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