Inspire Yourself With Japanese Garden Style – The Japanese garden strives to achieve harmony, privacy and calm. There is an attention to detail and clean lines, which makes it a high maintenance space.
Common elements are raked gravel, stepping stones, lanterns, ornamental bridges and pagoda.
Plants commonly found in Japanese gardens include dwarf pines, Japanese maple and bonsai with azalea blossom and the bright foliage of the firebush or maple adding color all year round.
Grasses and bamboo also appear, with bamboo being the preferred material for fencing and gating. Water also features either with ponds or water features or being represented by expanses of gravel.
It’s typical to see natural materials such as rattan used in Japanese garden furniture.
Styles of Japanese garden falls into three categories:
a. Hill and pond
This is the classic theme of larger or public gardens and represents the mountainous landscape of Japan. Hill and pond involves the use of a path to guide your way around the slowly revealed landscape.
b. The flat garden
This originates from the open flat spaces found in front of palaces or temples. Gravelling again represents the open space with shading being provided by surrounding shrubs. This type of garden is well suited to a smaller, courtyard garden or roof terrace.
c. Tea gardens
These include the features such as paths, water basin and gates. The planting is sparse and the atmosphere rustic. Lanterns, water and stepping stones commonly appear as well as the pagoda, which represents the venue for the tea ceremony. The tea garden would usually be a gated off element of a larger garden, providing seclusion and peace away from the outside world.
It may be the restrained, well maintained hide-away of the Japanese garden that appeals.
