It wasn’t intentional, but I found that several aspects of my garden were inspired by some of trips we’ve taken.  One of the most different from southwest Austin was our 2007 trip to China.  I really liked all the variations I found on Chinese Guardian Lions, Shishi, (aka Foo Dogs).  Here’s what we have on the deck…

And here are a couple of the inspiration pieces…

Male Shishi – Forbidden City, Bejing, China 2007

Female Shishi – Forbidden City, Bejing, China 2007

The other building I loved in Beijing was the Temple of Heaven.  The blue roof was amazing.

Temple of Heaven – Beijing, China – 2007

And here’s what’s in the back yard (ok, this one is a stretch but it’s the blue element I was after).

There was a park just northwest of the Forbidden City – Beihai Park  – that offer the first Buddhas we’d see all over China.  First mine…

And the inspirations –

Buddha Shrine, Beihai Park, Beijing, China 2007

Buddha Shrine – Great Goose Pagoda, Xian, China 2007

The Ghost City of Fengdu was a trip and a half.  It was supposed to be ‘Chinese Hell’ I think.  (It sure felt like it; subtropical heat and humidity with no wind…yikes!).  These are the ‘Soul Judges’ the dearly departed meets in the afterlife…

Soul Judges – Ming Hill, Fengdu Ghost City, China 2007

And finally, some landscapes from Beijing that I had in mind for the ‘Asian’ part of the yard.

Asia in Central Texas

Our bamboo gate in ‘Little Asia’

Garden of Tranquil Longevity, Beijing, China 2007

Garden of Tranquil Longevity, Beijing, China 2007

Garden of Tranquil Longevity, Beijing, China 2007

Garden of Tranquil Longevity, Beijing, China 2007