Creating a Japanese Garden

A Japanese garden provides a place of tranquility and beauty. In Japanese culture, the garden is rich in symbolism and is honored as one of the highest art forms. In our Western part of the world, a Japanese garden may be simply a garden with plants such as dwarf pines and maples and features that may include a koi pond or Zen garden, arched bridges, stone lanterns, deer and crane statues and restful landscaping designed to be enjoyed year-round.

Here are some tips for creating a Japanese Garden:

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In the Japanese tradition of a strolling garden, provide delightful surprises along the way. For example, a weeping cherry tree planted at pond’s edge is beautiful from a distance, but as one draws near, there is the additional enjoyment of the blossoms reflected in the water. Other surprises could be Japanese stone lanterns and a deer statue tucked among large stones on the pond’s beach.

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To represent a Japanese teahouse, create a gazebo with cedar or redwood and bamboo, using clean simple lines.

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Allow for empty spaces, which define the surrounding elements and the Japanese tradition of in and yo, or in more familiar terms the yin and yang. This design is also very restful to the eyes and thus to the mind.

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Rather than including great amounts of color and variety of plants, choose plants, stones and water features carefully to create areas of quiet beauty and serenity.

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Honor nature by arranging your plants in a natural manner (think balance rather than symmetry).

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In the Japanese tradition of creating the illusion of spaciousness, place larger plants, rocks and statues in the front and gradually smaller ones moving towards the back of the garden.

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For a small water feature, consider a stone basin or redwood “wine barrel” with the water delivered through bamboo.

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Add a half moon bridge over your water feature. Or create an 8-fold bridge among pond plants. A search online for “Japanese garden bridges” will bring up many designs.

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Remembering that a Japanese garden is both a retreat and microcosm of nature, follow the tradition of enclosing your garden with fencing (such as bamboo or shrubbery) and gates. This symbolizes leaving your worldly cares outside, and by leaving a small “window” open to the garden for passerby, it all serves the traditional “hide and reveal” element.

Depending on your climate, you can most likely enjoy this type of garden year round, even in the snow (as in Japan). Here are a few plants to consider: dwarf pines, golden mimosa, Japanese flowering cherry, quaking aspen, bamboo, full-moon maple, wisteria, tree ferns and moss.

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