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Japanese garden pond design


18 Mystical Japanese Pond Design Ideas 2022

The cultures of Far East Asia, due to their millennia-old civilizations and their well-developed design sensibilities, are known for their expertise with ornamental ponds. They have a knack for creating understated, yet highly impactful designs that incorporate the concepts of balance, minimalism, and harmony. Their designs often highlight the relaxing sound of water.

The Japanese are especially known for their Zen gardens, which are usually equipped with water features due to their traditional beliefs (rooted in Buddhism, Shintoism, and Taoism). Water is symbolic of renewal, continuity, tranquility, and spiritual purification. It is an essential element as it represents life-giving forces and change.  The oriental pond is not simply an attractive focal point in a garden, it literally displays the philosophical notions of its creator!

It’s no wonder why the Japanese are revered throughout the world for their pond design techniques, with western cultures adopting many of their design elements. Moreover, as the source of the most valuable koi breeds and a wide array of spectacular pondside plants, they are simply the masters of their craft. Create an oriental-style water oasis by integrating the elements listed below.

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Water Features for Sound & Flow

1)marissa anderson / CC BY 2.0

The waterfall is a famous and truly beloved addition to Japanese ponds because it symbolizes renewal and change. It serves as a multi-purpose focal point. First, it allows for the flow of water and creates a gentle current that promotes temperature regulation, oxygen flow, and nutrient cycling. Second, its ambient noise is unrivaled at creating a relaxing effect, proven to potentially reduce stress. Third, it is a visual spectacle that places movement and the rejuvenating power of water at the forefront of every design.

A single waterfall, such as the one shown here, considerably changes the overall finish of the pond. It pleasantly contrasts the relatively still water that surrounds the lantern and central stone features. It blurs the reflection of pondside plants as it creates mesmerizing ripples on the water’s surface.

2)Marathon / CC BY-SA 2.0

The waterfall serves as an energetic backdrop in this otherwise still pond. It almost blends into the stone base, only given away by its sound and by the whitish froth of its rapidly moving surface. Partly hidden by the colorful canopies of slender trees, it invites the viewer to approach closer.

A minimalist bridge that cuts through the pond, dividing it into the tranquil pool in the foreground and the gushing water in the background, serves as a perfect vantage point. The location of the waterfall exemplifies the contrast between the seemingly separate bodies of water, both therapeutic visions in their own right.

Harmonious Pagodas and Sculptures

3)Dennis Jarvis / CC BY-SA 2.0

The Japanese pagoda makes an appearance in so many oriental ponds, not just because it is a stately fixture that draws the eye, but because of its symbolism. Its many tiers represent the journey to higher awareness and quality of perception. It is a symbol of wisdom and harmony that takes its roots from Buddhist beliefs.

As miniature pagodas are often cast in stone, those that are placed in ponds tend to bring an air of permanence and stillness. They definitely add vertical complexity, especially as their reflections may appear to be a continuation of the structure. Here, the pagoda is paired with beautiful sculptures of cranes, another auspicious image in Japanese culture. Cranes are symbolic of longevity, fidelity, and luck.

4)Chrstian Stock / CC BY 2.0

Religion continues to play a vital role in Japanese culture. Many pond owners wish to instill a sense of sanctity and respect for their beliefs by installing sculptures of Shinto deities. Their deities are often represented by human forms that are dressed in traditional Heian court attire, such as an intricately carved robe.

Photographed here, sitting on a large stone slab in the pond itself, is a sculpture with the typical stout build and square face that distinguishes these deities. It was likely added to this pond to honor spiritual ancestors. Most of these figures were crafted in connection to that purpose and for aristocratic families that have made considerable cultural contributions.

5)Liskandar, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Apart from deities and pagodas, animal sculptures are common ornaments around oriental ponds. Coming in all shapes and sizes, they bring much character and uniqueness to any type of pond. Animal sculptures frequently come in the form of tortoises, fish, and a variety of birds. They are also available in a wide range of materials, such as stone, bronze, wood, and marble. Due to the superstitious nature of many Eastern cultures, they have assigned meaning to each of these animals too.

The tortoise sculpture on the edge of this pond is likely symbolic of longevity and support. In Japanese culture, tortoises are the physical form of Kompira, which is a deity that watches over seafarers.

