Japanese gardens in the country with their own hands. Intimacy and unity with nature in the style of ancient Japan. Compositional construction of a garden in the Japanese style

Where to start when arranging a garden in Japanese style? First of all, with the composition. In order to determine what it will be, you need to pay attention to the relief. It is worth starting from this, thinking about the arrangement of decorative elements, sculptures, plants, stones and water. Be sure to take into account the microclimate. This is necessary for the correct selection of plants.

Creation features

Philosophers of the ancient East say that everything in the world must obey the action of positive and negative principles. In this case, the opposites must balance each other. The Japanese garden is the embodiment of a skillful combination of opposites: water and stones, plants and architectural forms, light and darkness.

Creating an oriental garden with your own hands is quite difficult. In view of this, it is recommended to make his project. It prescribes to the smallest detail where and how the individual components will be located. It is better to immediately make a complete project, otherwise alterations in the garden will cost a pretty penny.

The Japanese-style garden looks attractive throughout the year. It often takes up little space. Of the trees, conifers are used - they pacify and are easy to care for.

The heart of the garden is water. It symbolizes the transience of life. Not the last role is played by stones and wood. Stones are a symbol of perseverance and longevity, wood is a symbol of gradual development and improvement. The Japanese believe that these two materials are endowed with magical powers.

The Japanese style garden is designed to give you a sense of eternity. The main goal is to recreate a miniature model of the landscape of Japan's nature, with its vegetation, waterfalls, streams.

The project is carried out in such a way that a wonderful landscape in miniature opens up to you from all sides. Each stone is a mountain, a pond is a lake. It is important to use the right color scheme and relief. Stones of various breeds and materials traditional for Japan are used - bamboo, gravel, wood.

Balance

One more important condition- maintaining balance. Many gardeners note: when doing a Japanese garden with your own hands, you need to make sure that some emptiness remains. There should be no pomp or pomp. The void is the key.

We all want to fit as much as possible on our 6 acres. But it's not right. If a rock harmoniously looks against the backdrop of the endless sea, this does not mean that it will look just as good surrounded by hundreds of different plants, it will simply get lost and cease to be a key element. This means that you have to carefully select decor elements!

Chamber of the Eastern Garden

Another characteristic of the composition is intimacy, some detachment and closeness from the outside world. This is a place to achieve peace and meditation.

To achieve privacy, the garden will have to be closed from prying eyes. For this purpose, gates and fences are used. Can also be used hedge- planted sharp spirea and brilliant cotoneaster. The landscape garden of the presented type is designed for family recreation, contemplation of the beauties of nature and solitude.

Important Points

For a European japanese garden appears as something concise, not made for prying eyes. The styles in which such gardens are implemented can be different. In any case, it will be difficult to get the job done if you do not have special skills. The compositions are based on Japanese philosophy and religion. The composition can be any:

• philosophical garden;
• hill garden;
• place for walking;
• place for tea ceremonies.

The main principle that must be taken into account when creating is that nature should remain the ideal for each person. And we should all imitate her.

Any dominants as pointed cones have no place here. Shapes should be round. Flowers are used very rarely. Plants should be low - brown, gray or green.

Plant selection

For creating eastern atmosphere appropriate plants must be planted.

Low Perennials and Ground Covers

In order for the Japanese garden to turn out beautiful and harmonious, you will have to make a lot of effort. At the same time, even if you correctly place the water, stones and architectural structures, voids between them can ruin the whole look. You can fill them in with perennials. They participate in the formation of lower tier. As a rule, mosses and small ornamental plants with small flowers are used in the composition.

Trees and shrubs

When planting a Japanese garden with your own hands, you should pay attention to trees and shrubs. They should be chosen in the style of symbolism or minimalism, combined with architectural forms.

coniferous plants

The Japanese garden is characterized by the presence of coniferous plants. It is they who distinguish it from the European garden. Moreover, there are not so many plants in the Japanese garden. Often it becomes a place where only one type of tree or other vegetation is represented. the site recommends East garden plant, the features of cultivation of which were described in previous publications.

DIY Japanese garden (video)

tall perennials

A Japanese-style garden is distinguished by the fact that perennials play a secondary role in it. But there are a number of plants that must be present in it. We are talking about peonies, irises and chrysanthemums.

