Wednesday, August 21, 2013

The Chinese Scholar Garden at the Staten Island Botanical Garden




"The garden is created by the human hand, but should appear as if created by heaven."


 This is paraphrasing the 15th century garden designer Ji Ching.


This garden elicits both a contemplative and sensual experience. All the elements of a classic Scholar's Garden are present: wood, rocks, water, plantings, furniture, walls, walkways, pavillions,  The structure is designed to give the illusion that the building is floating over the water's surface), bridges, paving, painting and calligraphy. We hope you will cherish a day of sketching at this sanctuary. 

 All the architectural components of The New York Chinese Scholar's Garden were prefabricated in Suzhou, including roof and floor tiles, columns and beams, doors and windows, bridges and paving materials and carefully chosen rocks.

This is the ONLY Chinese Scholar's Garden in the United States.   

(description by Victoria V. via Yelp)

DIRECTIONS;
Take subway to lower Manhattan, via the train to South Ferry or the 4/5 train to Bowling Green or the R train to Whitehall. 

Exit and walk south to blue neon Staten Island terminal to take FREE ferry


After landing in Staten Island take the S40 bus at Gate D to travel along Richmond Terrace, less than a 10-minute ride. Let the bus driver know that you want to get off at Snug Harbor.


  • We meet at the Staten Island Ferry, our starting point at 10:00 AM.  
  • There is a $5 entrance fee to the Garden.  
  • If you're delayed or off to a slow start come anyway.  


Find us by calling:


  Mark - 973-809-9128 or 
          Richard - 917-224-8373

The Remaining NYC Urban Sketch Event for August

  • 8/31 - Governors Island - Gorgeous views of New York Harbor and the Wall Street Skyline.  This is the last installment  of our ongoing commitment to take advantage of every free ferry ride  during the month of August.