A "Japanese" Maple comes to mind. Dogwoods are also frequently used in Japanese gardens. There has been alot written on the elements of zen gardens. You should be able to find several resources via a google search.

Many years ago, when China was a forbidden country, one of my customers suffered acute appendicitis while on assignment there. Surgery was required. An instructor sat by his side teaching him a method of self-hypnosis. During surgery he was awake, no anesthetics and felt no pain. Upon his return to the States he wrote widely of his experience. This is when I began my search for a teacher of meditation and self-hypnosis. And, as the Yoga saying goes..."when you are ready, the teacher will appear". What is overlooked in general overviews of Zen gardens is the understanding that the act of maintaining the garden itself is a form of meditation. One can meditate anywhere and also in any type of garden. Slow down, see the light and shadow, feel the sun's warmth, the evergreen branch bowed with snow, the tactile touch of mulch running through your fingers, listen to the sound of shovel on stone, rake on gravel.

....I'm new to Zen gardens,.... I agree with the previous advice first determine what you like most. "Zen garden" is only one of the archetypes of Japaene gardens and is most commonly associated with the karesansui (dry rock) garden. Perhaps that is what you like but perhaps you mean in more general terms "a Japanese garden". But then there are many types of these, with or without Buddhist influences. Perhaps it is a tea garden you like most, and/or that would best fit your setting ? Or perhaps you want to incorporate different style-elements in your Japanese garden ? And then there comes feasibility and do-ability etc. This link may help in your quest... Enjoy, Here is a link that might be useful: How to typify, architect and compose a Japanese garden ?

Hello from Melbourne, FL. This is my first day on this site, about what size gravel to use in a Japanese Garden. I'm also in the process of about starting one in the front entrance courtyard. This is what I found some years ago: The following is from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden Record, Plants & Garden 1961-62 (new series vol. 17 no. 4) The "Sand Gardens" Of Japan ...there are centuries-old "abstract" gardens in Japan in which sand or gravel are used more frequently, because it can be raked in meaningful patterens. In constructing the replica of the Ryoanji Temple Stone Garden at Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the gravel problem required a satisfactory solution. Washed gravel cannot satisfactorry be raked into surface patterens. Crushed gravel of uniformly-sized particles can be raked into patterens, but if it it is to hold the pattern and at the same time present a satisfactory appearance (texture, light and shadow, etc.), it is necessary to combine two or three sizes of gravel particles. After several experiments, it was found that poultry grit from the North Carolina Granite Corporation, Mt Airy, NC came closet to giving the effect obtained by the Japanese in their Ryoanji Garden in Kyoto. Of the many size combinations we tested, one of the best proved to be: 2 parts "Grower" size 1 part "Turkey" size 1 part "Turkey Finisher" The different sizes were thoroughly mixed, applied evenly over a flat surface, and raked into a the "wavelet" pattern. The mixture can be recommended both for texture and holding quality. The wavelet pattern holds its form for several weeks, depending on the weather. While mixtures with a higher percentage of small grit held the pattern very satisfactory, they were chaclky in appearance and did not resemble the orginal Ryoanji mix. --- Landon H. Winchester, (Assistant Horticulturist, Brooklyn Botanic Garden). I added the following: http://www.ncgranite.com/gritmailer.pdf grower: 3/32 - 3/16 inch (2.3813 - 4.7625 mm) turkey: 5/16 - 7/16 inch (7.9375 - 11.1125 mm) turkey finisher: 7/16 - 5/8 inch (11.1125 - 15-8725 mm) Here is a link that might be useful: Gran-i-grit broucher