The choice of plants for the Japanese garden is not so small. At the same time, one should not give preference only to traditional types, since in middle lane They are unlikely to take root in Russia. Even if they do not die, they will freeze over, which means that the picture will be spoiled. Winter-hardy plants do not need shelter. If you still opt for non-hardy vegetation, be prepared for the fact that fungal infections will form if the shelter is not properly laid.

In winter, the garden benefits from the presence of conifers. Mountain and ordinary pine will allow to form garden niwaks. Important! Their formation may take long years. But, if you do not want to wait, you can buy them in a specialized store. Of course, they are not cheap, but the result is worth it. Niwaki should not be much. Just one beautifully shaped tree can drastically change the landscape.

Japanese garden architecture

The landscape garden of the presented type often includes various architectural forms:

• gazebos;
• gates;
• tea houses;
• pagodas;
• benches;
• lanterns and bridges.

The presented forms should be combined with other elements of the composition, be in harmony with them. The materials from which buildings can be made are metal, wood, stone and bamboo.

Creating a Japanese garden will require a lot of effort and patience from you. The key elements are water, stone and wood. Everything in the garden should look harmonious. At the same time, the area must be hidden from prying eyes to achieve privacy. The main role is played coniferous plants. Small architectural forms and ponds will perfectly complement the landscape.

Japanese garden (video)

Garden with the mood of Japan (20 photos)

Foreword

Rocky gardens that mimic the natural landscape of mountain slopes are a popular arrangement. personal plots, gardens and park areas.

Rocky gardens, imitating the natural landscape of mountain slopes, are a popular technique for arranging household plots, gardens and park areas. Sometimes they can be erected retaining walls or constructed from wild stone green steps. The special skill of the landscape master lies in the fact that the compositions created in this way seem abandoned and become a natural part of the mountain landscape.

The Japanese rock garden in landscape design is often combined with an artificial waterfall, pond or stream. However, this option for arranging a garden is used not only as an aesthetic element, but also helps to cope with the problem of a complex space solution.

Creating a cozy, secluded corner on small area, dividing the garden into separate zones and disguise of unattractive objects - all this is the prerogative of rock gardens. In this case, it is possible not only to erect artificial structures, but also to use the natural unevenness of the relief, which is often considered to be the shortcomings of the site.

A beautiful stone garden can be created even on the most unsuitable site. A ditch or a slope of a ravine, which spoil the whole territory with their appearance, will become the basis for a beautiful rock garden or rockery, which is not difficult to create, following some rules.

There are several types of rocky gardens, but they are all united by the main idea: plants and flowers are planted on the mountain slope, among the stones. the beauty flora and the beauty of the stone material are harmoniously combined, effectively complementing each other.

Watch how to make an alpine slide with your own hands on the video:

One of the most popular and common types of rock gardens is rock garden or alpine slide. Such a do-it-yourself rock garden is a natural slope or an artificially created hill with stones, between which shrubs and shrubs grow. herbaceous plants. The main element of such a natural corner is, and the vegetation only complements, emphasizing their texture and color.

Initially, to create alpine slides, undersized perennials and various bulbous plants. Today, rock gardens grow the most different plants and flowers, guided solely by their own taste. Creating a rock garden is not a difficult, but lengthy task. Unlike classic flowerbeds with annuals, rock gardens have been functioning for several years, becoming more beautiful every year.

Japanese Rock Garden - Traditions of the Land of the Rising Sun

The Japanese rock garden is fraught with a special philosophy that carries the idea of ​​striving for Nature as one of the main ideals. human life. The traditional Japanese stone garden is the embodiment of naturalness, symbolism and minimalism, which is so fashionable now. In addition, the requirements for such an arrangement of the site to the area are also minimal. Therefore, for those who are tired of the riot of colors and diversity, or such core already equipped, it is recommended to allocate a corner for Japanese-style stone arrangement, where you can come to relieve stress, relax, calm down and meditate.

Zone erection Japanese garden begins with the choice of location and layout of the site. The most important characteristics for it are good soil drainage, optimal solar lighting and ventilation.

