creating a japanese garden
A Bonsai and Bamboo Garden In Norway
On a very memorable trip to Norway it provided me with the chance to visit perhaps the most northerly tropical garden area in Europe.
It sits on the gulf stream and palm trees grow happily in this pasrt of Scandinavia. It is also the perfecr climate for a large Japanese garden.
Just off the coast of Stavanger is this truly remarkable garden, that you MUST visit should you ever be in the area. The garden spreads out over 20 acres and features a bonsai and bamboo garden area complete with rocks, ponds, waterfalls and a lot more.
I have put together a series of photgraphs from my visit on Pinterest and you can see the photographs by CLICKING HERE.
Look closely at the spacing of the elements – less is more in a Japanese garden and the use of shrubs, plants, trees and rocks very sparingly merely adds to the viewing pleasure and can give you some really good ideas for your own Japanese garden space at home.
This Norwegian Japanese garden oasis has everything in it – Koi, water features, bamboo, Acers / Maples, rock formations, Bonsai, beautifully chosen and positioned low level shrubs. A very important Japanese garden in Europe and it was a pleasure to visit.
Simplicity and balance is the key for a relaxing and eye catching beautiful Japanese garden! You can get some really good ideas for designing and creating a Japanese garden from my latest book on the subject. It is FREE and called ‘7 Quick TIPS To
Inspire You To Create A Japanese Garden’ CLICK HERE to claim your complimentary copy.
Making and Creating A Japanese Garden PLUS A FREE Design Book
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Thank you for visiting our Japanese garden blog !
Please bookmark us as we post regulalry with lots of useful information about beautiful Japanese gardens. This post is all about help to make and create your own serene and calming Japanese garden space at home…
As you may be aware, there are several types of Japanese garden and a certain amount of traditional hard and fast rules but, there is absolutely nothing wrong with merging a couple of different types of Japanese garden into one area when you are making a Japanese garden. Japanese garden snobs may frown upon it, but don’t let it cloud your desires or vision. There is NOTHING wrong with this at all.
Learning and understanding at least the basics of Japanese garden design is a must, this will save you time and ultimately your hard earned money but, one thing is for sure if you get a good working understanding of what is required you will find the job a whole lot easier. The other alternative is to identify a space where you would like your garden and call in the professionals. With a little effort you can still do this but you will be armed with the correct information. Look at it like a little bit of enjoyable home work that can save you money in the long run.
There are many styles to choose from when planning a Japanese garden. You may want water- a central pond, bridges, rocks, a relaxation or viewing area, dry water…the list is endless.
Firstly, I would recommend photographing your space and making a drawing of it on a large piece of paper, note the space measurements, land elevations, tree cover etc and then simply start to allocate certain areas on the paper to the Japanese garden ingredients that you wish to include in your garden. Be prepared to move things around on your garden drawing until you get a feel for what you are happy with. As long as you have remembered the basics you should find this fairly easy.
The good news is that average sized yards or gardens are ideal for a Japanese garden. If you have a smaller area a ‘Zen’ garden may be more in keeping with the aesthetics of your space. These gardens were designed and used by Buddhist monks and in general comprise of boulders and rocks and gravel/ or sand. A rake is used to mark the sand for a water effect. Zen gardens are supposed to be places of tranquillity and help ‘clear’ the mind. Meditation is common and effective in a Zen garden which should be viewed from one place.
For Japanese gardens you have numerous choices with many historical and design facets and many of these are easy to grasp and simple to execute but you must acquire knowledge first! Study photographs and designs online and see what catches your eye and use your imagination as to what can go where in your garden space.
Japanese style gardens are unique, very ordered and havens of peace and tranquillity. They provide a window on a type of gardening and design that stretches back for hundreds of years and is steeped in tradition, history and strict rules to follow for very specific reasons.
To understand much more about the development of Japanese style gardens it would be worth finding out about their history and the subsequent metamorphosis of early designs into the types of Japanese gardens that we can see all over the world today.
Essentially Japanese style gardens fall into the following categories:
Pond Gardens where viewing is often done on the water itself by boat. Tea gardens which are always enjoyed from a path through the garden which leads to the tea ceremony pavilion, house or a gazebo. Sitting gardens are exactly what the name suggests, they are viewed from inside a building or from a veranda for example. In the early history of Japanese style gardens these were very popular with the rich and wealthy who commissioned their construction.
