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Michael Palmer 30-01-2004 02:12 AM

Japanese gardening
 
I've been lurking for a bit now. This is a very informative
newsgroup. I have a question that I hope can be answered. What is it
that makes a "Japanese Garden" a true Japanese garden? There seems to
be many interpretations out there. Any sites to recommend me to with
pics? Thanks everyone.
Michael

Cereus-validus 30-01-2004 02:45 AM

Japanese gardening
 
A true Japanese garden is one tended to by a Japanese gardener!!!!

Anything else is just an occidental looking for a place to happen.


Michael Palmer wrote in message
om...
I've been lurking for a bit now. This is a very informative
newsgroup. I have a question that I hope can be answered. What is it
that makes a "Japanese Garden" a true Japanese garden? There seems to
be many interpretations out there. Any sites to recommend me to with
pics? Thanks everyone.
Michael




D Kat 30-01-2004 04:12 AM

Japanese gardening
 
:) cute ... however In my opinion there is no reason that the qualities of a
Japanese garden cannot be applied to any garden. Simplicity, white space as
important as foreground, etc. There are a great many books on the topic and
many sites.

http://www.jgarden.org/
http://www.ifa.de/garden-japan-2000/einsel.htm
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2099.html


"Cereus-validus" wrote in message
m...
A true Japanese garden is one tended to by a Japanese gardener!!!!

Anything else is just an occidental looking for a place to happen.


Michael Palmer wrote in message
om...
I've been lurking for a bit now. This is a very informative
newsgroup. I have a question that I hope can be answered. What is it
that makes a "Japanese Garden" a true Japanese garden? There seems to
be many interpretations out there. Any sites to recommend me to with
pics? Thanks everyone.
Michael






[email protected] 30-01-2004 06:33 AM

Japanese gardening
 
waaaaay less is better. putting all the typical elements of a Japanese garden into a
small space is grotesque. it takes courage to pick a single element and let the rest
go. somebody on rec.ponds posted the cutest darn Japanese garden shed. Ingrid

"D Kat" wrote:

:) cute ... however In my opinion there is no reason that the qualities of a
Japanese garden cannot be applied to any garden. Simplicity, white space as
important as foreground, etc. There are a great many books on the topic and
many sites.

http://www.jgarden.org/
http://www.ifa.de/garden-japan-2000/einsel.htm
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2099.html




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
List Manager: Puregold Goldfish List
http://puregold.aquaria.net/
www.drsolo.com
Solve the problem, dont waste energy finding who's to blame
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Unfortunately, I receive no money, gifts, discounts or other
compensation for all the damn work I do, nor for any of the
endorsements or recommendations I make.

Cereus-validus 30-01-2004 10:32 AM

Japanese gardening
 
How Zen that is!!!


D Kat wrote in message
et...
:) cute ... however In my opinion there is no reason that the qualities of

a
Japanese garden cannot be applied to any garden. Simplicity, white space

as
important as foreground, etc. There are a great many books on the topic

and
many sites.

http://www.jgarden.org/
http://www.ifa.de/garden-japan-2000/einsel.htm
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2099.html


"Cereus-validus" wrote in message
m...
A true Japanese garden is one tended to by a Japanese gardener!!!!

Anything else is just an occidental looking for a place to happen.


Michael Palmer wrote in message
om...
I've been lurking for a bit now. This is a very informative
newsgroup. I have a question that I hope can be answered. What is it
that makes a "Japanese Garden" a true Japanese garden? There seems to
be many interpretations out there. Any sites to recommend me to with
pics? Thanks everyone.
Michael








j bloggs 30-01-2004 10:45 AM

Japanese gardening
 
Hi all... I'm a lurker too...

