Yes, I'm looking for inspiration to share with LA. I find when I say Japanses or Asian concept even to professionals I get shown pictures of tea houses and lanterns.

A lot may depend upon what you can grow. Seasonally flowering shrubs and trees form a large part of the gardens I saw in Japan, along with different kinds of bamboo. (Camellias? Rhododendrons? Azaleas? Cherry trees? Dwarf conifers?) Rocks tend to be a feature, very deliberately placed. Ponds are prominent features, but not absolutely necessary -- you can use dry stream beds or raked gravel to suggest their presence. I suggest resorting to the library for serious books on the subject. Japanese gardens, in my own ignorance, seem to be an expression of man's dominance of nature, shaping the plants and the landscape to a pleasing display, often with symbolic elements. Simplicity is more important than exuberance, but make no mistake, they are labor-intensive. Just my take on the theme.

@Maisie then you're talking to the wrong professionals. There's a big difference between actual Asian-inspired design and Beni Hanas.

For reference points to share your best bet may be to search online for public gardens in the Japanese style. I know there's a famous one in San Francisco, There's even a really cool one in Richmond VA. They're out there. Then pick a few photos and try to articulate what it is you like and don't like about each,

What is the architectural style of your house and the current landscape?

Hi all,

kiminpl we do well with Rhododendron and azeleas, too cold for camellias. I'd love to have evergreen conifers but the oak shade limits the options. (I miss hemlocks!)

rev gardens, I nearly choked on my tea when I read your comment! Yup big difference! The pros really aren't that bad but I am frustrated by my inability to express what I'd like to achieve. That is why I am hunting for leads. Clearly my words aren't doing the job!

Kitasei, The house is a little white Cape in a wooded area. Mostly oak, some maple and sassafras. Good moss! We have some lawns, a small flower garden and vegetable plot. We are on a hillside but the area in consideration is a small level spot with a gentle slope behind and a steeper slope down toward the road. That is fairly well screened with rhododendron. It is on the east side of the house and somewhat remote from the rest of the yard.

do I stop talking about Japanese gardens and focus on feel? Green, serene, simplified woodland with clearing carefully edited to highlight the quality of certain shrubs and trees?

You might try googling images for "tea house garden/ landscaping'. Are you willing to try some other evergreens to replace the spruce? The Denver Botanic Gardens have a beautiful tea garden feature as do a few public gardens in California. I bet you could find some pictorial inspiration there to bring back here for suggestions. I'm not a pro, but I envision the look you're seeking. This style of landscaping used to be very popular in Ca during the Arts and Crafts era. It's meant to look natural, but I imagine it takes quite a bit of know-how to pull it off.

Without seeing a picture of the house and property this is impossible. A white cape style house doesn't lend itself to a Japanese landscape aesthetic. Without seeing it I have no idea of the challenge, but two stories, a high porch, straight walk, painted wood, etc are incongruous. Are you planning to create a self-contained garden or the landscape context for the house?

Thank you all for the leads and thoughts. Following the suggestions here I had some better luck finding images that began to highlight the feel we are looking for - drawing on the qualities of Japanese gardens but recognizing that we are aiming for something evocative rather than duplicative. The design of the space will be done on the ground to fit this special garden area into the overall landscape of the property.

I think you can have a Japanese feel to your garden without going all the way. What is it specifically that he likes? Topiary will be time consuming. On the other hand I found a few images that have the right feeling without topiary.

Lovely pictures!

Japanese gardens or Asian inspired gardens evoke feelings of serenity, calmness, and other aspects of nature. It is primarily done through symbolism. Each design element can embody the essence of the desired feeling. We've probably heard the term Meditation garden, yet what exactly are the elements of a Meditation garden? Does simply placing a Buddha create a space conducive for meditation? Its not so much what you put in the space, but how you feel when you look at it or experience being in it. I have written lots about this topic. sacred gardens