Japanese Garden
There is something about the garden's of Asia that have always fascinated me. I don't know if its the calmness or the green-ness, or even the gravel but when I started planning my Japanese garden, I didn't even know that there were Zen gardens, and temple gardens and strolling gardens. One thing I did know was that Japanese and Chinese gardens are both similar but also very different. Rock is important, water is important and above all else, symbolism is important.
After clearing up the wildlife pond, this was the first part of the garden that I worked on.
“Work of self, obtainment of self”
The first thing you learn about creating a Japanese style garden is, they are not cheap! If you want to go full on with large rocks and the correct gravel for raking, bamboo fencing, more mature Acers etc, it will cost you.
I had originally thought to make the Japanese garden the full length of the side garden, right down to where there was a fence across, but it turned out that creating an area the length of the pergola and paving would be ideal.
In the first picture you can see the first incarnation. Using the fire bricks that once filled the storage heaters as stepping stones and the tiny lantern that I hoped I would be able to replace with a real one later. There were a number of rocks around the garden and I made use of these.
This area slopped down the right corner and it just 'felt' wrong. Initially there was to be gravel at the front the whole length of the pergola.
I just couldn't like it! So I changed it!
I read various books that showed the most beautiful gardens, and what I liked most was that a Japanese garden didn't need to be extensive to look good. In many cases a simple walkway between houses had been utilised so I knew it would be possible to create something in the small space that I had.
I was able to find a lantern that I liked on eBay. It came in three parts and stands upon a flat stone like a lighthouse looking out across a sea of gravel. And for a while it sat fine there...until the Hebe became a little large. A minor adjustment to the other side of the sea and the lantern now has a much clearer space, which is so important in a Japanese Garden.