| As westerners, we are often compelled to try to | | | | arrangement? Would you like one small area to |
| control and plan all design aspects of what we want | | | | feature a Zen garden? Is a stepping-stone pathway |
| when constructing something. We try to anticipate | | | | that leads to a gate appealing?6) Will you be building |
| every little detail so we don't make a mistake. | | | | this garden by yourself or will you have help? The |
| Although you will still need to organize and draw out | | | | size, design and amount of work to create your |
| your Japanese garden design, plus determine the | | | | Japanese garden will affect this answer. Obviously, |
| shape of your landscape and what you desire for | | | | building a very large stroll garden by yourself would |
| your garden, you should also allow yourself to "go | | | | take forever and be impractical.7) If you plan to use |
| with the flow" and let it "speak to you" as your | | | | large boulders or plant more mature trees (rather |
| garden takes shape. In other words, allow for | | | | than saplings), how will you get them into your |
| improvisation and ideas to emerge rather than being | | | | garden? Is there room and access for large |
| rigid in sticking to your original design plan.Before any | | | | machinery to help with placement? Keep in mind |
| work begins within the yard itself, a basic garden plan | | | | boulders and large trees are extremely heavy.8) Will |
| should be drawn up to help you formulate your ideas | | | | your garden be formal, semi-formal, or informal |
| and the placement of elements. There are several | | | | (rustic)?9) Many Japanese gardens are actually built |
| questions you need to address to help with this | | | | around a theme. Do you have a theme in mind for |
| process:1) Do you already have an existing garden in | | | | your garden? An example of a theme would be a |
| the area where you wish to incorporate a Japanese | | | | miniaturized version of "The Bridge To Heaven", |
| garden style? If so, what type of garden is it (flower | | | | which is a marble and stone bridge that spans the |
| garden, English garden, rustic wildflower garden, | | | | famous Dragon Beard Ditch in China. This bridge was |
| etc.)?2) Will you be able to integrate your current | | | | built over 600 years ago to allow the Ming and Qing |
| garden into the new Japanese garden plan? What | | | | emperors to cross over on their way to the Temple |
| aspects and features will remain and what will have | | | | of Heaven. Your theme could even revolve around a |
| to be moved, replaced or removed entirely?3) What | | | | smaller replica or area of an original famous garden of |
| style of Japanese garden are you most interested in | | | | Japan. Read books and view photographs of existing |
| - tea garden, courtyard garden, stroll garden, pond | | | | gardens to get some ideas.10) What do you want to |
| and island garden, Zen rock garden or a combination | | | | achieve with your garden? Will it be used primarily for |
| of two or more? For very small areas, you will most | | | | meditation? Do you wish to incorporate a strolling |
| likely stick to only one style. For those that have a | | | | pathway with new visual delights beyond each |
| large landscape, you can have your choice of any of | | | | curve? Do you want the invigorating sounds of |
| the styles to suit your desires and landscape area.4) | | | | water, such as a waterfall or fast moving stream? |
| How large is the area of the site that you are | | | | Will it be a place to sit quietly and contemplate |
| considering using? Does it have natural hills and | | | | nature? Understanding the concept behind the garden |
| valleys? Are there any elements, such a stream, | | | | design is important.In conclusion, these types of |
| already present? Take a good visual view of your | | | | questions should be contemplated carefully and |
| selected site and note down all the details on paper. | | | | answered thoroughly before you begin to put your |
| Take measurements as well, so you know the exact | | | | design down on paper, otherwise you could end up |
| area size you will be working with.5) What elements | | | | with a garden that holds no meaning for you or your |
| and features are important to you? For example, do | | | | visitors. A Japanese garden should have a "reason for |
| you wish to add a waterfall, water basin, or a rock | | | | being." What are your reasons? |