Bridges for Continuity

6)Alan Kotok / CC BY 2.0

A bright red or orange arching bridge is one of the most unique features of the Japanese pond or garden. Apart from giving pond visitors a vantage point from which they can view the pond, it serves two other purposes. It literally leads from one side of the pond to another, or from one island to another, and can serve as a shortcut of sorts. Figuratively, it is symbolic of the journey from this physical realm into the afterlife. This significant representation is crucial to creating the most authentic of Japanese gardens.

The traditional Japanese bridge instills a meditative mindset in whoever engages with it. This pond’s bridge is painted with a unique red hue because this color is symbolic of spiritual transformation. It certainly stands out amidst the greenery, but it does manage to accentuate the red stalks of the palm trees around it.

7)Glen Bowman / CC BY-SA 2.0

Red bridges need not always be arched – they can still hold their symbolic significance while being more user-friendly & accessible for disabled people. Often, construction budgets and space constraints may also place limits on the complexity of bridges, so a straight one is acceptable (though supposedly not as effective at warding off evil spirits) and can be just as aesthetically appealing with the right accents. Despite the red rails, the stone-clad base of the straight bridge gives it a pleasantly minimal finish. It is the perfect spot from which to soak in the sounds of the nearby waterfall and observe the koi swimming in the waters below.

8)GPA Photo Archive / CC BY-SA 2.0

Though not your average bridge, the Yatsuhashi or zigzag bridge is meant to ward off evil. It literally translates to “eight bridges”. The planks of this unique structure create a totally different pond experience, allowing viewers to walk in between the emergent irises whilst basking in the pond’s gentle sounds and tranquility. The lovely, light brown finish brings out the color of the iris leaves and flowers. This truly unforgettable installation is a feast for the senses.

A more traditional, arching bridge, largely hidden from view by a deep-green canopy of fine leaves, peeks invitingly from the background! Note that, as it has the same wooden finish as the plank set-up, these separate elements create a harmonious effect. If visitors take a walk across the arching bridge in the distance first, they may find themselves feeling a sense of familiarity once they catch a glimpse of the zigzag bridge. 

Bonsais & Naturalized Margins

9)Captain-tucker, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Bonsai trees are a testament to Japanese creativity and patience. The products of centuries of research into plant manipulation techniques, they are basically miniature versions of larger trees that have been forced to grow in a restricted, yet aesthetically pleasing, manner.

Bonsai trees play an important role in Buddhist culture, which is why they are crucial components of Zen gardens and ponds. As a focal point for meditation and other types of contemplative activities, they represent peace, balance, and luck. Here, the bonsai tree sits on an island in the center of the pond. Its seemingly manicured canopy captures the sun’s rays and naturally urges spectators to contemplate its beauty.

10)Tatters ✾ / CC BY-SA 2.0

The neatness of the garden that surrounds this pond is contrasted by the organic appearance of the emergent grasses along its margins. The flowering shrubs are neatly pruned into orb-shaped bushes. The combination of grasses and bushes makes for a stunning reflection on the still pond water. The reflectiveness of ponds such as this is an element that the most dedicated of designers might play with to create a visual spectacle.

The illusion of a pondside reflection increases the vertical complexity of a pond. You can create the illusion of twice the number of flowers and double the texture! Next to the emergent grasses are stones that appear much larger than they are due to their reflection.

11)Ryan Somma from Occoquan, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The growth of large shrubs or small trees can also be maintained so that they appear as oversized bonsais. The trick is to create a multileveled canopy with clear gaps. These will understandably be heavier on maintenance as they’ll tend to grow quicker. However, the effort spent pruning can go a long way in terms of creating an aesthetically pleasing pond or garden. For a longer-lasting shape, some bonsai shaping techniques may be effective at redirecting branch growth and restricting spread.

A multi-level effect is achieved by cultivating increasingly shorter plants from the background to the foreground. The large tree is emphasized by the shorter, pond-edge shrubs and the emergent grasses. This combination of natural elements should effectively lure many beneficial animals and insects into the pond ecosystem.

Overhanging Trees

12)Jon Wick / CC BY 2.0

Pondside trees can be quite tricky to cultivate due to their demand for space, root expansion, and their tendency to block out sunlight. Moreover, the accumulation of fallen leaves and debris can cause a pond filter to struggle and eventually become damaged. Nonetheless, the right trees, such as this Japanese conifer tree with mint/sage green leaves, might be easier to manage. Its overhanging canopy provides just the right amount of shade for the fish below. It aids in the maintenance of water temperature and the prevention of algal overgrowth, which can occur due to excess sun exposure and nutrient input.  

13)Marathon / CC BY-SA 2.0

An overhanging tree can also be the perfect pondside accent for Japanese-style ornamental ponds. Pine trees come in many varieties and are able to grow into endlessly interesting shapes. The blue-green to greyish needles of this pine give it an almost whimsical and unreal appearance. It undeniably stands out in contrast to the bright green foliage of the emergent grasses and lichen-coated rocks. Plants with warm and cool green undertones are often placed next to one another in oriental gardens, so this tree plays its part perfectly. Moreover, it creates a small pocket of shade for underlying animals.

14)Alan Murray-Rust / CC BY-SA 2.0

There’s nothing quite like dappled shade from overhanging trees around a calm pond. It can create a sense of stillness and safety. Though not all pond plants favor partial shade conditions, those with large foliage (often sensitive to scorching) tend to benefit the most.

Still, it’s important to consider the trade-offs between having a partly shaded pond that accumulates fallen leaves and a fully exposed one. It is advisable for ponds with a shallow depth to have access to shade as they are more likely to warm up quickly. Some oriental-themed ponds, such as this one, are able to achieve a balance by having partly shaded and fully exposed areas.

Floating Plants for Water Clarity

15)Casper Moller / CC BY 2.0

A great way to create shade, within the water column, without the use of overhanging trees is by cultivating floating plants. There are many species with attractive, heat-tolerant fronds. Note that free-floating species many have the tendency to spread quickly, however, as their free-floating offsets may attempt to colonize any exposed areas.

In many cases, floating plants are instrumental in maintaining the water clarity of oriental ponds. In this modern, indoor-outdoor pond space, they help naturalize the pond’s overall appearance by masking the tiled floor. Their organic distribution greatly complements the marginal symmetry of the pond’s edges.

16)Daderot, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Sparsely distributed floating plants in an oriental, outdoor pond can emphasize the stillness of the water’s surface. Just a few fronds can provide the necessary shade for the prevention of algal blooms. As a bonus, many species produce seasonal flowers as well. These can look quite enchanting as they may seemingly float on or emerge weightlessly through the water’s surface.

In this pond design, the floating plants occur more densely along the margins of the pond, leaving the central area free to reflect the sunlit tree canopies above. Other decorations within the pond itself include rough stones and a legged-type lantern sculpture that perfectly blends in with the adjacent greens.

Textural Elements for Contrast

17)LoneStarMike, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A rock partition that looks much like a footpath roughly separates this oriental pond into several connecting pools. Its curved arrangement is quite similar to that of the central line in the yin-yang symbol. Winding paths, like this one, are quite common in Japanese culture.

The gaps in between the rocks allow the fish to move into other sections of the pond. Interestingly, the rocks along the center of the pond are arranged so that they create the illusion of a central island with emergent plants. The eye is subtly led to this area by the rocks in the foreground.

18)Daderot, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Piles of stone slabs distinctively add complexity and vertical dimension to this minimalist pond. Fairly easy to maintain and friendly on the pocket, rough stone features make fine additions along the edges of just about any water feature due to their durability. In Japanese mythology, stones represent immutability. They can resist change, which is symbolized by water. The combination of stone and water, as contrasting elements, creates the perfect balance.

A lovely Rankei lantern with a heavy base is perched on one edge of the pond. Due to its curved pedestal, this granite sculpture is traditionally positioned right at the pond or stream’s bank. The lantern itself can then be reflected onto the water’s surface.

History and Modern Design of Japanese Gardens

A pine island connected by two stone bridges (Como Park).

The beauty of water in the wild is unparalleled. Creators of Japanese gardens attempt to capture the brilliance of water and consider how it will ultimately resonate with the viewer.

The Japanese refer to their gardens as Tei-en, which translates as both “wild nature” and “controlled nature,” two opposing characteristics. It is in the exquisite balance of these two fundamental qualities that the Japanese garden finds a universal voice. The early gardens of Japan were not created for aesthetic reasons; instead, they were sacred places meant for prayers and rituals. However, they did contain powerful aesthetic components that would be discovered and brought to the forefront in the future creation of gardens.

