Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids opened its newest addition to the public this past week with the unveiling of the Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden. The three-year project by garden designer Hoichi Kurisu and Kurisu International combines traditional Japanese garden features with contemporary sculptures.

Visitors wind their way around the Lena Meijer Pond past waterfalls, across bridges and through gardens as they explore eight acres of contemplation and reflection. An authentic Japanese teahouse, built in Japan and then dismantled and rebuilt in the gardens, offers traditional tea ceremonies by appointment. For more information or to plan a visit to the gardens, visit www.meijergardens.org.

Don Campbell / HP staff
A light rain falls as a visitor photographs the Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden Monday at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids. The 8-acre garden features a variety of traditional Japanese elements including waterfalls, boulders and ponds with an emphasis on contemplation and reflection.

Don Campbell / HP staff
Visitors duck under branches hanging across a path as they stroll by “Long Island Buddha” at the newly opened Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids. The large copper sculpture by artist Zhang Huan, based in Shanghai, is among the contemporary pieces on display at the garden which opened this past week.

Don Campbell / HP staff See more photos:heraldpalladium.mycapture.com
Water flows over boulders and past a Japanese Maple at the South Waterfall, one of the many water features at the Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids.

Don Campbell / HP staff
The stainless steel sculpture “Four Open Squares Horizontal Gyratory-Tapered” by George Rickey, installed 16 inches above the Lena Meijer Pond, is among the pieces featured at the Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids.

Don Campbell / HP staff
A Japanese maple tree frames a boulder along a pathway at the Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids.

Don Campbell / HP staff
A Juniper bonsai tree joins dozens of varieties including Japanese Maple, Japanese Black Pine, Ponderosa Pine and others on display at the Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids.

Don Campbell / HP staff
Gravel raked to represent water ripples surround carefully placed boulders in a Zen-Style Garden Monday at the Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids.

Don Campbell / HP staff
Gravel raked to represent water ripples surround carefully placed boulders in a Zen-Style Garden Monday at the Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids.

Don Campbell / HP staff
Boulders are reflected in the waters of a man-made pond at the Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids.

Don Campbell / HP staff
A water basin welcomes visitors at the entrance to the Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids.

Don Campbell / HP staff
“It Will Continue to Grow Except at That Point” a bronze sculpture by artist Giuseppe Penone greets visitors as they explore the Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids.

Don Campbell / HP staff
Claudia Judson, left, from Grand Rapids, joins her granddaughters, Ella Heddinghaus, 10, and Lily Heddinghaus, 12, not pictured, as they sketch scenics at the Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids.

Don Campbell / HP staff
Trees are reflected in the ponds at the Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids.

Don Campbell / HP staff
A stream flows over boulders at the south waterfall Monday at the Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids.

Don Campbell / HP staff
Gravel raked to represent water ripples surround carefully placed boulders in a Zen-Style Garden Monday at the Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids.

