Pleasurable Landscaping

Bonsai Trees

Perhaps the most common plant to decorate your Japanese gardens with is the bonsai tree. These are small trees that you can shape in a variety of forms and pot them in different size vases to accent different parts of your garden. Bonsai trees are also said to bring peace and serenity to any open space; they can also make the air a little clearer around your gardening space. There are varieties of bonsai trees, and you can even put them in your home or office. For example, Aralia bonsais have flatter, greener leaves, and tend to do better indoors, while Tamarind trees have shorter, bushier leaves, with a stronger trunk suitable for outside weather.

Tea Gardens

But bonsai trees aren't the only plants you can include in your Japanese gardens. You can also grow your own tea garden by planting herbs and fruit blossoms to make your favorite teas right from home. There are also public Japanese tea gardens, where you can learn more about the herbs used in each tea, and even taste a tea, in case you want to purchase ingredients or learn how to make it yourself. Some of the most popular teas to grow and drink these days are green and white teas (in their different variations). Both teas have been known to serve as antioxidants for the body, and to strengthen the immune system. For more information on exotic Japanese teas, contact Holy Mountain Trading Company at www.hlymtn.com.

Rock Structures

Rock gardens are also a common Japanese tradition. This is definitely something you can start yourself, as most of the stones you need will be available at craft or health food stores. Most of the stones used in Japanese rock gardens aid in the water flow of the area, since there is usually a fountain or stream of water nearby. The stones are also used in spas to help treat your pressure points and relieve tension in the neck, back, and shoulders. You can find stone fountains to accent your gardens, or even benches and birdbaths to give your garden a more peaceful look and feel.

There are larger, public rock gardens across the country, where you can find information about Zen, a Buddhist practice dealing with the balance of mind and body, as rocks and plants are often used to achieve harmony within human beings by using the forces of nature.

Learn How

You can find out how to begin planting Japanese gardens of your own by visiting the Japanese garden database online at www.JGarden.com. You'll find out what type of soil your Japanese plants need, where the best geographical locations are for certain plants, which tea herbs would grow best in your area, and even ways to plant an indoor garden. You can also find suggestions on how to decorate your Japanese gardens with stones, basins, and fountains at affordable prices.

If you're looking for something different to place in your yard, a Japanese garden may very well be the solution you're looking for. They are fun, affordable, and most of all, unique. So, why not pick up a new hobby? Start planting your version of a Japanese garden today!