My fascination was with an aesthetic that is very close to my own understanding of Tei-en, with Earth serving as the sculpture where the natural world and the sparing hand of human presence mutually create a contemplative environment. Tei-en combined with niwa, the literal translation of “garden,” forms the basic framework for stone, water and plants, the three ingredients for designing a western Japanese garden.

History of Japanese Gardens

Moving through the Japanese garden is a journey, which is also the destination. In a land where space is precious, the art of landscaping and garden design has been taken to very high limits of expression, with distinct formations that engage an aesthetic and philosophy that are completely unique from Western traditions. Rocks and ponds are two of the most fundamental elements of the garden whose use can be traced back to prehistoric times. They are derived from “sacred spaces,” which predate the first gardens by at least 1,000 years.

From the grandeur of gardens seen in Han (China), Japanese designers scaled the gardens to fit the topographical and special conditions of Japan. The gardens are smaller, with more concentrated effects that are reduced to the essence of nature. The fundamental relationships and intricacies that exist among water, rocks, trees and sky express themselves in the form of lakes, ponds, rivers, streams and waterfalls.

A very re ned, small residential garden with water basin

Early Japanese garden builders also seemed, in my opinion, to be intuitively attuned to the variety of archetypes of the natural landscape. The archetypes are the source images, some say, that reside in our subconscious mind. The well-known garden writer Julie Moir Messervy has identified seven archetypes that, in some way, shape or form, constitute all garden designs and the feelings associated with them, such as the sea (immersing), the cave (nestling), the harbor or cove (embracing), the promontory (extending), the island (separating), the mountains (transforming) and the sky (transcending).

The abundance of water flowing from mountain streams provided clean, clear water for use in ponds. The sites specifically chosen for ponds allow water to flow through, flushing out stagnant contaminants — a cleansing action without using any mechanical means.

This technology utilizes gravity, only knowing that water always flows down hill. Water levels were efficiently controlled through a system of dams and weirs. The garden builders drew upon the technology of wet rice culture, which utilizes the intricate systems of channels for directing water from one growing terrace to another, flowing down the mountain slope.

Movement vs. Stillness

The reflectivity of a still surface draws into view the sky and surrounding landscape, concentric circles from raindrops, wind ripples and small waves, emphasizing the many moods that a pond can present.

A waterfall cascades into a calm pool, as viewed from a stone bridge. (Anderson Japanese Gardens, Rockford, Illinois.)

All the possible moods of weather effects on water are highly prized when seen from a small pavilion or residence, sheltered in nature, but not of nature. This tension between the natural and human-defined elements seeks to improve the quality of life of the beholder.
Movement and stillness are essential aspects of nature. Out of these two elements, great landscapes were created, tracing back to streams with tributaries, and finally to a mountain spring source. This perspective offers a rich spectrum of design options to scale down into a garden setting.

Such ideas about nature were imported from Han (China) and Korea in a process known as acculturation, where understanding and reinterpretations are tailored to fit the context of the old culture within they are now placed. This gives the indigenous elements of culture new meaning. Imported ideas found a resonant familiarity with the early Japanese garden builders’ ancient animistic perceptions that natural objects — rocks, ponds and islands — are not inanimate, but sacred spirits. Animism is a belief where everything is thought to be alive and thus deeply respected. Perhaps they were some of the first proto-ecologists?

The tradition of the Japanese garden as a seamless progression of accumulated ideas formed over the course of 1,000 years has assumed a refined, understated simplicity, with extraordinary attention to detail and composition. Every part is vital for the creation as a whole, with careful placement of the parts that make up the entirety. Every archetype found in nature can be found somewhere in a Japanese garden.

Japanese Garden Design

I start the design process by making rough concept sketches or 1:1 scale maquettes to flesh out what can and needs to be done. I then roughly quantify what materials and plants will be used and estimate a cost range from the high to low end. This helps determine the size of the garden desired and what kind of resources the client is willing to devote to a project, ultimately giving me direction to proceed.

An artfully composed stone arrangement of a pond shoreline (Como Park, Saint Paul, Minnesota).

