Zen gardening - Softcover

Reflects the increasing interest in Eastern philosophies on the creation of natural balance in the garden; Provides detailed practical examples showing how to imbue your garden with the elements of harmony and peace; Gardens inspired by Zen are the ideal antidote to today's busy lifestyle - an oasis of calm and tranquillity - and require very little maintenance; Zen gardens are for contemplation, reflecting the beauty of nature and the aesthetic sense of the gardener. Originally created in Japanese monasteries around the twelfth century, their beauty comes from their simplicity and the precise arrangement of rocks, gravel, water and plants. Using as few or as many plants as required, Zen gardens also provide an eco-friendly alternative to the old-fashioned lawn, often requiring little or no water. For those with a limited area, Zen gardens create the illusion of space and freedom. Zen Gardening simplifies the principles of this art and reveals the meaning of the different elements, putting every aspect of creating a Zen garden at the hands of today's gardeners. Zen gardening need not mean ripping up your garden and starting from scratch. Nor need it involve replacing your lawn with white gravel. It may simply be that a dark patch of foliage needs a powerful white stone to provide yang and balance the view. This beautiful book includes chapters on Elements and their Symbolism, Water - Creating Balance and Tranquillity, Rocks and Stones - Creating Space and Energy and Sand and Gravel - Creating Simplicity and Serenity. There are also chapters on Plants for the Zen Garden, Architectural Elements and Ornaments. giving practical advice and showing how modern gardens can be transformed into beautiful, harmonious spaces.

Sunniva Harte is a talented garden writer and photographer, and author of The Perfect Country Garden (Conran Octopus). Her very first article, for Gardens Illustrated, won an award from the Garden Writers' Guild. She lives in East Sussex.