Zen Garden: Creating Your Own Backyard Oasis

Prelude from the author: "A karesansui or Japanese rock garden, or Zen garden

is an enclosed shallow sandbox containing sand, gravel, rocks, and occasionally grass or other natural elements. The main elements of karesansui are rocks and sand, with the sea symbolized not by water but by sand raked in patterns that suggest rippling water. Plants are much less important (and sometimes nonexistent) in many karesansui gardens. - Reference: Wikipedia. Although a Zen Garden in its true form does not use real water and a lot of vegetation, this article shows a different and an alternative twist to creating a Zen garden in your own backyard ...by adding water and some vegetation that can add to the peacefullness feeling a true Zen Garden symbolizes."

If you have a very hectic schedule, and stress is a part of your day to day existence, creating a Zen garden maybe something you would want to consider in your backyard. Having a Zen garden in your backyard, can give you a place to relax and a place to escape from the daily rigors of life. A Zen garden can help your mind and body to be in harmony with its natural surroundings. It can help you find your inner peace- a quiet solitude. It can also provide you a place to meditate and re-energize after a long hard day.

Creating a Zen garden is not difficult to do. As long as you have the basic materials you can create an atmosphere that you would love to come home to. One would think of Japanese and Chinese themed gardens when they think of Zen gardens. We feel the tranquility as we visit these gardens; everything is in harmony, from the plants used, the rocks, and the sight and sound of water.

Here is a list of fundamental elements to consider when designing your own Zen garden: