| How nice a Japanese Garden can be. Important | | | | use real water running the water over |
| elements in designing a Japanese Garden. | | | | surfaces such as stone, will add a peaceful |
| Creating a peaceful garden. | | | | sound, and create serenity. The Japanese view |
| | | | water as symbolic of time passing, so it is |
| Each Japanese garden is unique in its design, | | | | an important feature of a contemplative |
| and most Japanese gardens are designed in a | | | | garden. |
| very singular way, but using common elements | | | | |
| that are traditional in Japanese design. The | | | | The actual plants in a Japanese garden are |
| most common elements that are considered for | | | | secondary to the importance of stone in the |
| Japanese garden design are rock, water, | | | | garden. But they are crucial to the design |
| plants and ornaments. In Japanese garden | | | | and must complement it. They must harmonize |
| design, each of these serves a specific | | | | with the stone and their placement must be |
| purpose. | | | | well thought out to do so. Bamboo and |
| | | | Japanese maples are often used, but the kind |
| Rock is considered the foundation of the | | | | of plant you use is not as critical as the |
| garden. In Japanese garden design, great care | | | | harmonious placement. Some easy to use and |
| is taken in laying out the stones and the | | | | place plants are ornamental grasses, |
| rest of the garden will follow this form. | | | | evergreens and many dediduous trees. |
| Tall, vertical stones may be used, or long | | | | |
| stones may be laid on their sides, arching | | | | The next element is ornamentation. Ornaments |
| stone pillars and reclining rocks are all | | | | are not focal points, but merely serve to |
| used to contribute to the design. Then | | | | enhance the critical elements of the garden |
| stepping stones and rock pathways are formed. | | | | such as rock and water. Therefore, they are |
| Since these rocks have meaning in traditional | | | | strategically placed to accent a bridge, a |
| Japanese garden design, the placement of each | | | | stream or a stone in the garden. You will |
| stone and rock is crucial. But we may just | | | | find lanterns, shallow basins or small |
| place them where they look best. | | | | sculptures in the garden. A Japanese garden |
| | | | will be situated as to take advantage of |
| Water is another critical element of the | | | | surrounding features. For instance, an |
| design of the garden. It may really be water, | | | | opening in a gate may frame a distant tree or |
| such as a pond or a waterfall, or it may just | | | | mountain, or a stone stream may be placed to |
| be suggestive of water, such as stones raked | | | | appear as if it is meandering off into a |
| in such a way as to resembel a stream. If you | | | | faraway shore. |