Gibbs’ Japanese Garden balances natural, man-made beauty ‘A garden of meditation that delights the senses, challenges the soul’
By Barbara Schneider, Gibbs Garden
Japanese Garden reflections
Gibbs Gardens is a magical place all year long, but once a year—as late summer morphs into early fall—an incredible transformation takes place. The gardens’ Seasons of Color overlap, providing visitors with an inspiring view of nature’s transition at its most glorious.
A place to rest or meditate.
Beautiful all year long, Gibbs’ legendary Japanese Garden seems almost mystical as summer begins to fade and fall arrives. The delicate beauty of the Japanese Garden takes on a golden glow that turns bright red as blazing color moves up into all the leaves.
The Torii Gate is the traditional entrance to a Japanese Garden
Entered through a Torii Gate, the 40-acre garden features walkways that meander around seven spring-fed ponds with islands, bridges and massive boulders. The zigzag bridge and pagoda structures add traditional detail while ferns, bonsai plants, seasonal azalea and dogwoods soften the landscape to balance to Japanese stone lanterns, boulders and a natural stone bridge.
Fall foliage looking down into the Japanese Garden
There is no season, no other time of year that touches the human spirit with the power of fall. Nowhere are trees more beautiful than the magnificent Japanese Garden—where thousands of Japanese Maples in every shade, size and variety steal the show, lifting vibrant swatches of color skyward on each branch and leaf.
More than 5,000 Japanese Maples, representing 300 varieties, thrive throughout Gibbs Gardens. The leaves of different varieties morph into yellow, orange and red shades at different times throughout fall to offer ever-changing foliage views. Each year Jim Gibbs, the owner/developer/designer of Gibbs Gardens, continues his tradition of adding Japanese Maples in a wide range of varieties for color and diversity to enhance the gardens’ beauty.
In July 2025, representatives from the Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta visited Gibbs Gardens to see the Japanese Gardens.
Visitors from the Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta standing under the Torii Gate (l. to r. Consul General Maeda with his wife along with other Consulate representatives). Photo by Amechi Thomas/Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta.
“We were honored to have these very special guests tour the Japanese Garden,” said Gibbs. After their visit, he received a note sharing Consul General Maeda’s impressions of the garden.
“The Gardens’ beauty and tranquility even went beyond the great things we had heard about it. Consul General Maeda appreciated the attention to detail with regard to having culturally relevant objects such as the torii gate, statues, bridges, choices and design of foliage—even the harmonious placement of rocks and benches. He plans to return later in the year to see Kōyō (return of autumn leaves) in the fall.”
Consul General Maeda and Gibbs Gardens Marketing Manager Carol Skapinetz take a close look at foliage. Photo by Amechi Thomas/Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta.
Jim Gibbs and the staff who greeted and toured with the Consul General and his staff are especially looking forward to their return visit.
Learning from the past
There’s a good reason Gibb’s Japanese Garden has always been special to Jim Gibbs, his garden members, visitors and staff. The garden is authentic. It’s based on Gibbs’ own respect for the culture, history and traditions that make Japanese Gardens unique.
“Before I ever started planning Gibbs Gardens, I visited famous gardens around the world,” said Gibbs. “At one of my favorites—the Zen landscapes of the Kyoto Gardens—I studied with a master gardener. I learned the traditional Japanese Garden is a balance of natural and man-made beauty, a garden of meditation that delights the senses, challenges the soul and for many is a spiritual experience. These words guided me as I created my Japanese Garden.”
World-class destination garden
Atlanta’s local ABC channel, WSB, named Gibbs Gardens one of Georgia’s Hidden Treasures in June. WSB’s recognition comes two months after Gibbs’ Daffodil Festival was voted “the best flower festival in America for 2025” by USA Today 10 Best Readers' Choice Awards. Gibbs Gardens also is honored to be recognized by these organizations: National Garden Clubs’ Award of Excellence; Flower Magazine’s one of “The 10 Best Places in the World to See Daffodils”; one of “Thirteen Best Botanical Gardens in America”; and rated a top garden in Georgia by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
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