Sunday, August 4, 2013

Welcome to My Japanese Garden!

I don't remember when I first fell in love with Japanese gardens.  What I do remember is wherever and whenever that first experience occurred, something mystical stirred within me, and I felt a sense of peace overcoming me.  Thoughts of the outside world left my mind as I sat under lush greenery and listened to the calming sound of water.


I've visited several Japanese gardens, both large and small, since that first experience, and of all of them, the most beautiful one has to be the Portland Japanese Garden in Oregon, which I've written about here and here.  Both visits to this enchanted place filled me with serenity and inspiration.

I've longed for some time to create such a tranquil oasis near my own home, but besides the fact that the simple, clean lines of this style wouldn't quite fit my cottage style (a generous use of that term) garden, Japanese gardens require years to establish fully.  I would be 90 or 100 years old before I could truly enjoy my own!  And so, I've resigned myself to enjoying these gardens on the occasional visit.

 That is until now . . .



Voila!  Yes, indeed, I finally have my very own Zen garden for quiet contemplation!  You must be wondering, "Rose, however did you achieve this in such a short time?"  And, "However did you keep this a secret while you planted trees and shrubs and moved boulders into place for a retaining wall??" Before you marvel too much, however, let me say that I always try to be honest with my readers.  So let's step back and take a longer look at this garden, shall we?


A different perspective reveals the truth--my Zen retreat is actually a miniature garden!  Last summer I decided I really wanted to create a fairy garden this year and finally found what I thought would be the perfect place--under the 'Limelight' hydrangea whose leaves would provide a shady spot for the fairies.  I did a little planning and thinking and in the fall purchased a few pieces for the garden after a workshop on fairy gardens at our local garden center.  With my granddaughter, I did a "trial run" and used the pieces in a little indoor fairy garden over the winter, which unfortunately had rather disastrous results.


Undaunted by the indoor failure, this spring my friend Beckie and I headed to the garden center for their annual spring workshops, hoping, too, to snag another coupon for more accessories for the fairy garden. However, what we thought was going to be a workshop specifically on fairy gardens turned out to be one on miniature gardens in general.  The garden center had just received a new shipment of various items, and the presenter decided to choose a pagoda and a small Buddha to create her demonstration mini-garden. Suddenly, that proverbial lightbulb went off over my head--if I couldn't have a "real" Japanese garden at home, why not a miniature one?


I snapped up the last remaining pagoda and small Buddha after the workshop; the few pieces I had purchased the previous fall, I realized, would easily fit into an Asian theme just as well as in a fairy home.  All that was left to do now was prepare the site and arrange the elements.  A few plants had to be moved, including the diminutive 'Minnow' daffodils, which were carefully re-planted to form the northern border next spring.  A few large tulips were marked for moving later this fall. At last, I could begin designing the new garden.


A true Japanese garden has three main elements--stone, water, and plants--all natural materials to emphasize the connection between existing nature and this type of garden.  The "stone" pagoda and walkway, the "boulders" in the retaining wall, and the curved bridge, another common sight in these gardens, all fit the first element.  The Fu dogs, a gift from friend Beckie, are actually more typical of Chinese architecture, but this is a non-denominational sanctuary, where all beliefs are welcome!  They look a little intimidating guarding the curved bridge, but I didn't place them there, as you'll see later.


I remembered the poetry stone I saw in the Portland garden and wanted to add this, too.  Nothing suitable could be found in garden centers, so I created my own "monolith."  The Portland stone had haiku carved into it, but I didn't think my hand was steady enough to write a whole poem in tiny characters.  Instead, the stone simply says "Peace"--or at least I hope that's what it says:)

The second element of a Japanese garden is noticeably missing here for a very practical reason.  A miniature water feature would need constant replenishing, but most importantly, Sophie thinks any element of water--fountains, birdbaths, etc.-- in the garden is her personal drinking dish.  This garden may be open to all creeds, but it doesn't need a Golden Retriever trampling through it:)