The most important elements of the Japanese garden are water and stones. However, one should not arrange a square pond on the site, since such a reservoir cannot be found in nature. In order for the creation of the Japanese corner to go right, and the result pleased, you need to be attentive to all the little things, maintain a special harmony, choosing these or these elements. You should not clutter up the space, but you also can’t leave it “soulless” - everything should be symmetrical and harmonious. Wanting to equip a site in the Japanese style, it is important to decide what it should be: Japanese winter Garden or plants that grow only in the warm season.

When choosing material for a Japanese recreation area, a number of certain rules. For a Japanese garden, it is advisable to take stones of the same variety. It is better to take 2-3 large cobblestones than a mountain of small stones. Large material is used for the base, and small material is used to emphasize it. It is not necessary to dig the cobblestones deep into the ground - everything should be natural. Therefore, the stone should stand straight, not going deep into the ground.

Approximately in the center of the site, you can put one main boulder, and a little less along the edges. This arrangement is identified with the triad in Buddhism. Among all the other rocky gardens, the Japanese one serves not only as a decoration of the landscape, but also as a place for meditation. They can show off to friends, relax in it, relieve stress, achieve inner harmony and find peace.

Rockery - rock garden in the country

Having decided to build a rock garden in the country, the easiest way is to start with rockeries. From Alpine slide he is different flat area. As a rule, few plants are planted in rockeries. The whole decorative effect here is achieved due to the beauty of the stone. The space that has formed between the individual stone fragments is covered with a layer of gravel, effectively shading the stone. Dark cobblestone with light gravel is very successfully combined. And light limestone effectively combines multi-colored river pebbles. Under the pebbles, it is recommended to place a fertile layer of soil that provides nutrition for the roots of plants.

Sometimes rockeries can have an architectural form. In this case, it will represent steps made of flat stones. big size framed by creeping plants characteristic of the highlands.

If the natural relief of the territory already contains a slope with access to the surface of rocks, then you can create a complex terraced rockery that will combine all natural objects: imported and available stone material, planted plants and shrubs.

Watch how to make rockeries with your own hands on the video:

Retaining wall in the form of a rock garden

Retaining walls from natural stone are among the most common elements of rocky gardens. Most often, the walls are equipped specifically as a support for the terrace. Therefore, decorativeness is the second purpose, in the first place - functionality. In the cracks formed between the stones, they land unpretentious plants. With the help of such facilities, vertical gardening plot, dividing it into separate zones. Almost always, the retaining wall is part of the rock garden.

Terraced rock garden

The terraced slope is more complex view rock garden. This is a kind of system of horizontal terraces, which are reinforced with retaining walls with different height. Most often, such an arrangement of the site includes all the elements of stone gardens: retaining walls, an alpine slope, stone steps, etc.

A terraced garden is created on the slope of a ravine, on a slope or river bank. The choice of plants and the combination of planting is very diverse. The most common option is planted on terraces. dwarf shrubs, trees, grassy climbing plants. Very often you can find undersized rhododendrons, ericas, heathers.

Miniature rock garden

The miniature rock garden is a relatively new word in landscape design. This innovation has become widespread in small plots, as well as in cases where the garden is equipped on a short time. Sometimes, for the foundation of such a mini-garden, there is a stone of a bizarre shape with a natural depression. Sometimes even an old basket, trough or other specially created recess in the ground is used. Such a bizarre structure can be made in portable containers and placed wherever the soul desires, even on the terrace of the house.

Watch how to make a rocky mini-garden with your own hands on the video:

Ryoanji - rock garden

The Ryoanji Rock Garden, located in the Japanese city of Kyoto, is also called the Fifteen Rock Garden. This is one of best examples stone gardens that appeared at Japanese temples in the 14th-16th centuries. It is rightfully considered the greatest masterpiece of Japanese culture. On the flat surface, covered with white gravel, there is a group of stones. There are fifteen in total. Each group is surrounded by brown-green moss, which has partially covered the cobblestones themselves. Moss simultaneously acts both as a frame and as a pedestal. This is the only color note in the ascetic monochrome of the garden. The gravel surface is “combed” with a special rake so that the furrows are parallel to the long garden side, and around each of stone groups grooves arranged in concentric circles.

