International Friendship Garden — Attraction in Abbotsford

A beautiful and rare Japanese-style public garden, a little less of an attraction now that a very unnatural and mildly creepy art/sculpture/memorial installation has been installed in the center.

There are nice little seating areas tucked away behind all-season vegetation like a bamboo forest, flowering bushes and cherry trees. The mini waterfall, streams and pond are attractive and lay down some nice white noise to help keep traffic sounds at bay.

One of the best times to visit is at the end of March - the cherry trees are blooming, and the magnolia blossoms just starting to open at that point, with scattered daffodils and other spring flowers. Later seasons do see some blooming bushes with vivid colors as well, and the garden does seem fuller later in the year when the trees leaf out, but it's hard to beat cherry blossom season in a Japanese garden.

Free to access with doors/gates on three sides - (fourth side is a public library and local university campus building. Parts of the garden are accessible - try the main access along the street - but more than half the paths are no good for walkers/wheelchairs, and seniors and children should watch their step on the raw stone steps by the waterfall, as these can get extremely slippery.

This is a good place to meet friends, read a book, or enjoy a stroll in (sort of) nature. Shame about the massive gold and plastic memorial 'tree' that breaks up the continuity and integrity, but it's a definite plus that there's free access.

If you're looking for a more authentic Japanese garden experience, try the Nitobe...

I was having a nice sociable time chatting with friends when some native kid came along and hopped on my scooter which I had recently purchased and I had just put theat took 20 keys into to ride home turned to grab my back pack and Helmut and the kid hoed on it and rode away stealing my scooter and my cell had just died ( part reason why I was leaving) so couldn't make 911 call until located phone to call out that took twenty min. By which time I was informed it was nolonger an emergency so I was told to call the bone emergency line . To which it took until 8 pm at night to give a short version of what happen and no discription of my scooter was taken. The theft occured at 5 pm and I was told by police to wait there for officers to take a detailed statement and collect witnesses numbers,and guess what at 3 am I get a call asking me if it was ok for them to come by and get the statement. Real effiecent don't...

A gem in the heart of Abbotsford. A peaceful park for contemplation and sitting or walking quietly with your thoughts. The Golden Tree is a remarkable piece of public art in the centre of the garden which serves as a memorial for farm workers who died in the community several years ago. The combination of brick paths, water, rock and trees makes a great...