|
FREE ONLINE HOME GARDEN DESIGN COURSE FROM GARDENZINE.CO.UK
PART TWO: CHOOSING A STYLE FOR YOUR GARDEN
ORIENTAL GARDENS
When we think of oriental gardens, we immediately think of the Japanese gardening style, of the simple beauty of the Zen Garden or the peaceful ritual of the Japanese Tea Garden.
Oriental gardens are well planned just like formal gardens but everything in them is there for a reason - every bench, water feature, plant, pathway and even rock has a meaning and a purpose.
The basic prinicples of oriental design seek to replicate the larger landscape so gravel will represent rivers, rocks will be mountains and plants will represent the larger planted landscape. The thing to remember here is that nothing should go in an oriental garden if it doesn't occur in nature.
Plants are important but tend not to be flowering plants. They are chosen for their shape and will include as many shades of green as you can find as well as a few red acers for colour.
You can choose to go for an oriental-style garden which will incorporate some of the features of Japanese gardening or you can go all the way and create something that sticks rigidly to the rules. Either way, you should research the Japanese gardening style thoroughly because it does have very definite rules and its easy to break them.
OTHER POPULAR DESIGN STYLES