It is believed that the white gravel in this composition symbolizes the sea, the cobblestones - the islands, and the moss - the forests. Although, each visitor sees something different in this.

Seeing Ryoanji for the first time, there is a feeling of purity and austerity. Loosely placed elements come into view gradually. At the same time, the gaze, every now and then, returns to the starting point.

The garden is made in the style of kare-sansui, the so-called "dry landscape". The riddle of Ryoanji lies in fifteen rock fragments arranged in such a way that no matter which direction visitors look from, they can only see fourteen stones at a time. It is believed that only through meditation, spiritual purification and the right mood can one achieve enlightenment and see the fifteenth invisible stone.

Before you make a rock garden, you need to deal with some aspects: the choice suitable place, selection suitable stones and their competent styling. The beauty and harmony of the rocky composition will depend on this. No less important correct selection plants and planting. Wrong decisions can spoil even the best and most original idea.

Watch how to make a Japanese rock garden with your own hands on the video:

Oriental style will make your garden colorful and give it a bright personality. It will give you what you so dream about in the city: a feeling of extraordinary peace and tranquility. But in fairness, it should be recognized that the creation of a Japanese garden is a pleasure that requires special attention and attitude.

Therefore, it is not worth swinging over large areas. An expressive and logically completed Japanese corner may not exceed the size of a traditional tatami. Such work is quite within the power of an experienced summer resident.

Garden types

Keep in mind that there are two types of Japanese garden: flat and hilly.

Therefore, first decide which one is closer to you. So, the name itself speaks about the features of the flat Japanese garden: all its elements are located on a flat surface. This means that the whole composition is clearly visible, it is easy to cover it with one glance. To create such a garden, stones and plants will require very little.

The hilly garden is not visible from one point. However, it is good in that it opens up more scope for imagination. The main "heroes" here are the hills, they form the landscape and emphasize the depth of the landscape.

There are always five of them in the oriental composition, the highest of them clearly dominates the rest, it symbolizes Mount Fuji, sacred to all Japanese. Each stone here has its own shape, color and meaning. And besides, there is always a tree of solitude. Under its crown it is good to think about life alone.

No matter what type of Japanese garden you choose for yourself, there are 5 important rules to keep in mind when creating it.

Firstly, the landscape you create should be asymmetrical and symbolize the natural environment that surrounds you.

Secondly, in such a landscape there should not be random details, unnecessary objects.

Thirdly, the beauty of plants and stones should be discreet, unpretentious, but at the same time quite expressive.

For example, stones can be of the most common color, but at the same time have a clear shape - a ball, a cube, a parallelepiped. Arrange them so that the composition acquires unusual view, evoking a poetic or philosophical mood.

Fourthly, there is no grassy lawn in the Japanese garden. The background for stones and plants should be carefully compacted earth or fine white sand.

Fifth, do not overload the site various plants and architectural forms. Your goal is to leave a lot free space, and on it to correctly place the paths along the changing landscapes, reminiscent of the infinity of the world and being. At the same time, the landscape should be equally well viewed from any point.

Plant selection

Be very careful and thoughtful when choosing plants.

Of course, it is impossible to take a picture with a Japanese garden and copy it by planting the same plants here in Russia. The peculiarities of our climate dictate the rules of the game.

For example, sakura is capricious and thermophilic. Instead, you can plant steppe almonds or plums of an ornamental variety.

Ordinary felted cherry in blossom is also very good!

Choose and winter-hardy varieties rhododendrons.

An alternative to tender Japanese maple black elderberry will become with no less beautiful outlines of leaves and crown shape.

Now let me tell you about bonsai trees - they are quite expensive. Yes, you have to pay to take care of them. Therefore, my advice to you: you will significantly reduce your costs if you grow bonsai from Scots pine yourself. It's not that hard to do. Just pinch the young shoots every year and form a graceful curve of the branches.

An example of a Japanese-style DIY garden

The author and owner of this garden is David Polifko, who was impressed by the architecture of Japan, where he lived for five years. Influenced by the spirit of the Japanese garden, he created his garden in a style as close to Japanese as possible. David was pleased with the result of his work and the embodiment of the idea.

