Japanese gardens are a big part of the Japanese culture. These gardens don't actually come from Japan, though. The idea of the garden comes from China. After China started to design gardens, Korea and Japan liked the idea, so they took the basic layout of the Chinese gardens and began creating gardens in their own countries.
The gardens use many different kinds of trees and bushes which they keep trimmed very neatly. The shapes that are made of the plants are usually rounded.
In the center of the garden, there is normally a stone. These stones are decorated in many ways, either with a design or the family crest.
One of the things you notice is that flowering plants are scarce or nonexistent in Japanese garden design. Instead you see dry gravel stream beds or sand swept into patterns and large rocks and boulders are used to tell a story. The heart of all Japanese garden design is symbolism and storytelling. This is done with plants and other elements of nature and not so much the use of colorful flowers.
Equally important to Japanese garden design are the use of water, and more specifically the use of running water, which symbolizes passing time or life.
My sister in law has been talking about something along this line for her yard. That is why I got interested in it. she is very creative so I can't wait to see what she comes up with. If you would like to know more, click on this link,,,JAPANESE GARDEN IDEAS
