Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden

Long Beach, United States

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The Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden in Long Beach, California, is a serene 1.3-acre garden located on the campus of California State University, Long Beach.

Dedicated in 1981 by Mrs. Loraine Miller Collins in memory of her late husband Earl Burns Miller, the garden draws design inspiration from traditional Japanese Heian Period gardens as well as the Imperial Gardens of Tokyo. It features key elements such as a koi pond with colorful fish, a tea house used for seasonal ceremonies, a Zen rock garden symbolizing ocean waves, and carefully maintained bonsai trees and waterfalls.

Designed by landscape architect Ed Lovell with support from Professor Koichi Kawana, the garden combines cultural authenticity with adaptation to its Southern California environment. It serves as an educational and cultural resource for the university and community, offering a peaceful retreat and hosting events like chrysanthemum shows and koi auctions while embodying principles of Japanese horticultural art and philosophy.​