David divided the transformation of the garden into three stages and planned to complete them within one year. He himself says that the occupation of his own garden so dragged him, connected by his main activity only with banking capital, that he decided to master the natural sciences a little more.

Now he says that best start day for him is every morning to see his own garden through the window.

The first garden work to be done was to extend the patio in front of the house. To do this, it was necessary to dig and transfer 5 cubic meters of soil to the far part of the garden and support it with a retaining wall.

The next part of the creation of the Japanese garden was the construction of three wooden decks at different levels. The owner then erected a fence in the western part of the garden and arranged a large number of Japanese benches and pavilions around the garden.

space between wooden decks and lawns David covered with pebbles of different sizes - from small to large. To make it convenient to walk, he laid out slabs of natural stone. He placed the bamboo in tubs on wooden bases.

Harmonious combination human influence and natural elements - the goal of each park complex. This harmony is most fully reflected in the traditions of the Land of the Rising Sun, so the Japanese-style garden has survived centuries of change and is popular even today.

Deep into history

The first written sources in which the hieroglyph "field" (garden) is found date back to the eighth century AD. At first, this term meant a certain space, without natural or artificial fences. Later, man-made elements appeared - fences, pebbled paths, small architectural structures.

The concept of the Japanese garden is associated with painting. The stunning color schemes of the gardens of the Heian period coincided with the rise of the Yamato-e school. The appearance of Buddhist monasteries and temples fell on the era of samurai - pomp and decorativeness gave way to conciseness and monochrome, the era of a dry landscape has come.

The combination of the incongruous marked the so-called tea garden - another direction of Japanese garden art, which arose already in the 16th century.

Japanese garden - principles of style creation

Three pillars on which the park complexes of temples and palaces are based:

• the indispensable combination of water and stone, symbolizing the masculine and feminine principles in Eastern philosophy;
• naturalness of plants, stone blocks, decorative design;
• asymmetry of the landscape with an emphasis on one or more individual details of the composition.

Additional conditions for the structure of the Japanese corner include the presence of an open area, the use of discreet, harmonious color shades.

Photo: landscape design of a summer cottage

Garden styles

In modern landscape design, there are four types of Japanese-style garden design. These variations are successfully used to organize the space.

1. - a small part of the yard or house with an open roof.
2. - a site with a minimum of plants. It is not difficult to create such a site, but the decorative design will be relatively small.
3. . This landscape complex differs from the European park tradition familiar to us. A characteristic feature is the maximum use of natural plants and forms, as well as following the seasons.
4. - characterized by the combination of two types of green spaces with different landscapes. AT shady corners there is certainly a pavilion - wabi, in which the tea ceremony takes place - tyanoy.

Let's consider each of these green corners in more detail and highlight the principles of their creation.

The garden appeared during the development of urban architecture of the early Middle Ages. The name itself speaks of miniature landscape composition- the word "tsubo" means a small area, 3.3 square meters. m.

Such a garden is located both in tiny areas of the courtyard in the open air and indoors.

Photo of a classic tsubo:

The main goal of laying out a miniature garden is to let light and nature into the limited urban space.. Plantings for a green corner are selected depending on the cardinal points. For example, sun-loving plants are not planted in the northern part, and moss compensates for the lack of flowers.

The territory of the tsubo is laid out with stones, leaving a small piece of land for planting. In the center of the composition there are several plants corresponding to the style of the building. The easiest way to create such a Japanese garden on suburban area- install a tsukubai lantern, make paths from “flying stones” - tobiishi and harmoniously arrange several plants.

Thematic material:

The lack of light is compensated by lamps, lanterns or an ingenious gallery of mirrors that saturate the boring walls of a city house with bright and warm sunlight. Decorative lighting will be a small touch that completes the composition of the tsubo.

This is a poetic interpretation of an archaic motif - the search for the islands of eternal youth and immortality. Ancient legends are reflected in the structure of the rock garden. Although landscape design does not pay enough attention to Japanese philosophy, it continues to use the age-old principles of building stone gardens.

For the Japanese, stone has never been a building material - only an object of worship and admiration. Echoes of the cult attitude to stone blocks are presented in classical methods arrangement of compositions. When creating an oriental design, boulders are placed in the following ways:

• Mount Horai - one stone in the middle of the pond as a symbol of this distant peak.
• Mount Xumi is a composition of three stones located in a reservoir or on a small hill.
• The Three Jewels is a placement method based on Buddhist traditions.
• Crane and turtle islands - repeat folk tales and legends in the landscape of the garden.

