The Asia Garden is serenely situated on the shore of 30-acre Furman Lake at Furman University. Three water bodies: two small ponds of differing sizes and a bog are strung together and edged by water plants, trees, shrubs, and perennials native to either Asia or South Carolina. The red maples (Acer rubrum) are of course North American indigenous plants and create spectacular shade for the landscaped spaces while the bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) adds a strong vertical edge to the garden. Cryptomeria (C. japonica), an Asian native, adds rough magnificence to the small space and has managed to hold its green color deep into the interior of the foliage, an unusual event for a large specimen.
Formerly known as The Japanese Garden, the roughly two-acre landscape is undergoing a Renaissance. One year ago Sheree Wright was hired as Senior Groundskeeper to participate in the special project and reconstruction of the popular space. Investment in the Asia Garden is spurred by Furman University’s expanding Asian Studies program. United States donors and Asian University collaborators are all intent on building a world class Asian studies program for Furman students. And what better way to communicate culture than through the creation, maintenance and experience of an Asian garden? Asian studies and biology classes are frequent Asia Garden users. Furman’s development office is currently designing a funding campaign that includes naming opportunities.