Hundreds of re-enactors gathered in Benton Harbor this past weekend for the annual Lest We Forget held at the Southwest Michigan Regional Airport. It's always cool to cover these type of events and this year was no exception. From the first person accounts from Medal of Honor recipients such as Don Ballard and Gary Wetzel to fly overs and military weapons displays it was a weekend packed with history and tributes.  Don Campbell / HP staff See more photos:heraldpalladium.mycapture.com
A U.S. Army Huey takes off after picking up wounded soldiers during a battle re-enactment Saturday, June 20, 2015, during the Lest We Forget Tribute To Vietnam Veterans held at the Southwest Michigan Regional Airport in Benton Harbor. Don Campbell / HP staff See more photos:heraldpalladium.mycapture.com
Re-enactors advance during a battle re-enactment Saturday, June 20, 2015, during the Lest We Forget Tribute To Vietnam Veterans held at the Southwest Michigan Regional Airport in Benton Harbor. Don Campbell / HP staff See more photos:heraldpalladium.mycapture.com
A flame thrower is used during a battle re-enactment Saturday, June 20, 2015, during the Lest We Forget Tribute To Vietnam Veterans held at the Southwest Michigan Regional Airport in Benton Harbor. Don Campbell / HP staff See more photos:heraldpalladium.mycapture.com
Re-enactors prepare to got into a mock battle Saturday, June 20, 2015, during the Lest We Forget Tribute To Vietnam Veterans held at the Southwest Michigan Regional Airport in Benton Harbor. Don Campbell / HP staff See more photos:heraldpalladium.mycapture.com
T-34s take to the air Saturday, June 20, 2015, during the Lest We Forget Tribute To Vietnam Veterans held at the Southwest Michigan Regional Airport in Benton Harbor. Don Campbell / HP staff See more photos:heraldpalladium.mycapture.com
Baby shoes and a peace symbol hang from a jeep's machine gun Saturday, June 20, 2015, during the Lest We Forget Tribute To Vietnam Veterans held at the Southwest Michigan Regional Airport in Benton Harbor. Soldiers often carried momentos from home during their tours in Vietnam. Don Campbell / HP staff See more photos:heraldpalladium.mycapture.com
Viet Cong re-enactors break in camp Saturday, June 20, 2015, during the Lest We Forget Tribute To Vietnam Veterans held at the Southwest Michigan Regional Airport in Benton Harbor. Don Campbell / HP staff See more photos:heraldpalladium.mycapture.com
A re-enactor catches a nap Saturday, June 20, 2015, during the Lest We Forget Tribute To Vietnam Veterans held at the Southwest Michigan Regional Airport in Benton Harbor. Don Campbell / HP staff See more photos:heraldpalladium.mycapture.com
Fena D'Ottavio, from Benton Harbor, inspects the interior of a 1967 Cessna O-2A, used as a spotter plane during the Vietnam War, Saturday, June 20, 2015, at the Lest We Forget Tribute To Vietnam Veterans held at the Southwest Michigan Regional Airport in Benton Harbor. Don Campbell / HP staff See more photos:heraldpalladium.mycapture.com
Cody Melvin, 10, from Lansing, gets a close look at a deactivated rocket propelled grenade launcher Saturday, June 20, 2015, during the Lest We Forget Tribute To Vietnam Veterans held at the Southwest Michigan Regional Airport in Benton Harbor. VIETNAM VETERANS RIDEVolunteer Rob Kesterke, from St. Joseph, Mich., installs one of over 100 American flags lining the entrance to the Southwest Michigan Regional Airport in Benton Harbor, Mich., Friday, June 19, 2015, during a Vietnam Veterans Rememberance Motorcycle Ride.(AP Photo/The Herald-Palladium, Don Campbell) VIETNAM VETERANS RIDEU.S. Army veteran Clarence "Bucky" Jones, from Farmland, IN, adjusts an American flag on a trailer before the start of a Vietnam Veterans Rememberance Ride Friday, June 19, 2015, at the Southwest Michigan Regional Airport in Benton Harbor, Mich. Dozens of motorcycles joined the ride from Benton Harbor through Eau Claire, Sodus, Niles and New Buffalo, Mich., as part of this weekend's Lest We Forget Tribute To Vietnam Veterans.(AP Photo/The Herald-Palladium, Don Campbell)