Strolling gardens are designed so a path will circumnavigate the garden to give many different areas to view the garden from and there are some magnificent examples of these types of Japanese style gardens all over the world today from Japan itself to the United states , Europe and Australasia. Viewers have the opportunity to choose their favourite ‘vistas’ to take in the views and the design.
Another type of Japanese style garden is the Karensui which is a dry garden that uses Zen techniques to create ‘mimic’ landscapes and uses ‘dry’ water , this is essentially sand that is raked to look like the sea or a large body of water. It’s very effective indeed.
Karensui gardens are heavily influenced by Zen Buddhism so they tend to be peaceful, simple and waterless but there is a very significant use of stones and rocks in a Karensui garden. This particular type of Japanese style garden is fairly easy to construct in small areas and so is popular with people who want an authentic Zen experience at home.
Here are a few of the common ingredients together with their Japanese names that are found in Japanese style gardens which I hope you will find useful. Zen symbolism is ever present because of the history and traditions of Japanese gardens. Stones of Ishi in Japanese are not only used in ‘dry’ gardens or Zen gardens as they have a very significant place in Japanese style gardens history. There are good stones that are used for their positive effect and there are types of stones that are considered negative and they must never be used in Japanese style gardens.
Water is Mizu and Shokbutsu is Japanese for plantings. Bridges are called Hashi are they are a very important part of Japanese gardens especially in strolling gardens. Ornaments are Tenkeibutsu , fences and gates are also used in construction and a gate is a crucial part of the entrance to a Japanese tea garden . These types of Japanese style gardens are amongst my favourites as despite their man made construction you really wouldn’t be able to tell as they appear very natural with stepping stones, small clusters of tress and stone lanterns that are so effective and calming.
Japanese gardens speak volumes because of their serene surroundings and ordered designs. Everything is there for a reason and to understand the rules and traditions will make your job of designing and creating that much easier.
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4 Japanese Garden Elements That Make All the Difference
In this post you have lots of information on 4 key elements that make up a Japanese garden.
If you are interested in creating a Japanese garden these things will really enhance your design and give your garden a real sense of authenticity as well as a calm and atress free environment!
Natural Plants
In some Japanese gardens, the form of plantings is considered much more important than bright colours. In Kyoto the Shoden-Ji Garden has replaced rocks with mounds of pruned and clipped Azaleas, which rarely flower because of their constant shaping within the garden.
This is in itself an art form but you should be aware that if you choose to include plants,trees or shrubs there will be an element of regular care.
The flowers and plants chosen to accompany a Zen Garden should be suitable for the climate that the garden is subject to.
The available landscape within the garden space should also be estimated and taken into consideration. Additionally, planting soil will also have to match the plants requirements.
A small amount of gravel or sand at the bottom of the planting hole will assist with the correct drainage.
One thing that you may have noticed about Zen or ‘Dry’ gardens is the topiary involved.
This is not as daunting as it may first seem. For example, carefully clipped Azaleas placed together with surrounding gravel or sand would make an attractive “distant view” of a range of hills if placed correctly.
Smaller plants will take a much longer time to grow so a good idea to achieve swifter results is to buy slightly larger plants .Different sizes and shapes mean visual variation and add to the natural appearance of the garden.
Ornaments
Ornaments are often used to decorate Zen Gardens usually in the form of lanterns and statues (mainly Buddha representations).
Lanterns essentially offer Yang to reduce the dominance of Yin. These two polarities united serve as the perfect state of harmony. Yang balances Yin and vice versa. Yang, in this case the lantern element, becomes the white circle in the black; the fire to shield from the cold; the life to enlighten and vitalise from the dark. It offers the perfect essence of a Yang in a Yin environment.
The lantern represents the gardens realisation of time, night and day, year after year.
It transcends time and its physical structure and design perfectly attune to the climate of Japan by offering a hood for the snow and ice and a roof and walls to protect a candles flame.
The lantern can sit beside a pond, in the pond, within a corner of the garden, alongside a pathway. It’s best not located where the “sha” (detrimental) energy can extinguish it e.g., exposed on a hill in a gully or swamp, where the constant damp will extinguish the flame, or if used in a low place lifted above it on a pedestal to become a beacon similar to a lighthouse on a seashore guiding ships at sea.
Buddha
Buddha’s in Zen gardens are popular elements, as Japanese gardening has a close association with Buddhism.
