Kay McFarland Japanese Garden and Venue

06/05/2026

The waterlilies are in bloom and adding some of the best natural décor the Kay McFarland Japanese Garden has to offer. 🌸

Floating across the water, these vibrant blooms create a beautiful backdrop for weddings, receptions, and special events throughout the season.

If you're dreaming of a venue where the scenery does part of the decorating for you, learn more here: https://topekazoo.org/private-events/kay-mcfarland-japanese-garden-venue/



📷: Brea Schmidt

06/01/2026

When people picture hosting an event in the Kay McFarland Japanese Garden, they often think of the big moments. The ceremony. The toast. The gathering of family and friends.

But part of the fun is noticing the smaller details! 🤗😁

A stream tucked between the rocks. A stone lantern you've walked past three times before finally catching your eye. Water lilies floating quietly across the pond. The view of the red Moon Bridge framed through the trees.

One of our favorite things about the garden as an event venue is that it isn't just a backdrop. It's a space people experience. Every turn offers a different view, and every season brings something new to discover.

If you're planning a wedding, celebration, or special gathering, take a moment to imagine your guests exploring these scenes right alongside the event itself.

Which garden view would you want your guests to discover first? 🍃

05/29/2026

05/28/2026

Some waterfalls demand attention. Others invite you to slow down and listen. 🍃💧

Waterfall number 4 in our series sits just upstream of the red Moon Bridge, tucked into a quieter stretch of the garden where the sound shifts once again.

One of the most unique details of the Kay McFarland Japanese Garden is that each of the 9 waterfalls was intentionally designed to create a different sound and feeling throughout the space. No two are exactly alike.

This one carries a softer rhythm: steady, calming, and easy to get lost in for a while.

Which waterfall sound has been your favorite so far?

05/21/2026

Summer in the Kay McFarland Japanese Garden is almost upon us, and everything is starting to feel more full of color, sound, and life! ☀️🌱

Some days the garden is filled with celebrations and special events. Other days, it’s just the breeze moving through the trees and water flowing through the streams. Both feel equally at home here.

📍Take a look around the garden:
https://topekazoo.org/private-events/kay-mcfarland-japanese-garden-venue/

📸 Photo credit: Kim Busey

05/19/2026

One of the things that makes the Kay McFarland Japanese Garden so special is that every part of it was designed with intention!

The pathways, bridges, stone lanterns, trees, and even the placement of the rocks all work together to create scenes that feel natural, peaceful, and balanced. Nothing is random. Each detail helps tell part of the garden’s story.

As you walk through the garden, the views slowly change around you from season to season, and even from one turn in the path to the next. It’s the kind of place where you notice something different every time you visit. 🍃

Whether you come for a quiet stroll, a moment to slow down, or to celebrate something meaningful with the people you love, the garden has a way of making you feel present in the moment.🌿

Learn more about the garden here:
https://topekazoo.org/private-events/kay-mcfarland-japanese-garden-venue/

05/14/2026

The Kay McFarland Japanese Garden wouldn’t exist without the vision of one remarkable woman. 🌿

Former Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Kay McFarland dreamed of bringing a world-class Japanese garden to Topeka. A place centered around peace, reflection, beauty, and connection.

Her love of travel and appreciation for nature helped inspire what the garden has become today: a space where people gather for quiet walks, meaningful moments, celebrations, and memories that last for years to come.

It’s easy to admire the waterfalls, bridges, and carefully placed stones… but behind all of it is a legacy that started with Kay’s dream for something special in the heart of Topeka. 🤍

Learn more about Kay and the Japanese Garden here:
https://topekazoo.org/explore-kays-japanese-garden/kay-mcfarland/

Lasting Legacy Online

05/11/2026

This one is easy to miss if you’re not paying attention… 🌿💧

Next in our waterfall series takes us to a smaller, quieter feature tucked between the Crane Gate and the Eight Plank Bridge in the Kay McFarland Japanese Garden.

It doesn’t demand attention the way some of the larger waterfalls do—but that’s exactly the point. This is one of those in-between spaces where sound, movement, and stillness all blend together. A gentle reminder that not everything meaningful has to be grand to be worth noticing.

If you pause here for a moment, you’ll hear it. Soft, steady, and calm—almost like the garden is speaking in a whisper.

Take a listen and compare it to the last stop in the series… 🌊

We’re continuing our journey through all 9 waterfalls!

05/07/2026

One of the most interesting things about the Kay McFarland Japanese Garden is that what you see today is only the beginning. 🌱

This garden was designed with the future in mind — every tree, stone, pathway, and view carefully placed knowing it will continue to grow and change over time. Even now, the garden is still considered to be in its infancy stage, slowly maturing season by season.

It’s kind of special to think that years from now, the garden will look different than it does today… fuller, taller, and even more connected to the vision it was designed around!

Learn more about the garden here:
https://topekazoo.org/explore-kays-japanese-garden/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23688771350&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8PDPBhCeARIsAOJwmWUie23lT6mIG5g245K1_9ONBX8k2wquflwjkywE1gVd4xznw0JutQAaAgdxEALw_wcB

05/04/2026

There’s something a little different about this one… 🍃💧

Next in our waterfall series is the Crane Waterfall, tucked near the Crane Tea House in the Kay McFarland Japanese Garden.

Just beside the water, you’ll notice some large vertical boulders. These stones are placed with purpose, representing ancestors—adding another layer of meaning to this already reflective space.

With the cranes nearby—symbols of longevity and good fortune—it’s a spot that invites you to slow down and stay a little longer.

Take a listen, and see how this one feels compared to the first. 🌊
We’re only getting started with 7 more waterfalls to cover!