....been reading up on bamboo lately and ran across an interesting passage on
"Gardens in China and Japan" (as relating to bamboo :)...

quote

"Bamboo plays an important role in Chinese and Japanese gardens. To
understand this, one needs to appreciate the significance of gardens and
garden art in these countries. Garden design is considered an art form
similar to landscape painting, and is carried out according to a comparable
set of rules. (There are Fundamental differences between Chinese and
Japanese garden art, but it would take us too far to go into these here. The
reader should investigate the extensive literature.) In Asia there has
always been a particular fear of wild, untamed nature, yet simultaneously a
strong love for it and a feeling of unity with it. Nature and humanity are
seen as indivisible. Gardens should reflect nature, but also provide people
with the chance to immerse themselves in nature through meditation. A garden
is therefore strongly symbolic. Chinese gardens are works of art in which
landscapes are set up, not to imitate nature, but to simplify it and render
it more profound, as in painting. A Chinese or Japanese, garden is scarcely
comparable with a European garden, because it is based upon a different set
of assumptions. Chinese and Japanese gardens create a landscape that
stimulates the imagination rather than the understanding. One sees over and
over the juxtaposition of Yang and Yin, the masculine and feminine, hard and
soft; for example rock and water, bamboo and chrysanthemum, straight and
curved lines.

"In 1634 Yuan Jeh wrote this about gardens; 'A single mountain can have many
effects, a small stone can awaken many feelings. The shadows of dry banana
leaves draw themselves wonderfully upon the paper of the window. The roots
of the pine-tree force themselves through the cracks of the stone. If you
can find peace here in the middle of the city why should you wish to leave
this place and seek another?...' All things in Chinese gardens - and in
still more refined and abstract form in Japanese gardens - have symbolic
value and are aids to meditation. Water is always present, standing for
human life and philosophical thought. There are no lawns, but gravel beds
instead. Rocks symbolize mountains. They are often raised up high and
particular value is laid on bizarre and steep formations. They represent, in
contrast to water, the might of nature. Flowers are never planted in groups
or patterns but stand isolated, to aid meditation. The chrysanthemum, which
flowers late and is frost-tolerant, symbolizes culture and retirement, the
water lily is the sign of purity and truth. Bamboo stands for suppleness and
power, true friendship and vigorous age. The evergreen foliage of bamboo
also provides a background for plum blossom and makes an artistic picture
together with pine. In Asian gardens bamboo is usually thinned so that
individual [snip]"

endquote
[Bamboos, 1992, Recht / Wetterwald, ISBN 0-88192-268-4]

I particularly like the "why should you wish to leave this place and seek
another?..." part!

cheers

Mark Tutty
Gisborne NZ

"Michael Palmer" wrote in message
om...
I've been lurking for a bit now. This is a very informative
newsgroup. I have a question that I hope can be answered. What is it
that makes a "Japanese Garden" a true Japanese garden? There seems to
be many interpretations out there. Any sites to recommend me to with
pics? Thanks everyone.
Michael




Cereus-validus 30-01-2004 10:46 AM

Japanese gardening
 
Not to mention waaaaaay cheaper. Nudge, nudge, wink, wink!!!!

Any fool can take white gravel, a rock, a dead twig and a lantern and call
it a Japanese garden.......

But does that really make it one?

I don't think so.


wrote in message
...
waaaaay less is better. putting all the typical elements of a Japanese

garden into a
small space is grotesque. it takes courage to pick a single element and

let the rest
go. somebody on rec.ponds posted the cutest darn Japanese garden shed.

Ingrid

"D Kat" wrote:

:) cute ... however In my opinion there is no reason that the qualities

of a
Japanese garden cannot be applied to any garden. Simplicity, white space

as
important as foreground, etc. There are a great many books on the topic

and
many sites.

http://www.jgarden.org/
http://www.ifa.de/garden-japan-2000/einsel.htm
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2099.html




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
List Manager: Puregold Goldfish List
http://puregold.aquaria.net/
www.drsolo.com
Solve the problem, dont waste energy finding who's to blame
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Unfortunately, I receive no money, gifts, discounts or other
compensation for all the damn work I do, nor for any of the
endorsements or recommendations I make.




j bloggs 30-01-2004 11:10 AM

Japanese gardening
 
Hi all... I'm a lurker too...

