The space should be tidy and free from distractions while you relax and reflect in the garden.) (“Leave the leaves” doesn’t pertain to Zen gardening. Pick up fallen leaves and remove weeds for a pristine, clutter-free garden. Rake the gravel to keep patterns sharp and looking fresh. Caring for the garden is an important part of the meditative process. Place a bench or chair where you can enjoy a full view of your serene space. A cherry, plum, or Japanese maple make excellent choices for a featured tree. Select a specimen plant as a focal point in the garden that provides four seasons of beauty.Instead, incorporate plants that provide a mix of textures in shades of green, like mosses, ferns, hostas, and evergreen shrubs or trees. The palette of a Zen garden creates a soothing aesthetic, so eschew bold blooms and rainbow foliage. Play with complementary and contrasting colors, choosing darker stones that stand out in a sea of lighter gravel. Also, make sure you’re happy with the position for large rocks: they’re difficult to move once installed. Choose elements that look proportionally correct in your garden. Likewise, small stones become lost in vast spaces. Stones are the main features of a Zen garden, but large boulders can overwhelm a small space. Design a simple, uncluttered garden that exudes a feeling of calm. Remember: asymmetry is integral in Zen gardens, as it’s believed to create harmony. Sketch the garden space, making sure to incorporate the 7 guiding principles of Zen gardens. Take an internet trip to Ryoan-ji Zen Garden or the Sand and Stone Garden at The Portland Japanese Gardens for inspiration. Nothing is more inspiring than seeing what Zen master gardeners create. Wherever you choose to create your garden, make sure you include a spot where you can sit and reflect while enjoying the view. Many Zen gardens are designed to be seen from the house to enjoy a soothing view even when you don’t have time to meditate in the garden. Choose a flat area and measure the space. Pick a spot away from noisy neighbors or busy streets. Positioning of “rivers” is important, as traditionally dry rivers run from east to south to west. While water is a vital element in Japanese gardens, in a dry Zen garden it’s symbolized through raked gravel to imitate the energy of real water. Sand or gravel represents an empty mind, which is then raked into swirls resembling the way water eddies around stones and islands or patterned into waves to represent rivers. Diagonally-placed rocks represent humanity. Rocks placed vertically represent heaven, while rocks with break lines pointing horizontally represent earth. Ryōanji is famous for its composition of 15 rocks in a 7:5:3 layout, thought to represent a Buddhist tale of a tiger carrying her cubs across the water.Īlong with numbers, symbolism runs throughout all elements in a Zen garden. The numbers 3, 5, and 7 are considered auspicious by Japanese garden masters, with rocks often grouped into auspicious clusters. In fact, symbolism is used to visually remind the ordinary person of their place in the universe. #YearoftheSunflower Video Contest WinnersĪll elements in a Zen garden tell a story.
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