Want to Know About Japanese Garden? #RainbowGardenParadise

Want to Know About Japanese Garden? #RainbowGardenParadise

To see a Japanese garden is to remember it forever. There uniqueness and precision are unforgettable and leave a lasting impression on the memory.

In Japan there are many types of garden construction and their origins stretch back over hundreds and thousands of years and they have gradually developed styles of their own over time. I am going to concentrate in this article on the most common types of Japanese gardens. The design and construction are based on strict rules and principles and perhaps one of the more important requirements is for the garden to face southwards.

There are in principle two types of garden which we can split into divisions called 'flat' (Hiraniwa) and 'hill' (Tsukiyama-niwa) gardens and these can then be split into 3 categories "Finished", "Intermediary" and "Rough". Hill gardens of the finished variety will use the biggest available space often located in front of a building known as the principal building. Their ingredients are hills, stones, trees, bridges and islands that are all carefully arranged.
Hills are used to represent mountains and often have substantial sweeping sides, one hill will always be bigger than any others which will be lower in the garden than the principle hill. If constructed carefully and correctly the hills will give the impression of being distant peaks within the garden itself.

Flat gardens are exactly what their name suggests and can take various forms, there are easier to view as they are essentially on one level. These types of Japanese gardens will carefully use stones in the construction, some flat and some vertical. They often feature pottery and lanterns.

An intermediary garden is a semi-elaborate one with definite spaces between principal stones and trees and any 'mountains' will catch the eye as either distant to view or sometimes closer ones are called 'near mountains'.

A hill garden in a 'rough' style will only concentrate on the principal points of interest to the viewer although mountains or small mounds will always be used to give the appearance of distant and near hills. Once again stones are positioned in a very precise manner, water is also a common feature and even bridges that are sometimes made of logs to cross a stream for example. Everything in a Japanese garden is about the perfect imitation of nature and this explains the creation of mountains, water sources and the placement of stones.

Both flat and hill gardens have three styles of finished, intermediary and rough and both main styles are equally important.

A flat garden finished style uses stones, trees, stone lanterns, screening fences, a well and water basins. The stones that can be used include 'Worshipping stone', 'Island stone', 'Moon shadow stone' and 'Perfect view stone' and the essential trees have names like 'Principal tree', 'tree of solitude' etc.

An Intermediary style flat garden is quite similar to the finished style and is very ordered because all the ingredients have a meaning using stones for style and religious meaning. A flat garden rough style is nowhere near as precise as the previous two examples and would typically have a garden floor of fine earth, a well, a lantern, trees and stones and maybe a few stepping stones on any spacious bit of ground. The central stone would be called the 'Guardian stone' and opposite of the previous two styles. Rocks and stones used in this form of Japanese garden would be rougher and not hewn and only low plants and vegetation are used.

Water plants can also be used and even a circling bamboo fence surround would be common. Every Japanese garden must have a stone lantern but when they are introduced strict principles of harmony, size and form must be observed otherwise it is detrimental to the effect of the garden itself. They are generally placed on islands, at the foot of hills, on lake banks or by wells and water basins.

This article is a pretty simplistic explanation of Japanese gardens as it is a complex and fascinating subject that once grasped all falls into place whether you are a viewer or a potential designer.

Source: Russ Chard

How to Make Your Garden Beautiful with Garden Designs #RainbowGardenParadise

Source: Harry Worthington @Go Articles

How to Make Your Garden Beautiful with Garden Designs #RainbowGardenParadise

If you are fortunate enough to have a garden but you feel that your garden is rather dull and ordinary, there are some fairly easy things you can do to bring more life into your outdoor space. The most beautiful gardens are those that are carefully planned and cared for. Often times many home owners find it difficult to know exactly what to do with their gardens, but with a bit of inspiration and imagination, the ideas will eventually come to you.

