Louis Lee's Rock Garden

Phoenix, Arizona

In the annals of folk artists, Louis Lee must surely rate as one of the most obsessed ... uh, I mean dedicated. In 1958, Lee started a rock garden on the hillside in his front yard, and continued adding to it until his death in 2006 at the age of 92. Lee's structural materials of choice were concrete, stone, brick, and tile; he then adorned every square inch with colored stones, bottles, plates, vases, and an indescribable assortment of bric-a-brac. If there is an overriding architectural theme, it is the arch -- there are arches upon arches upon arches. Buddha statues are perched throughout, adding an Asian flavor. This is one accomplishment that must be seen in person to be believed; even then the mind boggles at the amount of labor that it represents.

Directions: 4015 E. McDonald Dr. Private residence posted against trespassing, but much of the garden can be seen from the street.

Last visited: December 2009.

Standard disclaimer: Sites are described for entertainment purposes only, as they were at the time of my last visit. I can not vouch for the current condition of the site or its accessibility.