| Ever walked past someone's garden and been so | | | | seating here for that reason. |
| enraptured by the front yard that you hardly | | | | The introduction of something tall lends itself to the |
| registered what the house looked like? In these days | | | | look of the Japanese garden. Western gardens tend |
| of the difficult-to-shift property market, that is the | | | | to be larger and boast a flat expanse of lawn; |
| kind of garden you want. | | | | Japanese homes usually have tiny gardens. They |
| Front yards that have appeal may draw a buyer into | | | | tend to be more vertical, and tall shrubs will often be |
| your home. If they like the way you have finished | | | | placed to hide the house from the street. |
| your yard - they may think that they will like the | | | | For an inexpensive focal point, you can dig a bed and |
| way you have finished your home. | | | | put a bamboo or a red Japanese maple (miniature or |
| At this time of the year a yard is more about | | | | full size) plus other plants in it. The bamboo bushes |
| evergreens and accessories than flowers, as there | | | | and trees will live in most mild North American areas, |
| are very few blooms available. Also - and for this | | | | though you may have to 'cover it' in severe frosts. A |
| reason - it is at this time of year that the Japanese | | | | very large cactus or groupings of cacti will also make |
| garden stands out. A Japanese garden can lend itself | | | | an interesting focal point. |
| to almost any climate, from snowy to humid, from | | | | Smaller beds can be dug in across the yard. The |
| rainy to desert. | | | | center of the yard is deliberately left empty, and a |
| To get an idea of the look of a Japanese garden, | | | | lack of symmetry is desired. This reflects the lack of |
| first look in a few magazines or books at the library, | | | | perfection in the world! |
| or check out some illustrations on the Internet. Pick | | | | For some authentic Japanese atmosphere, one tall |
| illustrations that look similar to the same size and | | | | and one shorter black lantern can be well placed along |
| shape as the layout of your garden. Depending on | | | | your winding (never straight!) pathway, or sometimes |
| your preference you may wish to copy some layout | | | | peeking out from amongst a selection of shrubs and |
| plans or ideas. | | | | plants. |
| Japanese gardens are traditionally ruled by Zen | | | | A small pathway can lead to nowhere, and Zen |
| philosophy. Each feature has a deeper representation | | | | gardens will always have at least one pathway of |
| which you can ponder on, once you are aware of | | | | either white round gravel or gray flattened gravel |
| them. As you walk through your Japanese Zen area | | | | wending its way through your shrubs; several |
| each day, you may even absorb some of the peace | | | | glimpses of this pathway will satisfy the unity and |
| embedded in the Zen philosophy. These ideas for | | | | harmony requirement of Zen gardens. |
| your own Japanese front yard will be discussed in | | | | Whilst lanterns are more of a Buddhist tradition, they |
| two parts. | | | | have come to represent the essence of the |
| Firstly, in "Your Own Japanese Garden: Part 1", the | | | | Japanese garden, so they are also included in Zen |
| focus is on ambience, focal points, rocks and lanterns; | | | | designs. |
| then a follow up in "Your Own Japanese Garden: Part | | | | One very large Japanese lantern and one smaller one |
| 2" explores plants, water, bridges, vessels and aged | | | | elsewhere can look effective. These usually come in |
| items. These combined features help to form the | | | | two traditional styles, one more fat-bellied and squat |
| Japanese Zen garden. | | | | than the other. They are most commonly found in |
| There are several factors of this look that can be | | | | black or pale gray. |
| touched on to create an unusual garden. In an | | | | Some of the most inexpensive modern lighting will |
| abstract way, the qualities that the gardens are | | | | lend itself to the Japanese mode. The 'push-in' |
| representing are peace and tranquility, and in Zen | | | | mushroom type lamps are very easily assimilated into |
| philosophy, this is created by simplicity. | | | | the Zen garden design. |
| The relaxing ambiance that encourages meditation | | | | Rocks and stone are a big feature of the Japanese |
| can be achieved by placing a bamboo or rattan chair | | | | garden, with different sized rocks grouped seemingly |
| plus a small table near a wall, or in front of a lattice | | | | at random. Smaller rocks will look good grouped with |
| fence. If your garden is in a hot part of the country, | | | | your focal point, or added to a bush or plant |
| group the seats under a tree or parasol. Stillness is | | | | grouping. |
| the key word here. | | | | Try to find at least one big rock. If you have one big |
| Two other abstract notions suggested in a Zen | | | | one, you can group smaller ones beside it and finish |
| garden are represented physically by a focal point | | | | off with a fern or two. Stones represent life's |
| that is not placed centrally, and secondly, a 'window' | | | | immovable mountains. |
| to a hidden part in your garden. | | | | If that really resonates with you, beware; just one |
| This can be represented by a piece of tall, latticed | | | | rock will suffice; you do not need a rock for each |
| fence work, or a tree with shrubs around, or a | | | | immovable mountain in your life! If you feel that you |
| pagoda, or even simply a bench that is partly | | | | have numerous immovable mountains in your life, |
| concealed. This 'hide and reveal' theme is suggestive | | | | then move into "Your Own Japanese Garden: Part 2" |
| of the quest for human enlightenment and it also | | | | where the de-stressing values of water-sounds are |
| offers privacy. You may wish to incorporate your | | | | discussed! |