Japanese gardens are a combination of more than just plants and vegetables like other well-known types of gardens. Instead, the Japanese gardens tend to mix in nature with spirituality and a little taste of art to give these gardens a balance you just can’t seem to find anywhere else.
They have been influenced by all of the various histories and philosophies that have existed with the Japanese people throughout history. That is what makes these so wonderful to maintain and relax in.
Japanese Gardens
There are a few things that are mandatory to have a successful Japanese garden, the most important one being water. Water is a symbol for purity to the Japanese, and since the nation is made up of small islands, water is the most common aspect of daily life as well.
If, for whatever reason, you can’t manage to create a water feature for your Japanese garden, then you can use the equivalent of grey gravel, or sand in place of the water. If using sand, it is often raked in a way to give the illusion of waves crashing in on a beach, very Zen like.
You should also have plenty of plants, stones, and even a few waterfalls and bridges, if you have the space. Stones represent the spiritual side of strength and endurance, and will lend that to the overall feeling of the garden they are in. You can also add in small ponds and such, if you have the room.
Place the bridges over them to give your garden a more complete feel to it. While most people believe that a Japanese garden must follow a Feng Shui path, the Japanese are very individualistic in nature and, thus, your garden should follow the same aspect.
While Western gardens might be laid out in a more functional manner, the Japanese garden is a representation of the garden owners overall view of the universe. Instead of purely growing vegetables for food, the Japanese garden gives the owner a relaxing retreat to grow their spiritual experiences while still maintaining the garden. Because of this, you won’t have to worry about weeds taking over, as you will find yourself in the garden taking care of these pests without realizing you are actually working.
The Japanese garden is the perfect accent to who you are on the inside and allows you to reflect that being to the world around you. They are simple to design and extremely easy to manage.