Some of the best garden designs that will dramatically improve the looks of your garden are the most simple to achieve. For instance, by using some timber or large stones, you can outline the various sections of your garden in a very natural way. It is often a great idea to section off the different parts of a garden so that they receive the attention they deserve. Having a nice and neat wooden timber trim around a flower bed can do wonders and make the area look completely different from what it did prior to using the wood. Using bark as a trim around small trees and bushes is another common way to dramatically improve the aesthetic appeal of any garden.

One of the top garden designs in use today is the method of using a pond to create a natural and stunning effect. You can install a pond yourself if you have a good strong back and a bit of know-how. Sunken ponds integrate into the surroundings well and allows you to select both aquatic plants and fish, which could become an entirely new hobby! You can even opt to put a fountain in the pond once you have the pond in place. Fountains are not only a focal point of a garden but they offer tranquility and a peacefulness second to none.

Another suggestion is a garden gazebo. Gazebos are functional, attractive and are perfect if you like to sit outside for long periods of time without worrying about getting sun burned or rained on. Gazebos have been in style for decades and they remain today one of the most popular garden designs on the market. Many people choose the open-sided variety of gazebo as this type offers an unobstructed view of the surroundings but if insects are a problem in your area, you can always purchase a screened-in gazebo. The nice thing about gazebos is the fact that they come in all sizes and shapes ranging from octagon, rectangular, round and square. This allows you to purchase the perfect shape so that it integrates well with the design of your garden and home.

Lighting can give a garden a very magical quality during the night time hours and also extends the time you can use your garden. Some terrific effects can be achieved by placing portable lighting in strategic locations. Small spotlights are perfect for showing off a colorful flower bed or for illuminating the branches of a tree. Nowadays you can purchase inexpensive solar lights that are equipped with stakes that you simply drive into the ground. This type of lighting is very versatile as you can move the individual lights from place to place whenever you choose.

How To Grow Plants in A Flowerpot #RainbowGardenParadise

You can plant a garden in one or more flowerpots, in a window box, or on a small or large area of ground. No matter where you grow plants, the process is the same.

How to grow plants in a Flowerpot:

The best way to get seeds is to buy a small package. Supermarkets and garden supply stores are some of the places you can buy seeds. If you cannot buy any, you can get seeds from some of the food you eat. Tomatoes, corn, peppers, watermelon, apples and oranges are some vegetables and fruits that will supply you with seeds. You must take the seeds from them before cooking.

Put a ½-inch layer of gravel at the bottom of each flowerpot. Fill the pots with soil. Add some fertilizer to enrich the soil. Wet the soil thoroughly. Use a pencil to make shallow furrows (rows) in the soil. Put about ten seeds into the furrows in each pot. (Note, some seeds may not grow). Cover the seeds with soil and press the soil down gently. Put the flowerpots into shallow containers, such as soup plates or dessert dishes. Add water to the shallow container whenever the soil feels dry.

When the seeds have sprouted and the plants are about 1 ½ inches tall, you must make sure that each plant will have room to grow. You will want only one plant in each flowerpot. Choose the healthiest plant and pull all the others out of the soil. This is called thinning.

Be sure that your plants receive the right amount of sunlight. Put the flowerpots where the sun will shine on them as long as possible each day. Buy a container of plant food, and feed the plants according to its directions.
As your plants grow, you must watch them carefully to see that they are not being harmed by insects or disease. To get rid of these attackers, spray or dust the plants with insect and fungus killers, or with a substance recommended by organic gardeners. Weeds may also harm your plants. Remove them as they sprout.

If you have followed all the steps carefully, your plants will be healthy. You will have flowers and vegetables, if you tend your plants carefully and have the patience to wait for them to bloom or ripen.

If you have planted seeds that grow into fruits, they will eventually become so big that they can no longer grow in a small flowerpot. They will have to be transplanted into the earth or into large wooden tubs made for holding trees. If you planted mango or grapefruit seeds, you can transplant them outdoors.

Teach young kids, teenagers to plant and they will value that for their growing years.