The Japanese attach great importance to the choice of stones. Since boulders are often used in groups, it is not the shape of a single object that is important, but the harmony of the composition. The design of the Japanese garden welcomes the inclusions of ancient stones covered with mosses and lichens, with rounded outlines. According to the beliefs of the Japanese, such blocks bring peace and harmony to the house, without them it is impossible to design a garden in the style of the Land of the Rising Sun.

When creating a composition, they adhere to clear principles for arranging stones. The difficulty lies in the correct placement of the main boulder crowning the entire landscape design. The remaining elements naturally frame the central boulder, creating miniature compositions symbolizing islands or mountain ranges. A Japanese-style garden gives vent to fantasy, but at the same time dictates its own rules.

It is not customary to place stones in an ascending or descending line - the Japanese do not like artificial symmetry. Do not combine river, mountain and sea stones in one composition.

In order for the boulders to stand steadily, they are dug in. To hide defects and chips near stone composition plant a low-growing shrub or grass. Plants for the Japanese rock garden are selected in wild, modest color shades.

The appearance of this territory is the most familiar to the European view: open space, water flow and a lot of green spaces. Both evergreen and deciduous trees grow in shady corners - this is how the alternation of flowering of each seedling depending on the season is achieved.

A good addition to the trees is trimmed bushes of boxwood, rhododendron, cotoneaster, etc. Such plants, if necessary, hide the walls of houses, garbage containers or compost facilities (if the garden is planned to be placed in the country). And vice versa, the decorated bushes serve as a natural frame for the view of the river bank or the endless field.

Of great importance in the garden of trees is given decorative elements- fences, bridges, lanterns, gates ... As a rule, internal barriers are made light and airy using wooden picket fence or bamboo. But the external fences are made of stones and decorated with tiles.

Part of the traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Its main purpose is to create the necessary atmosphere of peace and tranquility. Its area is not large and imitates a fragment of the mountainous area where the eastern sages settled.

At the far end of the garden is the tea ceremony hut, the chashitsu. This is a small ascetic house, reminiscent of the dwelling of the sages. Both appearance and interior decoration this building is very concise. It is believed that this is the only way to achieve true harmony and tune in to contemplation.

The garden itself seems to prepare a person for the ceremony, being the boundary between the vain world and the territory of spirituality.

It is decorated in a restrained style close to nature. Plants and stones are arranged in a natural, as if chaotic order. Lighting should be weak, barely sufficient to see the path.

Lanterns - indispensable attribute Japanese garden, are used both for decoration and for lighting the territory. At first decorative lamps were present only in tea gardens, but later became the hallmark of any landscape design in Japanese style. As a rule, only one lantern is installed, made of stone. Pedestal models - tachigata - brightly illuminate the surrounding area. The luminous flux of hidden lanterns - ikekomigata - is directed downwards.

Photo: the bridge performs a decorative function

Bridges in a Japanese garden do not always serve as a crossing to the other side - rather, they are used as another design element. Unlike Chinese or European designs, the Japanese bridge is flat, sometimes not designed for walking at all. Extremely decorative is the Yatsuhashi bridge, built of eight elements - stones or wide boards.

The details of the structure are stacked in a zigzag, so it can be difficult to walk along it. These bridges are well suited to landscape park, are installed over artificial ponds, depressions with damp earth or directly above the lawn.

Japanese gardens can tell a lot about the character of the inhabitants of the Land of the Rising Sun. And for Europeans, it is a magnificent combination of light, greenery, stone and water, a kind of door to understanding the culture and traditions of the East.

Video: miniature Japan on the site

Japan has always attracted the minds of people, primarily with its mystery, mystery and unusualness. The Japanese garden is incompatible with a riot of colors, its main purpose is not to admire beautiful flowers. The main thing is to make a person think about the sublime, at least for a short time to forget about the imperfection of the surrounding world.

