A Guide to the Best of Southern California : PLACES : Japanese Pine-Garden Oasis
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AFTER YOU MAKE your way past tract-home developments and a country club, then head up a dusty dirt road, Sho-En appears like a mirage on the horizon. Commanding a spectacular setting in the hills just east of Ramona (northeast of San Diego), Sho-En (“pine gardens” in Japanese) preserves the art of Oriental-tree sculpture with sculpted Japanese black pine trees, bonsai, citrus and other unusual plants, many of which are for sale.
In keeping with the Japanese beliefs that the pine branch breathes life and carved stone brings strength, there are stone and metal outdoor sculptures dotting the landscape, and stone lanterns carved from granite and ornamented with adornments and designs.
Sho-En, 20 minutes east of Ramona; telephone (619) 789-7079 for directions.
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