After over a year of spending our time mostly at home, many of us have had the opportunity to explore the larger spaces around our homes, areas other than just the deck or patio. Up until now, we may have considered those planted areas to simply be the ‘landscape’. Many people I have spoken with have an increasing sense of wanting more of what they refer to as a ‘garden’, a space that is more than a landscape simply filled with plants. This represents a longing for spaces that carry the qualities of rest and retreat.

How do we imbue a space with these qualities? My thoughts naturally turn to the Japanese garden as the quintessence of how to activate this kind of enlivened space.

From an overarching perspective, the underlying principles of Japanese garden design are meant to create spaces that offer touchpoints with nature. Their design is intended to provide an opportunity for a closer interaction with natural processes while engendering a sense of peace and spiritual renewal. Simplicity, restraint, and understatement are employed to reveal a beauty that is not flashy or ostentatious. In the best gardens, these principles are so masterfully applied that they go virtually unnoticed.

The design elements of a Japanese garden can foster an appreciation of the details of the garden and inspire close reflection. “Window Reflections” photo artwork by Alex LaVilla

There are a number of types and styles of Japanese gardens both large and small. There are ‘cup’ gardens with sunken ponds, ‘waterfall’ gardens, ‘tea’ gardens, ‘scholar’ gardens, courtyard gardens, strolling gardens, and the ‘dried up’ rock gardens typically thought of as ‘Zen’ with raked gravel beds and mindfully placed rocks. No matter what the style of the garden, they all share the same underlying principles.

So when thinking about adding Japanese garden elements to your garden it is best to consider some of these principles first as you create your places of renewal. It isn’t just a matter of adding Japanese-style ornaments, raked gravel paths, or a Buddha statue to existing spaces but of incorporating the fundamental principles that resonate with the heart.

One of the key principles in all Japanese aesthetics is MA.

The definition of MA from Iwanami’s Dictionary of Ancient Terms is ‘the natural distance between two or more things existing in a continuity’ or ‘the space delineated by posts and screens (rooms), or ‘the natural pause or interval between two or more phenomenon occurring continuously’ (Taylor, Lisa. MA, space-time in Japan, Washington, D.C., Cooper-Hewitt Museum, 1979).

In Western culture, we commonly view space and time as different. In Japan, space is not perceived as different from time but as coexistent with time perceived through related movements in space. This may sound pretty unapproachable but it really is all about intervals and how we experience space as we pass through it. As we become more aware of the intervals between objects and spaces, we become more able to experience the spirit of what resides there. In becoming more aware in this way, we come closer to the inherent quality of stillness that pervades all of nature.

So how do we integrate the essence of MA in the garden? Without having to create a Japanese garden in the traditional sense, here are some simple design techniques to consider in order to bring the spirit of MA into your garden.

Rethink how the space is divided

Survey the overall garden area and think about the possibility of creating smaller ‘rooms’ within the larger space, each with a unique character that embodies the special nature of that particular place in the garden. If you are in a rather small urban lot, you may be able to have only a few spaces to work with. In a typical modern, urban Japanese garden with limited space, even one special area viewed from multiple vantage points can create the desired effect.

Emphasize transitions

Be conscious of the transitions between spaces. Build non-linear paths that emphasize a sense of movement along them. Use odd-shaped stones in irregular patterns that require a bit more awareness to navigate rather than a straight path using identically shaped stones or pavers.

Accent view lines

Along your transitional paths, create views to other parts of the garden that are alternately seen and hidden. Instead of viewing entire spaces all at once, create a sense of mystery by opening irregular view lines along the path through selected ‘plant windows’. Use a special taller, open-form plant with a structure that serves to frame the desired view.

Create vignettes

Along with views through plants to other parts of the garden, create smaller self-contained vignettes along the path so the visitor may linger to enjoy the elements as they move through them. Make each vignette a unique experience. You can design an area with special plants or interesting plant combinations, set up an arrangement of large rocks, or create undulating areas with smaller stones as a ground cover. By installing a small pool, reflective water basin, or moving water feature, you bring in the awareness of this vital element complementing the other natural features. You could also have a special sitting rock as a place of rest and contemplation.

The spirit is in the details

In your choice of details, emphasize the selection of quality materials and the intentional juxtaposition of those materials. For example, forego cheaper box store materials and use natural stone. Place smaller smooth beach pebbles between larger stepping stones as a contrast to highlight the special characteristics of both materials. Finally, weave in a textural groundcover between the stones to subtly reveal the dynamic interaction of stone and plant.

Embrace the ephemeral

Select plants that exhibit the signs of the ephemeral nature of things. Choose specimen plants with exceptional fall color, early spring bloom, or ornamental winter twigs or berries. Interweave grasses into the plantings to create movement and perennials with beautiful seed heads that last into winter. Use materials like recycled wood, copper, and steel that will exhibit the effects of weather and age.

When incorporating these principles, even in the simplest rudimentary way, the garden begins to take on a new life. The garden becomes more than a place filled with plants. You are not only transforming the physical space itself but you are beginning to retrain your own perceptions to see and experience space and time in a new way. The plants, the paths, and the unique spaces are a dynamic reminder of our connection to nature and the power of the garden as a place of rest and renewal.

Coming soon… In a second installment, I will highlight some favorite plants, both classic and contemporary, that can be used to enhance the qualities we have discussed here.