Good progress on the Japanese-ish garden
Binky PoodinHead
last year
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (9)
tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
last yearken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
last yearRelated Discussions
Garden in progress
Comments (6)I hang out in Landscape Design as well as in a few other forums, and I don't think of myself as curmudgeonly... usually! :) But I believe you're posting in the right place by being here - if your task is in choosing plants for an established bed, it really makes more sense to go to the forum for the kind of plant you want rather than to "landscape design". Aaaanyway... my normal go-to plants for shade are variegated, so as to add some light to a dark site. But with the patio just off your raised bed, I get the impression that there's plenty of bright light there - just not in the raised area. If that's true, rather than green/white variegated I'd go with deep, saturated colors in (annual) impatiens; it'd make the area look like a cool respite from the sun. You could use perennials as groundcovers to bridge the spaces - sweet woodruff and lamium are my favorites, and many sedums can handle a good deal of shade - but planting the space in annuals would provide a season-long punch of color. If your heart's set on it being all perennials, there are wonderful varieties of ferns, hosta and heuchera that would be happy in that spot, as well as aconitum if you want a taller plant. Would astilbe get enough water in that location? They like shade, but they like moisture more, and the tree won't allow much rainfall to reach the ground beneath it....See MoreInnovation in the Japanese garden
Comments (22)Inky, I think I'm going to have to take issue with your description of the sand cone at Ginkakuji as "tacky" and closely related to seaside sand castles, although you seem to be right in describing them as having little to do with Zen. [Disclaimer: the following is based on what I, a Westerner, have read in various sources in English, and probably reflects the inaccuracies and misunderstandings endemic to studying any subject at such a remove.] If I understand this correctly, the truncated sand cone at Ginkakuji (known officially as the Moon-Reflecting Mound) has a specific purpose - it is only in the cone configuration when the Emperor in not in the garden. When an Imperial visit is scheduled, the sand is raked out flat for the Emperor to walk upon. Some Shinto ceremonies are associated with this (the job of being Emperor of Japan seems to include a great deal of performing Shinto ceremonies). A few other gardens, including Daisen-en, use pairs of pointed cones of white sand, and I have read that those in Shinto shrines are periodically raked out flat in order for certain ceremonies to take place on them. In between ceremonies or Imperial visits, the sand is raked together to keep it from being walked on by those less venerated and on less lofty pursuits. The Japanese tendency towards tidiness and order is based in Shinto ideals of purity - it seems almost blasphemous to say that cleanliness could be so far dissociated as to be merely "next to" Shinto Godliness. (This evocation of purity is also why *white* sand is used.) I dont know why a cone particularly, except, as Liviu has noted, what other shape are you going to rake a sand pile into? [Since the natural angle of repose of sand and molten lava are not that different, a sand cone will resemble a volcanic cone.] Note that, while the ceremonies are religious, they are Shinto rather than Zen Buddhist. These two different religions co-exist, and are practiced side-by-side by the majority of the Japanese population, but are essentially quite different in nature. For example, the Emperor of Japan perhaps can be viewed as being to Shinto what the Pope is to Roman Catholicism, or possibly even what the Prophet Mohammed is to Islam (Until 1946,the Emperor was officially considered divine, the Japanese title "Tenno" translating better perhaps as "Godking" than "Emperor". In the aftermath of WWII, official divinity was dropped, leaving the matter for each individual to decide for himself). But, as I understand it, to Buddhism His Imperial Majesty Akihito is no more or less than another soul rolling the great wheel of reincarnation along the path to enlightenment, not entirely unlike you or me. Thus, as a non-Shintoist, I would consider it not my place to determine whether GinkakujiÂs Moon-Reflecting Mound is "tacky". Neither would I, as a non-Catholic, venture an opinion on whether the Popemobile should have tailfins or not; nor would I, as a non-Buddhist, comment on how often the Dalai Lama should shave his head :) However, I feel perfectly free to judge whether I would want a similar (but non-sacred) sand cone in my garden (I wouldnÂt; it just doesnÂt do that much for me aesthetically). And IÂd probably feel just fine about deciding whether such a sand cone was "tacky" in your garden :) But (at the dreadful risk of criticizing the etiquette of another poster on the forum) I donÂt really feel itÂs within my, or any other non Shintoist's, purview to make that judgment about GinkakujiÂs Moon-Reflecting Mound. (I'm assuming that you're not Shinto, Inky. If you are, please ignore all of the above:) - Evelyn PS: Bambooo, I'd love to see how you'd make the square corners on a pyramid with those round cobblestones :)...See MoreJapanese Garden, ideas and comments
