A plaque at the entrance lists the 6 movements of Bach's First Suite for Unaccompanied Cello and gives a brief description of each part of the garden. Prelude - Undulating riverscape, Allemande - A forest of wandering trails, Courante - A swirling path through a wildflower meadow, Sarabande - A conifer grove in an arc, Menuett - A formal parterre garden of flowers, and Gigue - Giant grass steps that dance you down to the outside world.
The Prelude is an undulating riverscape using granite boulders and rows of evenly-spaced native hackberry trees (Celtis occidentalis) that are intended to suggest measures of music. There are very subtle wave patterns in the concrete, similar to the rake patterns used in Japanese sand and boulder gardens.
"The Allemande is ... interpreted here as a birch forest, the movement invites the visitor to swirl inward to various contemplative sitting areas, that move higher and higher up the hillside, culminating in a rocky vantage point that looks over the harbor through a circle of Dawn Redwood trees." Paths spin off in either direction, through lush and exuberant plantings.
"The Courante is an exuberant movement, interpreted as a huge upward-spiralling swirl through a lush field of grasses and brightly-colored perennials that attract birds and butterflies. At the top a maypole spins in the wind."
This is the Maypole at the center of the Courante, with the CN Tower in the background.
From the top of the Courante, we're looking ahead to the last garden, the Gigue, which is a series of broad grassy steps.
"The Sarabande is an inward arcing circle enclosed by evergreens. The centerpiece is a huge stone that holds a small pool with water that reflects the sky." I think the large boulders along the entrance match the stately tread of the Sarabande.
Another view of the stately rocks lining the path and the reflecting pool. (Why do people feel the need to put coins in any public body of water, no matter how inappropriate?)
The fencing used in the area of the Menuett is made to look like curving grape vines.
The Gigue is jaunty rollicking music and is represented as giant grass steps leading back to the outside world
The Gigue from the bottom. I love how those golden grasses carry through the theme of the steps.
There's a small stage, made of stones set into the grass, at the base of the Gigue, to accomodate informal performances using the steps as a seating area.