Japanese style garden design

[Jade]

Does anyone out there have any experience with Japanese Garden design? I don't want the stark zen style, but I love many of the elements and feeling of calm in these type of gardens. The kids are finally gone, now working part-time so plan to spend the fall and winter making plans for next spring. Live in chinook zone 3, so have to have hardy plants.

[Jade]

Thanks Lulu,
I have a semi-established garden and tried to put in some good anchor plantings when I started. Some stuff I am tired of, or require more pampering than I have patience for. I plan on taking a progression of pictures, so maybe someday I'll be able to post a garden "diary"!

[Ann]

Jade,

I love Japanese-style gardens, but I prefer the hill-and-pond or stroll-garden style to the Zen-type gravel garden. There are two beautiful Japanese gardens in Alberta, one in Lethbridge and one in Devon. Have you been to see them? They are well-worth a visit.

http://www.nikkayuko.com/

http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/devonian/Japanese.cfm

Ann

[Eeyore]

I haven't see the one in Lethbridge but the one in Devon is beautiful!
Jade, Japanese gardens are formal and pruned. Everything is meticulously maintained, if you are looking for less work I'm not sure a Japanese garden is the way to go. If you really want one though there are a lot of compact, neat evergreens available that require very little maintenance.