Japanese Garden Tranquility

Since ancient times Japanese culture has valued tranquility and balance. From their architecture and spiritual practices to their world renown gardens the culture expresses rehabilitation of spirit after hard work and play. The Japanese Garden combines landscaping design that springs forth from nature and spiritual order resulting in a layered landscape which can produce a profound sense of ease and peace. Dating back before the 5th century the Japanese Gardens are found in both home and public places and ruins of gardens many centuries old are often found during excavation contributing to the sense that these quality's of serenity and tranquility are part of the Japanese DNA.

Combining the beauty inherent in simplicity with focus of the breath the Japanese Garden is treasured everywhere on our planet.

Simple beauty sprouting forth from focal points like waterfalls, stepping stones, spiritual sculpture and brightly flowering trees and shrubs can create infinite layers depending on the objective of the garden designer. Each angle of view is taken into account when crafting the simple design, with the natural and architectural features surrounding and underneath the garden creating a harmony within natures symphony. Form along with depths of colors are combined with specific viewing in mind. Even a small boxed garden space can give a school, home or busy commercial space a little place where one can exhale and then return nourished to the tumult of daily living.

Choose a spot where opportunities abound for lots of variation and elevation of the plantings and enhancements to the garden. While tranquility and balance are the cornerstone in the creation of a Japanese garden each person has their own definition of what tranquility means. If you keep in mind that one of the main purposes of a Japanese garden is to have a place to come to for relaxation and solace from the hustle and bustle of the everyday world you will have a good direction to start from in creating your own space.

Try extracting a strong visual component when you begin your design. Use large strategically placed stones or a water fall feature as a center place to start your design process, then add shrubs with muted colors to surround your central feature. Adding terraces can help showcase the different accent pieces you want to see in your garden as well as adding to its secluded feeling.