A large part of the plan is to have a fully disclosed idea of the long-term costs of the garden after it is built. The costs of maintaining a high-quality Japanese garden will exceed the cost of building the garden many times over. Knowing this on the front end determines the affordability scaling and the customer’s commitment to follow through with appropriate maintenance over the years to come. For maintaining a high-quality Japanese garden can be like maintaining a high-end golf course, so proceed with caution!

Occasionally I encounter clients with champagne taste and a beer budget. Building the garden in phases that are broken down into affordable annual amounts, we can build a garden over a period of several years. Longer periods of construction in many cases can allow a customer to evolve into a master plan. This approach requires a great amount of patience.

I take a sculptural approach in creating a garden as it is being built. Remaining open-ended allows for intuitive decisions that are subject to change as construction progresses. This is how an artist brings life to the design of the garden — working up from the details rather than adhering to a master plan. The final plan that ends up on paper ends up being an as-built plan that is completely accurate.

Engineering Simplicity

Building a Japanese garden is an art, a craft and an engineering project. The garden designer must be fluent in all the necessary skills to masterfully make everything work in concert and last at least a generation. Skilled trades are also vital for building beyond the scope of the individual garden designer. The designer functions as a project manager, too, as leader of the team’s progression toward completion.
Assembling high-quality rock often takes time and a keen eye for picking and choosing from a quarry or gravel pit. Unique, beautiful stones need to be avoided, since they call undue attention to themselves. Accessorizing the garden with cultural artifacts also requires a very discriminating eye so that the garden is not overloaded with water basins, stone lanterns, pagodas or statuary of any kind. Less is more in this case. Otherwise, one destroys the simplicity that is vital for a tranquil space.

A gentle trickle of water pours into a rustic water basin.

Plantings are kept to a fairly limited palette of green leaf Japanese maples, flowering cherry, pines, cypresses, azaleas, magnolias, rhododendrons, boxwoods, Japanese yews, ground covers, ferns and several species of mosses. Choosing dwarf plants for the garden only creates a “munchkin garden,” where the only thing missing is a yellow brick road.

Japanese gardens are not very floriferous. The only blossoms tolerated are incidental to the plants themselves and bloom in their own time. The Japanese love flowers but avoid introducing too much color, since the color distracts from the rest of the garden.

The majority of larger gardens are located in the public domain — botanical gardens, arboretums, public parks, private estates, art museums, show gardens at hotels and elegant inns, corporate and foundations grounds, Buddhist Temple compounds and those considered part of the Japanese Imperial House Holdings. Many gardens are designated as important cultural heritage properties by the Japanese government.

Sukiya Gardens

The majority of gardens are residential and thus smaller in size. There are thousands of these throughout Japan, rural and urban, each as unique and as simple as can be imagined. Often these gardens are crafted by a homeowner with occasional guidance from professional gardeners. These small gardens are part of Sukiya-styled architecture, which is Japan’s primary form of residential architecture from the 17th century to present day.

A Japanese Maple grows on the far side of the garden (Anderson Japanese Gardens).

Sukiya living environments, or the combination of a home, its interior spaces and the surrounding garden, are meant to be viewed from inside the building. At the center of this unified property is a graceful, high-quality home that avoids clutter and ostentation. It is visually integrated with exterior spaces. The hallmarks include skilled craftsmanship, the ample use of natural materials, light, elegant proportions and respect for the human scale. The overall mood is one of quiet elegance surrounded by natural beauty, bringing quality to life.

My design practice concentrates on Sukiya gardens, which can be surprisingly very affordable for many homeowners.

There Is a Season

Japanese gardens are created with all four seasons in mind. Each season displays an inherent uniqueness. Spring offers the emerging and awakening delights of running waters, melted ice in ponds, breaking buds and sprouting leaves, blossoming ephemerals and early flowering of the cherry trees. It reminds everyone of the life cycle, always moving on to the next season. Summer brings out the full character of trees and shrubs, followed by autumn and the color changes of leaves in preparation for winter’s dormancy. Pond sizes were designed in a way to maintain even water temperatures by limiting full sun exposure to no more than four to six hours a day.

The distant waterfall is seen from the pathway and bridge.

Though we understand and appreciate the four seasons of the year, there is something very unique acknowledged in Japan that is based on its agricultural roots. In ancient times, the Japanese divided their year into 24 periods based on classical Chinese sources. The year comes to life in the vividly named subdivisions of the Japanese calendar.