....been reading up on bamboo lately and ran across an interesting passage on
"Gardens in China and Japan" (as relating to bamboo :)...

quote

"Bamboo plays an important role in Chinese and Japanese gardens. To
understand this, one needs to appreciate the significance of gardens and
garden art in these countries. Garden design is considered an art form
similar to landscape painting, and is carried out according to a comparable
set of rules. (There are Fundamental differences between Chinese and
Japanese garden art, but it would take us too far to go into these here. The
reader should investigate the extensive literature.) In Asia there has
always been a particular fear of wild, untamed nature, yet simultaneously a
strong love for it and a feeling of unity with it. Nature and humanity are
seen as indivisible. Gardens should reflect nature, but also provide people
with the chance to immerse themselves in nature through meditation. A garden
is therefore strongly symbolic. Chinese gardens are works of art in which
landscapes are set up, not to imitate nature, but to simplify it and render
it more profound, as in painting. A Chinese or Japanese, garden is scarcely
comparable with a European garden, because it is based upon a different set
of assumptions. Chinese and Japanese gardens create a landscape that
stimulates the imagination rather than the understanding. One sees over and
over the juxtaposition of Yang and Yin, the masculine and feminine, hard and
soft; for example rock and water, bamboo and chrysanthemum, straight and
curved lines.

"In 1634 Yuan Jeh wrote this about gardens; 'A single mountain can have many
effects, a small stone can awaken many feelings. The shadows of dry banana
leaves draw themselves wonderfully upon the paper of the window. The roots
of the pine-tree force themselves through the cracks of the stone. If you
can find peace here in the middle of the city why should you wish to leave
this place and seek another?...' All things in Chinese gardens - and in
still more refined and abstract form in Japanese gardens - have symbolic
value and are aids to meditation. Water is always present, standing for
human life and philosophical thought. There are no lawns, but gravel beds
instead. Rocks symbolize mountains. They are often raised up high and
particular value is laid on bizarre and steep formations. They represent, in
contrast to water, the might of nature. Flowers are never planted in groups
or patterns but stand isolated, to aid meditation. The chrysanthemum, which
flowers late and is frost-tolerant, symbolizes culture and retirement, the
water lily is the sign of purity and truth. Bamboo stands for suppleness and
power, true friendship and vigorous age. The evergreen foliage of bamboo
also provides a background for plum blossom and makes an artistic picture
together with pine. In Asian gardens bamboo is usually thinned so that
individual [snip]"

endquote
[Bamboos, 1992, Recht / Wetterwald, ISBN 0-88192-268-4]

I particularly like the "why should you wish to leave this place and seek
another?..." part!

cheers

Mark Tutty
Gisborne NZ

"Michael Palmer" wrote in message
om...
I've been lurking for a bit now. This is a very informative
newsgroup. I have a question that I hope can be answered. What is it
that makes a "Japanese Garden" a true Japanese garden? There seems to
be many interpretations out there. Any sites to recommend me to with
pics? Thanks everyone.
Michael




Cereus-validus 30-01-2004 11:10 AM

Japanese gardening
 
Not to mention waaaaaay cheaper. Nudge, nudge, wink, wink!!!!

Any fool can take white gravel, a rock, a dead twig and a lantern and call
it a Japanese garden.......

But does that really make it one?

I don't think so.


wrote in message
...
waaaaay less is better. putting all the typical elements of a Japanese

garden into a
small space is grotesque. it takes courage to pick a single element and

let the rest
go. somebody on rec.ponds posted the cutest darn Japanese garden shed.

Ingrid

"D Kat" wrote:

:) cute ... however In my opinion there is no reason that the qualities

of a
Japanese garden cannot be applied to any garden. Simplicity, white space

as
important as foreground, etc. There are a great many books on the topic

and
many sites.

http://www.jgarden.org/
http://www.ifa.de/garden-japan-2000/einsel.htm
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2099.html




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
List Manager: Puregold Goldfish List
http://puregold.aquaria.net/
www.drsolo.com
Solve the problem, dont waste energy finding who's to blame
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Unfortunately, I receive no money, gifts, discounts or other
compensation for all the damn work I do, nor for any of the
endorsements or recommendations I make.