Instead of water, I created a dry stream flowing under the bridge made from aquarium gravel--a cheap alternative to anything labeled "miniature gardening."  The traditional dry garden, which many of us lay people refer to as a Zen garden, mimics the sea as well.  I puzzled over how to keep the sand intact for some time until I found a castoff ramekin once used as a food dish for a long since departed pet turtle.  Clearly, the Zen garden needs some raking, which it will as soon as I remember where I put the miniature rake:)


Finally, the third main element of a Japanese garden--the plants. A traditional garden has a primarily monochromatic color scheme, using lots of evergreens.  Several of our local garden centers now carry a small selection of dwarf conifers, but they're pretty pricey.  Not knowing how they might fare through our winters, I've only purchased one--a false cypress, one of my favorites, seen next to the monolith in an earlier photo.   After the first one died and I had to replace it, the purse strings got even tighter, and I opted for a cheaper alternative to a tall conifer.  The Lemon Cypress above is not a winter-hardy perennial, so I left it in its pot and will bring it in for the winter.  If it doesn't survive, it can easily be replaced next spring without spending much money.


The miniature hosta 'Pooh Bear' was already in the garden, so it only needed to be moved to this more appropriate spot.  Other plants in the garden include another miniature hosta, a small trailing veronica, Sedum 'Angelina,' and some annuals including a thyme and the polka-dot plant seen in earlier photos.  I'd really like to cover the whole area with moss, but I suspect it won't do well here unless I make a commitment to watering this area every single day.


In fact, I'm not sure how any of these plants will do over the winter, another reason for the economical plant selection this first year.  It will be a true learning experience to see if the pricier perennials survive; if they don't, there are plenty of annuals that will do just fine--I've found herbs like thyme are great choices for a tiny garden.  I'm not worried, though, about the miniature iris I dug up from my mother's garden and planted in the south border.  They'll be a perfect addition when they bloom next spring.


I'd like to say I created this garden all by myself, but I did have a couple of helpers one evening--my granddaughter and her friend came over to do the heavy lifting of some "boulders" for the retaining wall and building the dry stream.  There was some friendly debating as they moved pieces around and decided on just the right spot for the Fu dogs. It always helps to have some extra landscape design advice!


A few days later, I went out to water one morning and was totally surprised to find two new inhabitants in the garden.  Perhaps garden fairies aren't always the mischievous, frivolous creatures we think they are; maybe they need a place for quiet contemplation once in awhile, too.  How and why they arrived I'm not sure, but they're certainly welcome here--as long as they observe proper decorum.  It is a little suspicious, though, that their arrival coincided with a visit from blogging friend Lisa:)

There is still more tweaking of this garden to be done:  I'd like to find a miniature stone lantern and a crane, the Japanese symbol of longevity, and I realized another missing part--a bench big enough for me to sit on!  But that's the beauty of a miniature garden compared to the traditional Japanese garden--all elements can easily be changed and will no doubt change from year to year.

28 comments:

  1. The perfect solution to creating the landscape of your dreams -- a miniature, tiny little space that has all the elements in perfect scale. Love it, and it works!

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  2. What a sweet little garden. We have a beautiful J. garden in nearby Rockford, Illinois. I try to visit there each season. I feel a real sense of peace when I visit. It's a favorite spot to visit when my daughter is here.
    Balisha

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  3. Very, very cool. I love your creativity and ingenuity.

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  4. Very creative! Japanese gardens are not my thing, but I like how you have put together the various elements on a small scale. Maybe you'll start attracting miniature Buddhist monks soon!

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  5. I love japanese gardens too. They bring peace in the mind one ore the other way. Great you had help from your granddoughter.
    Have a wonderful day Rose.

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  6. Looks wonderful, Prairie Rose, and seems meant to be! I'm sure it will give you much peace and tranquility. (I will keep my garden fairies away. They tend to be a bit rambunctious and might not know how to behave in a garden like that.)

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  7. I agree that you need a nice bench right near your "Japanese Garden" so you can contemplate and enjoy this area. This area has such a wonderful 'feel' to it. I hope your plants all survive. What fun to have the girls help you with this project.

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  8. Laurrie, I know I'll never have a big Japanese garden, so this is the next best thing.