There are actually 72 micro-seasons, each lasting approximately five days. Each is also linked with an observation made centuries ago and correlated with subtle changes as each year progresses. This practice was likely started by farmers who accumulated observations made over time. Observations were made, for example, where a certain plant bloomed, when certain birds arrived, when the rice was to be planted, when fruits were to be harvested, when a specific butterfly emerged from its cocoon and so forth. In their present form, they offer a poetic journey through the Japanese year, where land awakens and blooms with life and activity before returning to slumber.

As water shapers, we study the ways of water and ponds. This is vital to understanding how water works to resonate with the garden viewer. It took the Japanese garden builders 1,000 years of trial and error, a skill honed through acute observations made in the wilderness — not in a classroom or book. It must be experienced firsthand to see and understand the ways of water. It is important to remember that the language of the garden is nature.

We struggle and strive over a lifetime to master the skills of pond building, to grasp the essence of nature’s lessons and apply those understandings in creating magnificent waterscapes. As the saying goes, and as we water shapers need to remember, “Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the Masters. Seek what they sought.”

Japanese garden on your own plot

Arrangement and design of the local area is a wonderful way to eloquently, but without any words, demonstrate to others all the originality of your nature. Let's try to set up a Japanese-style garden on the site. Who knows, maybe this is the language your heart speaks?

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The foundation of the foundations

No, these are not three KamAZ trucks of fertile soil and not a powerful stock of outlandish seedlings and exotic seeds. This is an idea, something on which the soul stands - that is, a spiritual, philosophical component. It is she who underlies the landscape design in Japanese. However, in the Land of the Rising Sun, it does not happen differently.

Therefore, we are inspired, spiritualized and begin to delve into the subtleties.

The Japanese are generally lovers for everything they touch, to seek the universal meaning and, in accordance with it, determine the shape, size and location of objects. A man-made landscape for them is a world in miniature, and therefore it must fully reflect the laws of life.

A Japanese garden is first about philosophy, and then about design

Some people think that the Japanese style involves minimalism and modest size, but no, there is enough scale here, it’s just a little fragmented, moreover, according to specific rules:

Mirror for the sky

Let's start the arrangement of our micromodel of the Universe with liquid forms. A pond in a Japanese garden is necessary, it can be:

The task of the reservoir in the Japanese garden is to remind about the unknowability of the Universe

Water ringing on the rocks is a delight for the ears of any Japanese

Tradition prescribes washing hands and face with the help of tsukubai before the tea ceremony

A stone stream is no less symbolic than a real one.

Stones and emptiness

These are the two main elements of a stone garden - an integral part of Japanese landscape design.

An odd number of stones for the composition, starting from 3 pieces. They should be untreated, moss on the sides is also welcome - the more natural, the better. The stones are placed diagonally on the site, from left to right, and in such a way that it is impossible to see all of them at once. This rule has a certain meaning: firstly, it is a symbol of the infinity of the Universe, which at one moment you cannot cover with a glance, and secondly, it is a kind of incentive for spiritual growth - only an enlightened person can rise above reality and see all of it at the same time.

The Japanese collect and arrange stones according to certain rules

An invariable principle of a stone garden is the presence of a large amount of free space. Separate stones or compositions surrounded by a pattern on small pebbles or sand, like islands of firmness in the middle of a vast void. Such a peculiar model of the cosmos or an atom: little matter and a lot of "nothing".

It is enough for contemplation

In general, the Japanese have a special attitude towards stones (however, as well as to all elements of nature). They should be of different shapes and sizes: small, large, curved, high, low. There are usually more stones in a horizontal position than in a vertical one. It is impossible to combine minerals of different origin into one composition - sea, river, mountain. Color, gloss, surface texture are also selected in terms of harmony.

There are a lot of subtleties in the arrangement of a rock garden, and if you want to do everything according to the rules, you need to study them in detail and thoroughly. And to begin with, you should understand the main thing: such a landscape zone is created not for admiring and aesthetics, but for meditation, self-immersion and attunement with the universe.

Blooming - in line

Restraint of tones and shades is a sign that is as significant for plants in a Japanese garden as for all its other elements. No, it is not forbidden for bushes and trees to bloom, but not all together and from time to time. They are selected according to the “wave” principle, so that in each period there is something to admire. But still, a harmonious color scheme and a different level of the green component are more important.