In a Japanese garden the soil represents the fertile mind of Buddha and our own internal Karma.
Planting is interpreted as blossoming ideas from fertility.
Paths signify the way to enlightenment. Zen Buddhism teaches that making a garden encourages contentment and enlightenment. This is the reason that in more recent times within the context of Japanese garden history, gardening is considered a spiritual and religious activity.
The general rules of thumb for placing Buddha statues in a Zen garden (or a Japanese garden) is facing north. South facing is not recommended as it is related to Yama a Hindu god and select in the dead. The Buddah statue is usually placed in a Lotus pool.
Moss
Moss may not always be included in a Zen Garden, yet quite a few seem to embrace its use.
Grasses, perennial plants, bamboo and ivy will usually accompany moss, forming a stunning motif of contrasting earthy colours.
The Silver Temple in Kyoto is a stunning example of a mossy Zen Garden.
The western part of Kyoto is also filled with moss-adorned gardens, the most striking of all being the Saiboji Temple or “Moss Temple”. Ninety different types of mosses are incorporated in the garden!
Moss, however, is generally difficult to cultivate and comes in various forms and sizes. It requires far less maintenance than grasses but is very particular on where it likes to grow; areas populated with weeds and general debris like decaying leaves are simply out of the question, as they interfere with its growth.
Shaded and semi-shaded areas of a garden space on the other hand are best because they retain moisture for most varieties of moss.
Moss is resilient to both cold and damp weather, as it exploits any nutrients that may surround it. These nutrients are usually absorbed through its leaves, which simultaneously absorb moisture – this is the reason they cannot be covered for growth.
Types of Moss:
– Rock Cap Moss (Dicranum): This type of moss loves deeply shaded areas and is perfect for stones and rocks in a Zen Garden.
– Cushion Moss (Leukobryum Glacum): This variety has a slight sun tolerance but requires a predominantly sandy soil. It is usually light green in colour with silvery flecks.
– Hair Cap Moss (Polythirchum Commune): This kind grows in a medium-shaded area and can be placed in partial sunlight. It loves sandy and acidic soil.
Moss can be transplanted to your garden and encouraged to grow, but be solicitous in choosing the appropriate type to suit your garden.
Moss is estimated to be hundreds of millions of years old as a species and knows what it wants and can stop growing when conditions are not favourable. Simply restart its growth when things take a turn for the better.
A little tip for fresh, relatively quick-growing moss is to coat your stones with “clean” natural yoghurt and watch them over a relatively short space of time turn green.
Moss tends to grow abundantly in the right habitat and all that is required on your behalf is to provide moisture and patience.
There you are four elements to consider for making a Japanese garden – there are more options but most Japanese gardens feature one or more of these ingredients.
If you are looking for more detailed knowledge and help about Japanese gardens and Zen gardens then the good news is that we have put together a package that wil;l tell you everything you need to know to get started.
It includes books, audio interviews, plans and some great Japanese garden ideas and you can find out about it by CLICKING HERE
Making A Japanese Garden – ‘Edging’ An Important Thing To Do
In a Japanese garden and its design principles you will often hear about ‘flow’. A Japanese garden has to be something with a clean and crisp visual appearance and ‘flow’ – this is so everything appears to naturally follow on in the viewers eyes. Think of it as ‘visual tidiness’.
Edging is used in all sort of gardens all over the world but in a Japanese garden , when placed properly and with the right materials, it can really be highly effective. You could have a borderline between the garden and other parts of your space if you are just utilising a small area. A borderline can also be used to give paths an edge too.
In a Japanese garden you can use all sorts of edging materials. Cast stone, Bamboo, edging stones, slate, bricks and even an iron fence.
Slate because of its different shades will provide clean lines in your project when making a Japanese garden. Terracotta is also one of the top edging ingredients used because of its shade of colour. Stone can be used for edging a pond or a smaller building.
In a Japanese garden gravel can be used as either a pathway OR as a border to give a distinguishing line between areas. The use of bricks is becoming more common in Japanese garden design and not as a straight line laid out going one way or another. Bricks can be laid in all sorts of ways to make the garden interesting – so do not be afraid to experiment.
Concrete can be moulded easily for any kind of edging look that you want to achieve. River rock gives a totally natural feel to eding and cast stone is sometimes used as an alternative for natural rock.
Edging with bamboo is a way of creating some intricate edging for the garden. Simply, cut the can of the bamboo to the height that you want and bury in the ground for quick and effective results.