David J Bockman 30-01-2004 03:14 PM

Japanese gardening
 
One glaring characteristic:

Japanese gardens lack formal flower beds or borders. They are completely
alien to Japanese gardens.

Dave

"Michael Palmer" wrote in message
om...
I've been lurking for a bit now. This is a very informative
newsgroup. I have a question that I hope can be answered. What is it
that makes a "Japanese Garden" a true Japanese garden? There seems to
be many interpretations out there. Any sites to recommend me to with
pics? Thanks everyone.
Michael




David J Bockman 30-01-2004 03:32 PM

Japanese gardening
 
One glaring characteristic:

Japanese gardens lack formal flower beds or borders. They are completely
alien to Japanese gardens.

Dave

"Michael Palmer" wrote in message
om...
I've been lurking for a bit now. This is a very informative
newsgroup. I have a question that I hope can be answered. What is it
that makes a "Japanese Garden" a true Japanese garden? There seems to
be many interpretations out there. Any sites to recommend me to with
pics? Thanks everyone.
Michael




David J Bockman 30-01-2004 03:46 PM

Japanese gardening
 
One glaring characteristic:

Japanese gardens lack formal flower beds or borders. They are completely
alien to Japanese gardens.

Dave

"Michael Palmer" wrote in message
om...
I've been lurking for a bit now. This is a very informative
newsgroup. I have a question that I hope can be answered. What is it
that makes a "Japanese Garden" a true Japanese garden? There seems to
be many interpretations out there. Any sites to recommend me to with
pics? Thanks everyone.
Michael




Jim Lewis 30-01-2004 05:23 PM

Japanese gardening
 
Except, of course, the sculpted, (usually) round, small-leafed
Satsuki or Kurume azaleas that frequently border the paths in
larger Japanese gardens, as in the Ninomaru Garden at the
Imperial Palace in Tokyo and the less-manicured azaleas on the
small islands in the Kyu-Shiba-rikyu Gardens in Minato-ku, Tokyo
(and others). Smaller, more intimate gardens -- like tea
gardens -- may only have a single, carefully clipped azalea as a
highlight -- or none.

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - Only where
people have learned to appreciate and cherish the landscape and
its living cover will they treat it with the care and respect it
should have - Paul Bigelow Sears.

Pam - gardengal 30-01-2004 05:42 PM

Japanese gardening
 

"Michael Palmer" wrote in message
om...
I've been lurking for a bit now. This is a very informative
newsgroup. I have a question that I hope can be answered. What is it
that makes a "Japanese Garden" a true Japanese garden? There seems to
be many interpretations out there. Any sites to recommend me to with
pics? Thanks everyone.
Michael


You might want to check out the Japanese Garden forum on the GardenWeb. It
is a very active forum and frequently involves a lot of philosophical
musings as to what consititutes a Japanese Garden, specially with respect to
western gardens and gardeners. Lots of great photos posted, as well.

pam - gardengal



David J Bockman 30-01-2004 05:53 PM

Japanese gardening
 
Very true, Jim, however I wasn't referring to compositional elements that
define a space, I was talking about the 'mulched bed' juxtaposed with the
turf or other strolling area...

Dave

"Jim Lewis" wrote in message
...
Except, of course, the sculpted, (usually) round, small-leafed
Satsuki or Kurume azaleas that frequently border the paths in
larger Japanese gardens, as in the Ninomaru Garden at the
Imperial Palace in Tokyo and the less-manicured azaleas on the
small islands in the Kyu-Shiba-rikyu Gardens in Minato-ku, Tokyo
(and others). Smaller, more intimate gardens -- like tea
gardens -- may only have a single, carefully clipped azalea as a
highlight -- or none.

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - Only where
people have learned to appreciate and cherish the landscape and
its living cover will they treat it with the care and respect it
should have - Paul Bigelow Sears.
.
"David J Bockman" wrote in message
...
One glaring characteristic:

Japanese gardens lack formal flower beds or borders. They are

completely
alien to Japanese gardens.

