The Garden of Morning Calm (Korean: 아침고요수목원) is an arboretum located at the east of Seoul. It is in the Gapyeong district of South Korea. It houses 5,000 species of plants. Some are rare or endangered. It has a total 300,000 m² area and attracts 800,000 tourists per year. The name of this garden inspires from Rabindranath Tagore nicknaming Korea the “country of the morning calm”. There are different festivals in this garden in different seasons. In this post, I am going to share some historical significances and the amazing story this Garden. I will also write another post with the details of My experience there.
History of the Garden of Morning Calm
Professor Han San-kyung of Sahmyook University designed this garden with the ambition of spreading the Korean beauty in May of 1996. It is an artistic space on the concepts of asymmetry and balance. He had an idea to establish a world class garden in the U.S in the year 1993. The founder and the employees have strived to embrace the natural beauty of Korea, oriental mystique and the spirit of Korean people into this Garden. Accordingly, the design of this garden focusses on curves, spaces and asymmetric balance. There is also key emphasis on Korea’s unique beauty to express classic elegance and fabulousness.
The Garden was widely known to the public in 1997 as the filming site for the film “Letter”. Why is it so popular as a filming location for so many different videos? The reason is that the excellent natural environment of morning silence is a big advantage. This is because the beautiful gardens are created harmoniously throughout the four seasons. This is possible with the beautiful coniferous forests of Chukryeongsan Mountain, clean valleys, and stone towers built naturally. It is immensely famous for featuring in many films, dramas and CF’s.
Story Behind the Garden
The exhibition garden culture is widely popular in the public and contributes to the interest of many people in nature. It is possible through access to gardens and plants, as well as leisure places and various hands-on experiences conducted in nature.
Originally there were only 10 gardens at the time of its opening. However, now has been transformed into 28 gardens. This includes a green house and a wild flower exhibition room hence presenting beautiful gardens with different themes and various exhibitions. As visitors continue to make new changes without fear, the rate of revisit is high. The dormant stereotype breaking winter festival is available in all seasons. Therefore, visitors continue to visit the village, reaching nearly 800,000 people a year.
Research and Social Support
The opening of the Garden Culture Leading Garden Arboretum in Korea increased the preservation and research of plants. Of course these are the basic roles of the arboretum. The garden regularly sponsors Red Cross, SDA Church, and Dongsan of Peace. It is through ADRA Korea which is an international private relief organization. It is done to provide congratulatory money, scholarships, and child support to support domestic adoptive families in order to contribute to the beautiful garden as well as to the beautiful society.
In addition to social help, the government is providing benefits to local residents and their families. These families are unable to access diverse cultural life in the area. Therefore, the help provides rice to the community, including the arboretum and by donating money to the underprivileged in Gapyeong County. It is done through the fruit of love at the beginning of the year, the end of the year, and by providing rice to the Jusarang Community which is taking care of future sprout children.
Highlights of different seasons at Morning Calm
- Spring: Spring starts at the same time when yellow adonis, Korean winter hazel, and witch hazel bloom. The plants vigorously blossoming under warm sun bring fresh signs of spring. Frozen valleys melt into the sound flowing water and birds singing. Finally, the branches which have been thin during the winter start to become covered with verdure.
- Summer: Summer is the season when trees become greener and colorful perennial flowers blossom. However, unlike Spring when flower bloom as groups, each flower shows its intensity in Summer.
- Autumn: In fall, the garden near by Chukryeongsan Mountain look like the beautiful color of water. From everywhere, you can see beautifully colored, mountainous areas full of colorful leaves. The garden to which chrysanthemum adds its fragrance, shines with red leaves under the high and blue sky.
- Winter: The plants which boast their beauty in Spring, Summer and Autumn start preparing for Winter. The colorful garden covers with white snow. Bird’s songs and sound of water flowing under the ice is audible in silence when you walk on the path full of snow.
Remarks
All these mesmerizing facts inspired me to pay a visit there. I have shared my experience of visiting the Garden of Morning Calm in Autumn here. Do check it out.
The Garden of Morning Calm II: A mesmerizing experience
The Garden of Morning Calm blooms with flowers and floral scents. It is one of the most fabulous botanical gardens of Korea. It is open all year and depending on…
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