Your Own Japanese Garden: Part 1

Ever walked past someone's garden and been so enraptured by the front yard that you hardly registered what the house looked like? In these days of the difficult-to-shift property market, that is the kind of garden you want.

Front yards that have appeal may draw a buyer into your home. If they like the way you have finished your yard - they may think that they will like the way you have finished your home.

At this time of the year a yard is more about evergreens and accessories than flowers, as there are very few blooms available. Also - and for this reason - it is at this time of year that the Japanese garden stands out. A Japanese garden can lend itself to almost any climate, from snowy to humid, from rainy to desert.

To get an idea of the look of a Japanese garden, first look in a few magazines or books at the library, or check out some illustrations on the Internet. Pick illustrations that look similar to the same size and shape as the layout of your garden. Depending on your preference you may wish to copy some layout plans or ideas.

Japanese gardens are traditionally ruled by Zen philosophy. Each feature has a deeper representation which you can ponder on, once you are aware of them. As you walk through your Japanese Zen area each day, you may even absorb some of the peace embedded in the Zen philosophy. These ideas for your own Japanese front yard will be discussed in two parts.

Firstly, in "Your Own Japanese Garden: Part 1", the focus is on ambience, focal points, rocks and lanterns; then a follow up in "Your Own Japanese Garden: Part 2" explores plants, water, bridges, vessels and aged items. These combined features help to form the Japanese Zen garden.

There are several factors of this look that can be touched on to create an unusual garden. In an abstract way, the qualities that the gardens are representing are peace and tranquility, and in Zen philosophy, this is created by simplicity.

The relaxing ambience that encourages meditation can be achieved by placing a bamboo or rattan chair plus a small table near a wall, or in front of a lattice fence. If your garden is in a hot part of the country, group the seats under a tree or parasol. Stillness is the key word here.

Two other abstract notions suggested in a Zen garden are represented physically by a focal point that is not placed centrally, and secondly, a 'window' to a hidden part in your garden.

This can be represented by a piece of tall, latticed fence work, or a tree with shrubs around, or a pagoda, or even simply a bench that is partly concealed. This 'hide and reveal' theme is suggestive of the quest for human enlightenment and it also offers privacy. You may wish to incorporate your seating here for that reason.

The introduction of something tall lends itself to the look of the Japanese garden. Western gardens tend to be larger and boast a flat expanse of lawn; Japanese homes usually have tiny gardens. They tend to be more vertical, and tall shrubs will often be placed to hide the house from the street.

For an inexpensive focal point, you can dig a bed and put a bamboo or a red Japanese maple (miniature or full size) plus other plants in it. The bamboo bushes and trees will live in most mild North American areas, though you may have to 'cover it' in severe frosts. A very large cactus or groupings of cacti will also make an interesting focal point.

Smaller beds can be dug in across the yard. The center of the yard is deliberately left empty, and a lack of symmetry is desired. This reflects the lack of perfection in the world!

For some authentic Japanese atmosphere, one tall and one shorter black lantern can be well placed along your winding (never straight!) pathway, or sometimes peeking out from amongst a selection of shrubs and plants.

A small pathway can lead to nowhere, and Zen gardens will always have at least one pathway of either white round gravel or gray flattened gravel wending its way through your shrubs; several glimpses of this pathway will satisfy the unity and harmony requirement of Zen gardens.

Whilst lanterns are more of a Buddhist tradition, they have come to represent the essence of the Japanese garden, so they are also included in Zen designs.

One very large Japanese lantern and one smaller one elsewhere can look effective. These usually come in two traditional styles, one more fat-bellied and squat than the other. They are most commonly found in black or pale gray.

Some of the most inexpensive modern lighting will lend itself to the Japanese mode. The 'push-in' mushroom type lamps are very easily assimilated into the Zen garden design.

Rocks and stone are a big feature of the Japanese garden, with different sized rocks grouped seemingly at random. Smaller rocks will look good grouped with your focal point, or added to a bush or plant grouping.

Try to find at least one big rock. If you have one big one, you can group smaller ones beside it and finish off with a fern or two. Stones represent life's immovable mountains.

If that really resonates with you, beware; just one rock will suffice; you do not need a rock for each immovable mountain in your life! If you feel that you have numerous immovable mountains in your life, then move into "Your Own Japanese Garden: Part 2" where the de-stressing values of water-sounds are discussed!