Dave

"Michael Palmer" wrote in message
om...
I've been lurking for a bit now. This is a very informative
newsgroup. I have a question that I hope can be answered.

What is it
that makes a "Japanese Garden" a true Japanese garden? There

seems to
be many interpretations out there. Any sites to recommend me

to with
pics? Thanks everyone.
Michael







Brigitte J. 30-01-2004 07:01 PM

Japanese gardening
 

"Cereus-validus" wrote in message
m...
A true Japanese garden is one tended to by a Japanese gardener!!!!

Anything else is just an occidental looking for a place to happen.


Ha ha... If that were true, then vegetable gardens would be tended to by a
vegetable gardener. :)



Brigitte J. 30-01-2004 07:32 PM

Japanese gardening
 

"Cereus-validus" wrote in message
m...
A true Japanese garden is one tended to by a Japanese gardener!!!!

Anything else is just an occidental looking for a place to happen.


Ha ha... If that were true, then vegetable gardens would be tended to by a
vegetable gardener. :)



Brigitte J. 30-01-2004 07:42 PM

Japanese gardening
 

"Cereus-validus" wrote in message
m...
A true Japanese garden is one tended to by a Japanese gardener!!!!

Anything else is just an occidental looking for a place to happen.


Ha ha... If that were true, then vegetable gardens would be tended to by a
vegetable gardener. :)



Beecrofter 30-01-2004 10:32 PM

Japanese gardening
 
(Michael Palmer) wrote in message . com...
I've been lurking for a bit now. This is a very informative
newsgroup. I have a question that I hope can be answered. What is it
that makes a "Japanese Garden" a true Japanese garden? There seems to
be many interpretations out there. Any sites to recommend me to with
pics? Thanks everyone.
Michael


If you take a Japanese gardener for a drive in the northeast US he
will be awestruck by the rock outcrops that occur where highway cuts
have been made.
Once these have been left alone for a while and get a few layers of
ferns and laurel they look just right. Trying to create one in a
garden is another matter.

Cereus-validus 31-01-2004 01:33 AM

Japanese gardening
 
We won't even go and suggest what type of gardener grows fruit or nuts!!!


Brigitte J. wrote in message
...

"Cereus-validus" wrote in message
m...
A true Japanese garden is one tended to by a Japanese gardener!!!!

Anything else is just an occidental looking for a place to happen.


Ha ha... If that were true, then vegetable gardens would be tended to by

a
vegetable gardener. :)





Jim Lewis 31-01-2004 03:12 PM

Japanese gardening
 

If you take a Japanese gardener for a drive in the northeast US

he
will be awestruck by the rock outcrops that occur where highway

cuts
have been made.


I dunno. There are plenty of rock outcrops in Japan.

Once these have been left alone for a while and get a few

layers of
ferns and laurel they look just right. Trying to create one in

a
garden is another matter.


I'm not sure that a road cut can EVER look "just right." But
it's not really that tough to create a natural rock wall,
cliffside, or rocky glen in a garden. Just remember,
(trite-but-true phrases coming up), less is more. And time heals
all wounds.

It IS almost impossible to get the look of an aged cliff wall in
one sitting, but give it a few years, leave fallen leaves where
they fall to decay, provide _dampness_, and it will come. Native
plants (especially those native to rocks and that KIND of rocks)
also help.

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL -


Janet Baraclough .. 31-01-2004 04:32 PM

Japanese gardening
 
The message
from "Cereus-validus" contains these words:

We won't even go and suggest what type of gardener grows fruit or nuts!!!


Or prickly plants.

Janet



[email protected] 31-01-2004 05:04 PM

Japanese gardening
 
radically different I would say. Japanese gardens are for really small tight spaces,
are very tightly landscaped and groomed constantly. I find Chinese landscaping to be
much more "wild", loose, free style than Japanese. Ingrid

"j bloggs" wrote:
.. (There are Fundamental differences between Chinese and
Japanese garden art,

Chinese and Japanese gardens create a landscape that
stimulates the imagination rather than the understanding. One sees over and
over the juxtaposition of Yang and Yin, the masculine and feminine, hard and
soft; for example rock and water, bamboo and chrysanthemum, straight and
curved lines.




