One thing I learned about landscaping was to have a feature in the yard that when standing indoors draws your attention to head outdoors. To have a focus point or a heart to your garden.
I enjoy growing food but had to put that to one side to establish this zen garden. Originally a mud pit! The worst area of our yard is now our main feature. With help to lay bricks and following the Hüglekultur method to fill the bed the creative aspects and layout were left to me.
I enjoyed researching the basis behind the layout of zen gardens and wanted to display these main concepts: ranges of height, different ground covering, the representation of a ‘small scale world’ and ultimately I wanted it to be a garden in which the children could have a ‘yes space’. I also found important the range of plant choices would be ones that changed during seasons to offer this variety to our yard. I enjoyed gathering all the needed materials and had some great advice from California Gardens. I started with the idea of a path, something the children could walk on through this space.
I then spent a few days leaving the plants in their pots and moving the arrangement around a few times until I was happy with the location of each plant. Always keeping in mind the design aspects of layering the heights of plants, optimising the number 3 and having a yin-yang approach to the layout. Once happy I planted it out, laid the mulch and added the stones.
I was tempted to have sand representing water but decided with young kids and a cat it wasn’t suitable. So opted for small pebbles which look great and work for our family set-up. The bamboo grass defines the pathway and separates the change of garden covering. The driftwood offers a weathered look to the surroundings and large rocks represent cliffs in the water. The two maple trees complement each other and the mosses are different colours and textures as if they are land within the water. I also tried to balance to white ratio across this space and felt one flower the azalea to be enough. I have recently - 1 year on added two small figures and a lantern to tie in the small world aspect. I have enjoyed seeing this garden change over the seasons and have found this is a very achievable low-maintenance garden. All the ground cover controls weeds well, and the minimal but beautiful plants are easy to maintain and slow growing. The touch of a wind chime has been lovely to enjoy a coffee next to this space.
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