Types of Japanese gardens

At first glance, achieving such an effect on your own is extremely difficult. Especially if you start learning the basics of creating Japanese gardens from complex compositions, but don't give up. Before you start thinking about the layout and selecting elements for decoration, it would be useful to familiarize yourself with the types of Japanese-style gardens.

There are 4 types of gardens:

• park gardens - we can say that the gardening art of Japan began with them, the first representatives of this type appeared around the 6th-7th centuries, having migrated from China;

• palace - appeared in the IX-XII centuries, the name makes it clear that mere mortals cannot have such gardens;
• temple ones - they are arranged at monasteries and should set a person to think about high matters;
• the home type is the most common, not only in Japan, but also abroad.

park garden

Its distinguishing feature is big square, most often such gardens were located on a flat territory, where a river flowed or a lake was located. In some cases, rice fields located in the neighborhood were used as part of the decoration.

This is not the property of one person, but rather a national treasure, especially since such gardens in their original form have practically not been preserved. This is a great place for creativity and relaxation. In the past, these were the places preferred by imperial families for recreation.

This type became the basis and garden art Japan of a later time borrowed much from the design of the first gardens. For example, strict colors and minimalism in design.

Palace gardens

Like the park ones, they occupied a significant area, and were used mainly for the pleasant pastime of the imperial family and the nobility. The main element is an island and a lake (or even several), connected to the shore by graceful wooden bridges.

Otherwise, the design strongly resembled park gardens, the only thing that was emphasized was that the reservoir had to be visible not only from the ground, but also from the building. The size of the reservoir had to be sufficient for boat trips, such a pastime was loved by the Japanese emperors.

temple gardens

In Zen Buddhism, the beauty of nature is not the last place. It is believed that contemplating the beauty and perfection wildlife a person can get a little closer to knowing the truth. That is why the Japanese garden is an integral element of every self-respecting temple in the land of the rising sun.

It is worth noting the new stream in the design of the territory. It was here that for the first time habitual plants began to be replaced by boulders and small stones (depending on the area of ​​the garden). It's about famous stone gardens" and .

Boulders, pebbles, small stones, pieces of moss. Particular attention is paid to relative position individual elements, the subtleties of creating a rock garden are discussed below.

Note!
When using boulders and stones among vegetation, moss on them will be appropriate.
Such a technique will only enhance the overall impression of hoary antiquity, and this will benefit the overall impression of the garden.

home gardens

In Japan, the problem of free territory has been acute for many years, but even in such conditions, many houses have their own small garden. It comes to the fact that its area can be calculated literally in a few square meters.

Visually, such a Japanese garden should create a feeling of continuing the space of the house. It is desirable to use water, its murmur will contribute to peace. The ideal option You can call the combination of a series of small reservoirs cascades of low waterfalls.

As a subspecies in this category, tea gardens can be distinguished - tea drinking is a serious ceremony and requires a separate approach. The tea garden was supposed to lead a person along a winding path to the source of water, and after the traditional washing of hands, it was tea time.

Features of Japanese gardens

Each Japanese-style garden is unique, but there are a few general guidelines that apply to any garden design. You can also bring a number of elements, skillfully combining which, and an unusual atmosphere is achieved.

When designing a site, the following recommendations should be followed:

• the use of stones can only be encouraged;
• water is also one of the recommended garden design elements. Of course arrange small lake not everyone can afford it on the site, but the effect of the water surface is worth the financial cost;

• if nothing works with the reservoir, then you can try to arrange a dry stream. The main task of the designer is to create the feeling that a small stream has just dried up;
• paths in a Japanese garden should not be bent at sharp and right angles. In nature, only soft curves and smooth contours can be found, and paths should be made in the same style;

• lighting - everything is simple with this, you can just buy ready-made in Japanese style and install them in suitable places;
• well-chosen vegetation also plays a big role;

Note!
Lighting should be soft, flooding the entire area with bright light is completely useless.

• if the size of the plot allows, then on the shore of the lake you can install a small pagoda or at least a couple of benches for rest and reflection;
• in some cases, a Japanese garden will look incomplete without a "shishi-odoshi" (scarecrow for deer) or "tsuku-bai", the same scarecrow, only of a more complex design.

rock garden

To create it, you will need several large stones, gravel to decorate the space between them and, possibly, some moss.