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
List Manager: Puregold Goldfish List
http://puregold.aquaria.net/
www.drsolo.com
Solve the problem, dont waste energy finding who's to blame
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Unfortunately, I receive no money, gifts, discounts or other
compensation for all the damn work I do, nor for any of the
endorsements or recommendations I make.

Jim Lewis 31-01-2004 11:12 PM

Japanese gardening
 

wrote in message
...
Japanese gardens are for really small tight spaces,
are very tightly landscaped and groomed constantly. I find

Chinese landscaping to be
much more "wild", loose, free style than Japanese. Ingrid



That's only partly true. There are a number of quite large (25-
60-Acre or larger) Japanese gardens in Tokyo alone, dating back
to the Tokugawa Era, and before. Other large gardens can be
found in Nara and Kyoto, among other cities.

A feature of these, however, is that they are divided into many,
much-smaller parts and that you usually cannot see one part from
another -- unlike the famous gardens of Europe, where vistas of
flowers and regimented pathways, mazes, etc. are favored.

They ARE groomed _almost_ constantly, but Japan, too suffers from
a labor shortage and there are few Japanese today who seem to be
willing to take on the constant bent-over labor of maintaining
their large public gardens. The last time I was there, it
actually was quite common to see weeds poking up through the
clipped azalea borders, and the pathways were nowhere near as
pristine as they used to be. The gardeners I DID see were all
quite elderly. Mostly women.

Exception: The gardens around the Imperial Palace. Every leaf
is in its place. Or else!

Of course, many other gardens are small and intimate. These are
the gardens of private residences, or rooftop gardens of large
corporations (or department stores). Tea house gardens are
somewhat larger -- but still measured in square feet, rather than
acres.

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - Only where
people have learned to appreciate and cherish the landscape and
its living cover will they treat it with the care and respect it
should have - Paul Bigelow Sears.


Zemedelec 01-02-2004 02:02 AM

Japanese gardening
 
Japanese gardens in Japan look like what God could do if he had a good editor.
zemedelec

Zemedelec 01-02-2004 02:02 AM

Japanese gardening
 

Ha ha... If that were true, then vegetable gardens would be tended to by a
vegetable gardener. :)

BRBR


I picture a longish, languid eggplant with short arms and legs and a long rake.
It spends at least 50% of the time in the garden hammock.
zemedelec

David J Bockman 01-02-2004 02:37 PM

Japanese gardening
 
Not to mention the larger gardens of nunneries and other religious sites...
I think too often westerners (if I may paint with broad sweeps and
generalizations) perceive the quintessential Japanese garden as either a
tiny tsuboniwa (courtyard garden, a small to medium sized squarish open
space that is an architectural element of 99% of all traditional Japanese
homes) or an austere dry raked bed of gravel with a few boulders here or
there.

Dave

"Jim Lewis" wrote in message
...

wrote in message
...
Japanese gardens are for really small tight spaces,
are very tightly landscaped and groomed constantly. I find

Chinese landscaping to be
much more "wild", loose, free style than Japanese. Ingrid



That's only partly true. There are a number of quite large (25-
60-Acre or larger) Japanese gardens in Tokyo alone, dating back
to the Tokugawa Era, and before. Other large gardens can be
found in Nara and Kyoto, among other cities.

A feature of these, however, is that they are divided into many,
much-smaller parts and that you usually cannot see one part from
another -- unlike the famous gardens of Europe, where vistas of
flowers and regimented pathways, mazes, etc. are favored.

They ARE groomed _almost_ constantly, but Japan, too suffers from
a labor shortage and there are few Japanese today who seem to be
willing to take on the constant bent-over labor of maintaining
their large public gardens. The last time I was there, it
actually was quite common to see weeds poking up through the
clipped azalea borders, and the pathways were nowhere near as
pristine as they used to be. The gardeners I DID see were all
quite elderly. Mostly women.

Exception: The gardens around the Imperial Palace. Every leaf
is in its place. Or else!