Comments (33)Tony C: It is very late in the evening and I am too tired to read all of the responses in your post, but I wanted to at least post something in the wee hours of the morning. The Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis is well noted for having the largest Japanese Garden in the continental United States and is also noted for its Japanese Festival held over the labor day weekend. If you link to the site below, you find that there are various links to take you to the international gardens located within this wonderful gem - one of which is the Japanese Garden. While these links will provide some "inspiration", there is nothing like a 2 day visit to this outstanding garden. While I currently live in northwestern Michigan, I was born, bred, and lived for more than 5 decades on the Illinois prairie, where I was able to visit this garden more frequently. If you plan to head in that direction and are the type of person who enjoys staying at a bed & breakfast, I recommend that you contact Maggies Bed & Breakfast in Collinsville, Illinois. She is a retired Librarian who has traveled in the far east via freighters and other means of transportion. Her rates are reasonable, the conversation is excellent and the breakfast are very delicious. If you're a person who enjoys staying at a motel/hotel, there are several excellent choices in the Collinsville, IL area. Collinsville is located very close to one of the Interstate Highways leading into St. Louis and the MBO - not too far west on I-44 - is about a short 15 to 20 minute drive. Hope this information is somewhat helpful and/or inspiring. Bill Here is a link that might be useful: Missouri Botanical Garden - Virtual Tour - International Gardens...See MoreProgress update, but how to "reframe" a garden?
Comments (6)Yardvaark, it is a puzzle to me too! I suppose the question is: how to unify the back wall of the garden to provide some screening and something nice to look at? Here is a panorama that gives a better sense of the space. It is a tiny garden to begin with - grassy yard on right, hemlocks and Japanese (ish) garden with the hydrangeas on the left, then the stone terraced more formal garden on the two lower terraces. The main issue is the top terrace where we lost these beautiful bowery pine branches that enclosed and screened the back fence when a huge pine died and were left with the eunoymous covered fence and a bunch of bare trunks. We decided to install a pine (it is about 8 ft tall) to one day give us back that look, but in the meantime I want to finish off the space. It is the view from my kitchen window. Referring to the top terrace where the new pine is, my thoughts have ranged from: -a Deborah Silver style hydrangea hedge with a boxwood hedge in front of it. -chindo viburnum to create a green wall with maybe a row of plants in front of it -my current thinking is that some reds would be good, so two Forest Pansy Redbuds which grow well here - one on each side to gradually frame the pine again with a row of something along the stone. -removing the existing pines and planting all new ones (though they give us screening up above, so still have some value) Exasperating! All advice welcome. Rose...See Morenickel_kg
last yearBinky PoodinHead
last yearken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
last yearBinky PoodinHead
last yearJeff Singleton
last yearBinky PoodinHead
last year
Related Stories
GARDENING GUIDES12 Japanese Maples for a Sunny Garden
The right maple in the right place shines in hot summer sun
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGNHow to Create a Zen-Inspired Garden
You can get the peaceful feeling of a Japanese Zen garden in your backyard by embracing these principles
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESSweet Serendipity: Opening to Happy Garden Discoveries
Unplanned nature scenes can be unbelievably beautiful; you just need to know how to look
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDES9 Low-Growing Hedges That Make Good Neighbors
Define garden areas or borders without blocking the view, with these evergreen shrubs that take kindly to trimming
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESYour Garden Is Stirring — Here’s What to Do in February
February is a good time to start seeds, shape up shrubs and watch for the earliest blooms. Here’s what to do in your part of the U.S. now
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGNHow to Design Your Garden for More Meaning and Connection
Discover 10 ways to connect with nature in your garden, such as introducing fragrant plants and welcoming wildlife
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGNHow to Declutter Your Garden
Put the KonMari Method to work outdoors and carve out more time to enjoy your yard
Full StoryEARTH DAY5 Ideas for a More Earth-Friendly Garden
Consider increasing the size of garden beds, filtering rainwater and using plants to reduce energy use
Full StoryPLANTING IDEASGreat Garden Combo: 9 Plants for an Intriguing Entrance
Layer trees, flowers and shrubs around an archway to create the feeling of a year-round doorway to adventure
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGNExplore Your Garden Personality: The Artist
Drawn to shapes, textures and colors? Let your landscape be your canvas
Full Story
nickel_kg