Zen Gardens

Stress is a part of everyone’s lives whether were constantly stuck in traffic on the way to work  or getting ready to make that all so important presentation.  There is no definitive cure for the stress but there are ways to relieve it.  One of those ways is to create a Zen Garden in our yards.  What is a Zen garden?  Originally Zen Gardens were found in the Buddhist temples of Japan and were built primarily an aesthetic purpose rather than a religious one.  These types of gardens are mainly constructed from gravel or sand and rocks and very rarely are plants associated with this type of garden.  When the concept of the Zen Garden was brought to North America, people started to equate this type of garden with peace and tranquility (the qualities often exhibited at Buddhist temples) (About Japanese Gardens, 2010).

What do you need for a Zen Garden?  Only natural materials are used in a Zen Garden so besides sand, rocks and gravel not much else.  Sand or gravel represents the oceans and rivers in Japan while the rocks represent the mountains.  The only vegetation found in a Zen garden is mosses or small grasses.  Zen gardens work best if created at a smaller scale because they represent scenes and places in small confined spaces (could be the size of a sandbox).  Plants that are already present are used as part of the garden design because they represent borrowed view.  People often rake the gravel or sand to relieve stress so often there is a rake nearby (Raking the sand or gravel is believed to represent the rippling water of the ocean or river).  Sometimes a bridge is found in a Zen garden because it adds appeal to the overall design.

What are the benefits of a Zen Garden?  Gardeners and homeowners will enjoy this type of garden because it is low maintenance.  The word Zen is the Japanese word for dry so this is a garden that requires no watering (About Japanese Gardens, 2010).  The gardens themselves provide a place to sit and meditate especially after a stressful workday.   Please check out the references below for more information about Zen gardens and Zen garden design.

A. Mohamed

References

About Japanese Gardens “ Japanese Gardens” http://www.aboutjapanesegardens.org/

Accessed on April 7, 2010.

Backyard Landscape Ideas “ Japanese Zen Gardens” http://www.backyard-landscape-ideas.com/japanese-zen-gardens.html Accessed on April 7, 2010.

eHow “ How to create a Zen Garden” http://www.ehow.com/how_2073974_create-zen-garden.html Accessed on April 7, 2010.

Landscapingideasonline “ Zen Garden” http://www.landscapingideasonline.com/zen-garden.php

Accessed on April 7, 2010.

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