Of course, many other gardens are small and intimate. These are
the gardens of private residences, or rooftop gardens of large
corporations (or department stores). Tea house gardens are
somewhat larger -- but still measured in square feet, rather than
acres.

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - Only where
people have learned to appreciate and cherish the landscape and
its living cover will they treat it with the care and respect it
should have - Paul Bigelow Sears.




David J Bockman 01-02-2004 02:57 PM

Japanese gardening
 
Not to mention the larger gardens of nunneries and other religious sites...
I think too often westerners (if I may paint with broad sweeps and
generalizations) perceive the quintessential Japanese garden as either a
tiny tsuboniwa (courtyard garden, a small to medium sized squarish open
space that is an architectural element of 99% of all traditional Japanese
homes) or an austere dry raked bed of gravel with a few boulders here or
there.

Dave

"Jim Lewis" wrote in message
...

wrote in message
...
Japanese gardens are for really small tight spaces,
are very tightly landscaped and groomed constantly. I find

Chinese landscaping to be
much more "wild", loose, free style than Japanese. Ingrid



That's only partly true. There are a number of quite large (25-
60-Acre or larger) Japanese gardens in Tokyo alone, dating back
to the Tokugawa Era, and before. Other large gardens can be
found in Nara and Kyoto, among other cities.

A feature of these, however, is that they are divided into many,
much-smaller parts and that you usually cannot see one part from
another -- unlike the famous gardens of Europe, where vistas of
flowers and regimented pathways, mazes, etc. are favored.

They ARE groomed _almost_ constantly, but Japan, too suffers from
a labor shortage and there are few Japanese today who seem to be
willing to take on the constant bent-over labor of maintaining
their large public gardens. The last time I was there, it
actually was quite common to see weeds poking up through the
clipped azalea borders, and the pathways were nowhere near as
pristine as they used to be. The gardeners I DID see were all
quite elderly. Mostly women.

Exception: The gardens around the Imperial Palace. Every leaf
is in its place. Or else!

Of course, many other gardens are small and intimate. These are
the gardens of private residences, or rooftop gardens of large
corporations (or department stores). Tea house gardens are
somewhat larger -- but still measured in square feet, rather than
acres.

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - Only where
people have learned to appreciate and cherish the landscape and
its living cover will they treat it with the care and respect it
should have - Paul Bigelow Sears.




Beecrofter 02-02-2004 02:32 PM

Japanese gardening
 

It IS almost impossible to get the look of an aged cliff wall in
one sitting, but give it a few years, leave fallen leaves where
they fall to decay, provide _dampness_, and it will come. Native
plants (especially those native to rocks and that KIND of rocks)
also help.

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL -


Or give it a few hundred years.

Jim Lewis 02-02-2004 11:02 PM

Japanese gardening
 

"Beecrofter" wrote in message
om...

It IS almost impossible to get the look of an aged cliff wall

in
one sitting, but give it a few years, leave fallen leaves

where
they fall to decay, provide _dampness_, and it will come.

Native
plants (especially those native to rocks and that KIND of

rocks)
also help.

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL -


Or give it a few hundred years.


Nah. You'll be surprised what as little as 3-4 years will do.

Jim Lewis -
- Tallahassee, FL - Only where
people have learned to appreciate and cherish the landscape and
its living cover will they treat it with the care and respect it
should have - Paul Bigelow Sears.


Jim Lewis 02-02-2004 11:12 PM

Japanese gardening
 

"Beecrofter" wrote in message
om...

It IS almost impossible to get the look of an aged cliff wall

in
one sitting, but give it a few years, leave fallen leaves

where
they fall to decay, provide _dampness_, and it will come.

Native
plants (especially those native to rocks and that KIND of

rocks)
also help.

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL -


Or give it a few hundred years.


Nah. You'll be surprised what as little as 3-4 years will do.

Jim Lewis -
- Tallahassee, FL - Only where
people have learned to appreciate and cherish the landscape and
its living cover will they treat it with the care and respect it
should have - Paul Bigelow Sears.



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