    Balisha, I've heard about Rockford's Japanese Garden, and in fact, hope to visit it this summer!

    Sally, Creating this little garden was fun--kind of like playing with a doll house once again:)

    Jason, I would never have the patience to create something like this on a large scale. Besides, I like color too much to have a mostly green garden!

    Marijke, My granddaughter and her friend had so much fun helping me. Now when she goes shopping with her mom, she's on the lookout for things to add to my garden.

    Carol, Yes, your garden fairies might be a little boisterous for this quiet place; so far, mine have been very well-behaved:)

    Lisa, I'm trying to figure out just where to place a seat here, but then I wouldn't be on eye level with the garden:) My granddaughter loved the fairies!

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  9. They are lovely and that little miniature one is so enticing! (If I was small enough!)
    Maggie x

    Nuts in May

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  10. That is wonderful! Somehow I missed the post of your indoor cat-storms, but it is hard to believe that such an innocent face could be digging plants out of planters :-)

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  11. What a wonderful idea!
    Thanks for your visit and comment on my blog.
    Have a wonderful Monday!
    Lea
    Lea's Menagerie

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  12. Rose, it was genius idea the create Japanese garden! I am sure you did all very well with such good helpers and garden fairies. I love the green-blue statues near the dry stream!

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  13. WE visited the Japanese garden at the national botanic garden of Wales last week and they had all sorts of stones and water and the explanations. Fascinating. I think yours is lovely though.

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  14. Oh Rose what a brilliant idea! And I bet your grandchildren absolutely loved helping you create it.

    Fantastic!

    Sx

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  15. What a happy confluence of ideas Rose, I am delighted you found a way to have your own Japanese garden, and what fun to be able to share the making of it with your grandaughters.

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  16. Hi Rose, Your Japanese garden is made all the more special with the assistance of your granddaughter and her friend. What I love about Japanese gardens is the feeling of calm and serenity they suggest. I hope you are able to find a bench so you can sit, relax and enjoy this part of your garden.

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  17. It's very creative Rose. I could see you sitting out here contemplating the joys of the fairies! The 'Limelight' is a perfect canopy too.

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  18. See, Widget was doing you a favor and letting you know you needed this larger garden outside. Never underestimate the power of a kitty. hee hee....

    Lucky you to have such wonderful Garden Helpers! They did a great job of placement and lets hope the Zen keeps Sophie clear of the Fairies!

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  19. Awww, it's perfect! How fun that your granddaughter and her friend were able to help! It looks great!

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  20. Maggie May, Japanese gardening is really not my style, but I just love to visit them.

    Cassi, Widget is Daughter's cat and usually is pretty shy, but he loved that indoor planter:)

    Lea, I'm so glad I attended that workshop or I never would have thought of this.

    Nadezda, My granddaughter and her friend had such a good time helping with this--I just let them do whatever they wanted:)

    Liz, I don't know what it is about Japanese gardens that I love so much--it must be that they are so serene and peaceful. One of my favorite places to visit!

    Suburbia, Yes, my granddaughter loved helping with this. So glad to see you back in the blogging world!

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  21. What a wonderful project to share with your granddaughter! It's quite Japanese to have a tiny garden at your home.

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  22. I love how you made a dream come true. The miniature garden is wonderful, especially having the children help make it a reality. Miniature gardens are found here in Buffalo. I have seen quite a few locally, so carefully constructed and lovingly maintained.

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  23. It's fantastic Rose! I have not been drawn to fairy gardens, but I totally get this miniature Japanese garden! it's fun and lovely.

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  24. Brilliant idea, Rose, and lovely execution!

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  25. That is absolutely adorable, Rose! When my daughter was little, we would make fairy houses up under the trees out of sticks, stones, pine cones, sea shells, and such. It was fun.

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  26. Fabulous, Rose! There's really no excuse not to have some sort of garden, and your miniature one fits well into even the tiniest of spaces. I would love to make an idea like yours work for a veggie garden, complete with weeds so tiny they're nearly invisible:)

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  27. Love your miniature zen garden, Rose - so cute!

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  28. How adorable! I'm inspired as I have a stone lantern to display in the garden!

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