Zen Gardens – make your outdoor space a soothing haven of serenity and peace

We’ve all heard about them, but what exactly is a Zen garden? Well, in essence a Zen garden is built on a time-honoured Oriental tradition of harmony and balance in an area of transition between the inner house and outer surrounding. It uses plants such as ferns, bamboo shoots and also lotus flowers to create a space that exudes a sense of peace and tranquillity where one feels comfortable, relaxed and inspired.

A Zen garden follows the principles of Feng Shui, in which a balance of proportions, tones, light and shade, textures and also forms, dimensions and distribution is vital. The way sunlight and shadows are cast, how they interact with views, and also the sound and energy given off by water features all play an important part in the creation of a Zen Garden, which if done well cannot fail to impress and evoke a deep sense of well-being.

Another vital ingredient is the ability to design a spot that feels like a hidden, intimate, almost forgotten corner that’s been waiting just for you to discover it. In effect, therefore, making a Zen garden is like stealing a slice of paradise or conjuring up an oasis within a desert. It is a place of serene beauty that can act as a soothing, cosseting refuge for body and mind, not to mention the soul.

 

 

Small, intimate and impressive

A Zen garden is beautiful and special, but to make it work you have to create a sense of peace and privacy that makes it a personal, intimate space. Water features, vegetation, benches, sunlight/shade, cross-section views and also built structures are among the main ingredients of a successful Zen garden because they help to set the tone.

Think natural ponds and streams, perhaps with Koi fish and yes, definitely with moving, trickling water that forms a peaceful soundtrack to meditative moments. Conifers and bamboo shoots help to delineate the area and create an intimate, private sense, and if you’re building a structure ensure it features natural materials such as wood, stone or rustic, plastered walls. If you add lotus flowers, cherry or almond blossom, or maple trees, you’ll on to a winner, and whatever you do, resist the temptation to clutter. Don’t forget, the Japanese are masters of tasteful minimalism, and they’re also masters of Zen, so go for elegant simplicity for optimal effect.

Chinese lanterns add an ambient, fun feeling, and if you can create a Zen garden that evolves with each of the seasons yours will be a private little retreat that stays fresh and exciting.

 

 

Contact our creative landscaping design team now for more information on how La Menara can turn your Marbella garden or patio into a beautiful Zen feature.