| A Zen garden is basically a sand garden with | | | | contemplation. A concrete water vessel |
| rocks, gravel and occasionally other natural | | | | spilling out water may be used to create this |
| elements such as grasses. They usually do not | | | | illusion. Zen gardens contain quiet |
| feature concrete water fountains or anything | | | | minimalist features with curving flowing |
| that is manmade. Although that is not to say | | | | lines and shapes with few visual |
| concrete fountains can't be added for | | | | distractions. They allow one to slow the |
| additional impact. A Zen garden is a place to | | | | pace, to discard the day's chaos and to calm |
| sit and unwind or to meditate. The most | | | | down. The space becomes a sanctuary. There |
| famous Zen garden is the Ryōan-ji Temple | | | | can be a focal point, a sculpture or concrete |
| located in Kyoto, Japan. The monks of the | | | | water fountain that engages the mind and |
| temple maintain this ancient Zen garden. | | | | eyes, which in turn releases the day's |
| Concrete water fountains are not found here. | | | | tension. This is a Zen meditation technique |
| The simple design is done in monochromatic | | | | in action. The feng shui principles also |
| shades of brown. The most interesting feature | | | | advocate gently flowing paths around and |
| of this Zen garden are the 15 rocks arranged | | | | through the garden, with no dead ends or |
| on the surface of white pebbles in such a | | | | right angles. Simplicity and harmony are the |
| manner that visitors can see only 14 of them | | | | basic design elements especially in the |
| at once, from whichever angle the garden is | | | | concrete water fountains. To learn more about |
| viewed. According to legend, only when | | | | fung shui garden design with the |
| someone attains spiritual enlightenment as a | | | | incorporations of fountains visit Taking a |
| result of deep Zen meditation can he see the | | | | Zen Garden One Step Further By observing |
| last invisible stone with his mind's eye. To | | | | nature you can replicate it even with |
| find unique and distinctive concrete water | | | | concrete water fountains. The addition of a |
| fountains visit The Simplicity of a Zen | | | | water feature heightens its restful quality. |
| Garden The main elements of a Zen garden are | | | | The flow and murmur of water are known to |
| always rocks and sand, with the sea | | | | calm and inspire and have been used that way |
| symbolized not by water but by sand raked in | | | | for thousands of years. Properly designed |
| patterns that suggest rippling water. Plants | | | | water features, with plants, frogs, fish, and |
| are much less important (and sometimes | | | | continually moving water won't be a |
| nonexistent) in many Zen gardens. Zen gardens | | | | mosquito-breeding ground. A garden's |
| are often, but not always, meant to be viewed | | | | pond-less waterfall with moving water |
| from a single, seated perspective, and the | | | | provides all the benefits of water without |
| rocks are often associated with and named | | | | large tracts of land, making it ideal for |
| after various Chinese mountains. Some Zen | | | | city dwellers. And it is important (that the |
| gardens employ a concrete-water-way or a | | | | garden) is harmonious with the neighbors as |
| small concrete water fountain for additional | | | | well as yourself. Regardless of the type of |
| tranquility. With this type of design, less | | | | Zen garden chosen, all the elements that go |
| is more, and it's essential to keep it simple | | | | into making it - color, plants, hard |
| - even the concrete water fountains should | | | | structures, the concrete water garden and |
| have simple lines. Creating calming, restful, | | | | ornaments - need to blend comfortably to form |
| and soulful Zen gardens is a way of | | | | a peaceful garden that delights the physical |
| introducing nature into our lives and can | | | | senses with the sound, smell, and sight. |
| help balance our hectic urban existence. For | | | | |
| more ideas on beautiful concrete water | | | | Elizabeth Jean is an outdoor gardening writer |
| fountains check out Zen Garden Principles | | | | and frequent contributor to |
| and Practices A symbolic river (and boulders) | | | | Garden-Fountains.com, a popular internet |
| made from sand suggests rivers and mountains | | | | destination for water fountains and garden |
| as a place to create a quiet place for | | | | statuary. |