The round shape of the crown is traditional for the Japanese garden

The classical tradition suggests the presence of three essential plants in the Japanese garden: pine, plum and bamboo. We can replace them with something similar in our climate zone, such as cedar, willow and cherry. It will be even more Japanese than trying to grow exotics unusual for our places. Because the inhabitants of the Land of the Rising Sun put naturalness and harmony with the outside world at the forefront.

The right plants for a Japanese garden:

Plants are often given the traditional Japanese garden shape. Garden bonsai - nivaki with an unusual crown is very popular.

Landscaping design project
by Sad-dizain

Details

Significant little things

You probably already understood that there are no trifles in a Japanese garden - any element or small form matters, which are enough in the set of Japanese designers.

Such paths are often made of slate - flat stone tiles prepared for use by nature itself

If you want to decorate your Japanese garden with sculpture, don't deviate from the canons.

It is customary to indulge in contemplation here too

There are never too many Japanese lanterns

Neat wooden bridges, stone pagodas, bamboo fences and gates, turrets and paired vases are no less popular in the Japanese garden.

A stone pagoda is one of the traditional elements of Japanese landscape design

Creating a real Japanese garden in compliance with all the canons is not easy, for this you need to immerse yourself in the subject, study all the subtleties and laws of combining colors, materials and shapes. But if you do this, you will get more than just a pretty exotic lot design. You will find a place of peace and tranquility that will give harmony and elevate your soul.

Japanese-style pond

A pond brings comfort and peace to any garden, creates the integrity of the landscape picture, so sooner or later almost every gardener comes up with the idea of ​​creating a pond in his garden.

Fourteen years ago, on the banks of the Ladoga Canal, we received a plot. Immediately after the completion of the main construction work, I had the idea to create a decorative reservoir. We didn’t have to think about which style of reservoir to choose, because instead of traditional flower beds, rose gardens and mixborders, we created Japanese corner . The combination of plants and stones is one of the most interesting, contrasting and my favorite garden design techniques. The style of the Japanese garden requires careful consideration of each element. All its components must balance each other, creating a complete composition . There should be nothing superfluous, simplicity is the basis of this garden, designed for admiration and long contemplation. The size of the garden is usually small - no more than a few square meters. Here the focus is on details , each of which must be significant and be in its place.

The center of the landscape composition of my Japanese corner was pond , imitating a natural reservoir in shape and vegetation. No special funds and efforts had to be spent on its creation. Sandy soil greatly facilitated the construction of the reservoir - the bottom did not have to be covered with a layer of sand before lining it with a film.

To create unique patterns on the surface of the water using water reflectivity, which is an essential part of the traditional Japanese garden. The water level has to be constantly kept level with the shore. A wide gravel strip with three handsome boulders and a mountain pine stretches along the right bank of the reservoir. Opposite - on the left bank - after laying the finished rolled lawn, “ green valley ” was obtained, bordering with a group of stones imitating rocky ridge with a curved line . Between the stones grow rhododendrons, conifers and other plants, characteristic of the Japanese garden . There is no lush vegetation around the pond itself - this allows you to view our pond from different points, and on cool days you can admire its mirror-like surface from the veranda .

To make the mirror of the pond look more natural, I placed yellow water lilies in it. They have become a good accent of the reservoir itself: on the one hand, they attract attention from anywhere in the garden, and on the other, they absolutely do not hurt the eyes and do not get out of the general style. I want to emphasize that the basis of the beauty of the Japanese garden is by no means in a riot of bright colors, but in soothing halftone game . And in winter, such a garden does not lose its charm, enlivening with its grandeur the picture of sleeping nature.

Japanese-style pond care is not difficult at all, at least in our garden. The cleanliness of the reservoir is maintained by timely cutting of the flowering inflorescences of peonies hanging over the water , and the leaves that have fallen into the water are collected before they sink to the bottom. We carry out work on cleaning the bottom in the spring. We use the pumped water for irrigation, and again fill the reservoir with clean water from the canal, unlike well water, it does not bloom and does not become cloudy.

A significant role in the design of the shoreline of the reservoir is also played by the integral attributes of the oriental garden - stone lantern , bridge through dry stream and standing a little further gazebo for tea drinking.

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