The original Ryoanji Temple Stone Garden was built in Kyoto, Japan over 800 years ago by Zen priests. The first replica in this country was built at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. John Ploetz was in charge of planting trees behind it. The Nannen Arboretum’s Temple was constructed in 1980 and is meant to be a meditation and contemplation garden. Granite grit is used as a ground cover because it is heavier than sand and the ripple raking resembles water. The large stones represent islands and were mined in Akron, New York.