Japanese garden art has fascinated the inhabitants of Europe for a long time. As early as at the end of the 19th century, the French painter Claude Monet, establishing in his garden a famous pond with an arched bridge, full of water lilies, was looking for inspiration in the ideas of Asian gardeners. aesthetics and cleanliness of solutions, as well as soothing peace in every corner.
In Japanese garden arrangements, evergreen plants play the main role: rhododendrons, holly, box trees, bamboo and euonymus, which significantly contribute to building a calm and relaxing atmosphere. The impression of Asian exoticism is strengthened by pine trees with strange shapes and picturesque silhouettes of palm maples.Colorful flower beds have a secondary task here. Instead, the garden scene features single, carefully selected specimens of shrubs and trees with unusually beautiful flowers, such as the Chinese dogwood kousa Cornus kousa var. chinensis, ornamental cherry or magnificent magnolia.
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A place to rest is one of the most important elements of the Japanese garden (Image: Fotolia.com) |
Water is one of the most important elements of landscaping and is used in a variety of ways.In the so-called in the strolling garden, intended for contemplative and relaxing strolls, there should also be a pond with a small stone island. The gently undulating shoreline and the multi-colored border of the funkia, tavels and Siberian irises, separated in several places by small groups of stones, give the pond a natural look.
Water lilies may appear on the surface of the water, but part of the pond surface should always be open and clean, so that the clouds floating in the sky and growing on the plant's edge can be reflected in it.An arched bridge made of wood or stone hangs over the larger water surface, a narrow footbridge or stones arranged at convenient intervals leads through a smaller pond.
Stone water containers are derived from the Japanese tea garden. They stand along the paths and remind you of the traditional tea ceremony served in a stylish pavilion nearby.Such small water reservoirs gain a unique charm, set under the cover of tall shrubs, surrounded by perennials and grasses.A small garden picture is complemented by a stone lantern in a wreath of fern leaves, for a better effect set higher, on a field stone .In the evening, soft light seeps from inside the lantern, conjuring up a fairy-tale, warm atmosphere.
Large natural stones are an essential compositional element in the Asian garden. Nicely shaped pieces of rock decorate not only the edges of the pond, they can also lie on a rippled lawn or between a rhododendron and a trimmed boxwood tree. The groups of stones are placed in such a way that they look like part of the natural landscape.
Landscapes in miniature are also carefully raked gravel surfaces in the "meditation garden".Depending on the gravel wave pattern, they symbolize the sea, lake or river. The stones placed here are islands. A small gravel or stone garden is an ideal place for stressed people.It is separated from the rest of the garden by an evergreen hedge or bamboo grove. Here you can certainly look for peace and recharge your batteries for another exhausting day.