Sometimes, metal fencing is added to Japanese gardens as some people feel that its addition adds a certain amount of elegance.
CLICK HERE for our Japanese Garden creation help – perfect if you would like to have your own Japanese garden space.
Japanese gardens are famous for their peace and tranquility so remember the colour and style of the edging that you choose NEEDS to match and follow the natural flow of the garden. A couple of good tips – a Japanese garden is all about nature, so when making a Japanese garden if you do some edging with rocks don’t make them all the same size because in nature that simply wouldn’t happen.
Spread the rocks around in different sizes. The same goes with trees or shrubs – think NATURAL in your design thoughts and you should find that the ideas flow quickly and naturally for your design.
To learn more about Japanese garden design and find out how simple it is to create your special place for your garden or yard visit HERE
It includes our handy quick start Japanese garden design book ‘ 11 Simple Ways To turn Your Garden Japanese‘.
Japanese Garden – Plants , Shrubs and Trees
When making a Japanese garden you will have to decide what types of shrubs, plants and trees that you would like and very importantly find out whether they are suited to the climate where you live.
Maples for example are a staple of most types of Japanese gardens and there are types that can survive in even the coldest temperatures.
This detailed information on Japanese garden plants , tree and shrubs is part of the content at http://www.expressjapanesegardenclub.com our website that shows you easily and in simple to understand steps what you need to do AND avoid when creating a Japanese garden at home in your garden or yard.
Find out here about what to plant and get inspired by reading this section of the Express Japanese garden club for absolutely free.
CLICK HERE for our valuable help and information on the do’s and dont’s of Plants ,Shrubs and Trees in a Japanese garden. it’s 15 pages of quality content to help you realise your dreams of a Japanese garden at home.
Japanese Garden Boundaries – Turn Your Garden Japanese Podcast
Thanks for stopping by our Japanese garden blog.
We have a free podcast that is published every 3 or 4 weeks on all sorts of aspects of Japanese gardens and Japanese gardening at home in a garden or yard.
Boundaries are very important in a Japanese garden or a Zen style garden and this edition of the podcast is all about the importance of boundaries in a Japanese garden – essential to distinguish the garden itself from the outside world.
Take a listen here….
http://www.podbean.com/media/player/wnpyt-5588b9
To get more help, ideas, tips and practical examples on how you can easily and quickly create a stunning Japanese garden space at home please take a look at our design book ’11 Simple Ways To Turn Your Garden Japanese’. CLICK HERE
‘Turn Your Garden Japanese NEW PODCAST’
The latest edition of the ‘Turn Your Garden Japanese Podcast’ is available for you to listen to right now.
This Episode ( as they are called in the world of Podcasting!) is all about OBSTACLES to creating a small Japanese garden space and HOW to re-think those objections and ultimately overcome any negative thoughts about making a Japanese garden at home being too much of a hassle or TOO expensive.
Its a negative to positive listen! You will like it…..
Your yard may look like this….
But IT COULD look something like this …
Yes, it is the drab yard above completely redesigned in a Japanese style! It really is amazing what can be achieved on really very modest budgets when making a Japanese garden.
LISTEN to the podcast HERE and then try our FREE book ’11 Simple Ways To Turn Your Garden Japanese’ it can be yours in the next few minutes to hopefully inspire you to have your own Japanese style garden at home.
Our TUMBLR Japanese Garden Blog
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If you want Japanese garden Books, Video’s, Hints, Tips, Lots of Pictures, Free stuff and a lot more visit our Small Space Japanese Gardens At Home TUMBLR Blog , we add to it all the time and of course it’s free.
To learn how to achieve results like this in a small space…..which incidentally are perfect for making a Japanese garden
From THIS…..
To THIS…..
CLICK HERE for THE EXPRESS JAPANESE GARDEN CLUB!
Help For HOW To Design A Japanese Garden
Spring is here and the garden that you have may be in need of a spruce up?!
A Japanese garden could be perfect- nature in miniature which means that you don’t need much space to have your own lovely garden at home.
Lot’s of options too! Take a look at our Pinterest board.
CLICK HERE : http://www.pinterest.com/japanesegardens/how-to-design-a-japanese-garden/
Further help is here with our recommended Japanese Garden books at the AMAZON store. CLICK HERE.
Japanese Gardens For Small and Larger Spaces 