The main difficulty in arranging stones is not to violate the basic rules of a stone garden:

• large boulders can be in the garden in splendid isolation;
• smaller stones can be grouped by 3.5 and even 7 stones. It is recommended to combine elongated and ordinary forms;

Note!
It is strictly forbidden to place oblong stones in a horizontal position.
So they will resemble the lying human body, that is, cause associations with death - not best effect for garden.

• no need to try to achieve symmetry. When designing a garden with your own hands, it is better to choose the right point of contemplation and start from it;

• the space between separate groups of stones is filled with gravel, it is leveled and wavy lines can be drawn on its surface with an ordinary rake - this will symbolize the sea.

Note!
Not always at hand there are boulders of the desired shape, and not everyone can work with a lot of weight.
The way out of this situation can be homemade stones with filler from plastic bags and a reinforcing mesh frame, their surface is coated with a layer cement mortar and after drying, such a stone does not differ from natural.

Water in a Japanese garden

When arranging a reservoir, it is important to feel a balance between the size of, for example, a pond and the size of the garden itself. A stormy waterfall will look out of place in a small garden and become more of a source of anxiety than a calm mood.

None Japanese landscaped garden does not do without reservoirs (as an option, “dry reservoirs” can be used). A cascade of small waterfalls or a simple stream will look good, but static ponds are also widespread.

Particular attention should be paid to the following features:

• coastline - correct rounded outlines are contraindicated for Japanese gardens. It is best if the coast is broken;
• reflection in the mirror of water - a good solution would be to plant plants on the shore that will hang over the water;
• large boulders will be appropriate at the bottom of the lake;
• if dimensions allow, then in the center of the lake a small island is obligatory, to which an elegant wooden bridge from the shore.

Dry reservoirs

Japanese parks and gardens often do without water in their usual form, in which case the so-called "dry streams" or ponds are often used. The main task of the designer is to give the viewer the impression that the water disappeared just a few hours ago and that the next rain will fill the reservoir.

For the simplest version of a dry stream, the instruction looks like this:

• a stream is formed. To do this, the sod is removed and a recess is made in the ground;
• the channel is laid out with pebbles (other materials can be used, for example, granite);
• plants are planted on the banks, which usually grow near water bodies;

Note!
A couple of plants can be planted in the very bed of the stream.

• small bridges are allowed.

Paths and vegetation in the garden

When organizing paths in the garden, long straight sections should be avoided, but frequent sharp breaks will be superfluous. The path should bend smoothly and, passing along it, a person should see all the hidden corners.

Concerning appearance, then you should not follow correct forms, that is, the paving slab will not work. The best option – large stones with a flat surface, if traces of weathering are visible on them, this will only benefit. Along the edges, such large stones can be decorated with moss, there are many options, and the price of such a path will be even less than from ordinary tiles.

Stones can be called the basis (skeleton) of the garden, but without plants (without flesh), any garden will look empty. But not every type of vegetation is suitable, if in an ordinary garden bright spots only benefit, then when decorating in the Japanese style, the color scheme should be more calm.

Most often, evergreen species are used, which are important primarily because they allow you to create interesting forms that persist all year round. And the eternal greenery prompts reflections on the eternal.

As for specific species, such plants can be used for a Japanese garden in Russia:

• Japanese maples (you will have to carefully insulate for the winter), other types of maples can be used;

• coniferous plants - we are talking about different types pines;
• bamboo is rarely used, in Russia only sazu can be mentioned - a small bamboo that will grow up to a maximum of 1.5 m in warm weather;
• from shrubs, azaleas, rhododendrons, euonymus can be noted;
• from perennials, irises and chrysanthemums are suitable;

• ferns and moss are also often used in decoration.

Note!
When choosing a plant for a Japanese garden, you need to take into account the climate of Russia.
Some of them do not tolerate severe frosts.

Summarizing

The Japanese garden is a great place not only for simple rest but also for reflections on the eternal. This place sets you in a calm mood and makes thoughts flow smoothly and measuredly like the waters of a deep river.

Despite the outward simplicity, you need to take into account a lot of nuances when designing, the information in this article will help you understand this issue. The video in this article discusses the main nuances of decorating a Japanese-style garden.