preserve our historically and culturally significant garden and make it widely available to the community for contemplation, inspiration and enjoyment, for health and wellness, and for education.

Description

The Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden was created by Kinzuchi Fujii between 1935 - 1940 for Charles and Ellamae Storrier Stearns. Fujii (1875 - 1957) designed and built Japanese landscapes across Southern California in the first half of the 20th century.
It is also the only intact example of a major Japanese-style garden created before World War II for a residence in Southern California.

In addition to the authentic teahouse, the garden landscape offers a variety of others beautiful details.

In its grand size of nearly two acres, the Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden contains many of the much admired design features found in the most lavish of Japanese-style gardens of its era.

  • Four original bridges plus a
    traditional cedar log waiting house
  • Two large interconnected,
    irregularly shaped ponds
  • 25-foot hill with cascading waterfall
  • Winding dry riverbed shaded by spreading sycamores & old oaks
  • Many tons of rocks & stones
  • Granite statuary & stone lanterns
  • Various gathering points & vistas
The Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden is a beautiful and charming retreat with a quiet and tranquil elegance. As Kendall Brown states in his book, California Japanese-style Gardens, "this is the genius of Kinzuchi Fujii: this was once a flat area of two tennis courts; now it is a masterwork."

Reviews

Would you recommend STORRIER STEARNS GARDEN?
0 reviews Write a review
by Paris N. from Alhambra, CA (June 11, 2025)
The volunteer process is easy and straight forward. Direction is minimal and based on your skill level. Everyone is very welcoming and the property is beautiful and serene.

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