There are no multi-million dollar sponsors, no race teams with dozens of pit crew workers. Drivers sleep not in luxurious motorhomes but often in tents pitched on muddy ground. Each year Gingerman Raceway in South Haven hosts The Cure for Gingervitis auto race, part of the 24 Hours of LeMons series held across the country. Dozens of drivers compete in the endurance race where the primary restriction is that the cars must be valued at $500 or less. While rules govern the technical side of the cars, nothing stops the teams' imagination and creativity when it comes to decorating. Got to love these guys. LEMONS AUTO RACINGThe One Lap For Dogs racing team, running a 1996 VW Golf, heads into a turn Saturday, April 25, 2015, during The Cure for Gingervitis auto race held at Gingerman Raceway in South Haven, Mich. Drivers race cars valued at $500 or less during the annual race, part of the 24 Hours of LeMons series held across the country.(AP Photo/The Herald-Palladium, Don Campbell) LEMONS AUTO RACINGThe Flying Pigs Racing team and their 1987 Ford Mustang, left, take a turn Saturday, April 25, 2015, during The Cure for Gingervitis auto race held at Gingerman Raceway in South Haven, Mich. Drivers race cars valued at $500 or less during the annual race, part of the 24 Hours of LeMons series held across the country.(AP Photo/The Herald-Palladium, Don Campbell) LEMONS AUTO RACINGThe Hard 8 Racing team and their 1998 Ford Contour makes a pit stop Saturday, April 25, 2015, during The Cure for Gingervitis auto race held at Gingerman Raceway in South Haven, Mich. Drivers race cars valued at $500 or less during the annual race, part of the 24 Hours of LeMons series held across the country.(AP Photo/The Herald-Palladium, Don Campbell) LEMONS AUTO RACINGTeam Product Design and their 1994 Saturn makes a pit stop Saturday, April 25, 2015, during The Cure for Gingervitis auto race held at Gingerman Raceway in South Haven, Mich. Drivers race cars valued at $500 or less during the annual race, part of the 24 Hours of LeMons series held across the country.(AP Photo/The Herald-Palladium, Don Campbell) LEMONS AUTO RACINGPaul Sulja, part of The Ancient and Mystic Society of the No Daniels racing team, signals his driver to make a pit stop Saturday, April 25, 2015, during The Cure for Gingervitis auto race held at Gingerman Raceway in South Haven, Mich. Drivers race cars valued at $500 or less during the annual race, part of the 24 Hours of LeMons series held across the country.(AP Photo/The Herald-Palladium, Don Campbell) LEMONS AUTO RACINGTeams, including Mity Metro, front, take a turn Saturday, April 25, 2015, during The Cure for Gingervitis auto race held at Gingerman Raceway in South Haven, Mich. Drivers race cars valued at $500 or less during the annual race, part of the 24 Hours of LeMons series held across the country.(AP Photo/The Herald-Palladium, Don Campbell) LEMONS AUTO RACINGThe Little Lebowski Urban Achievers and their 1986 Volvo, left, make a pit stop Saturday, April 25, 2015, during The Cure for Gingervitis auto race held at Gingerman Raceway in South Haven, Mich. Drivers race cars valued at $500 or less during the annual race, part of the 24 Hours of LeMons series held across the country.(AP Photo/The Herald-Palladium, Don Campbell) LEMONS AUTO RACINGThe Emily's Power For a Cure racing team and their 1988 Mazda RX7 changes drivers during a pit stop Saturday, April 25, 2015, during The Cure for Gingervitis auto race held at Gingerman Raceway in South Haven, Mich. Drivers race cars valued at $500 or less during the annual race, part of the 24 Hours of LeMons series held across the country.(AP Photo/The Herald-Palladium, Don Campbell) LEMONS AUTO RACINGDriver Michael Adams, with Hard 8 Racing, gets in his 1998 Ford Contour at a pit stop Saturday, April 25, 2015, during The Cure for Gingervitis auto race held at Gingerman Raceway in South Haven, Mich. Drivers race cars valued at $500 or less during the annual race, part of the 24 Hours of LeMons series held across the country.(AP Photo/The Herald-Palladium, Don Campbell) LEMONS AUTO RACINGA fan and team member watch Saturday, April 25, 2015, during The Cure for Gingervitis auto race held at Gingerman Raceway in South Haven, Mich. Drivers race cars valued at $500 or less during the annual race, part of the 24 Hours of LeMons series held across the country.(AP Photo/The Herald-Palladium, Don Campbell)