Before going deep into the article, let me give you a brief idea about a Zen garden. A Japanese rock garden, sometimes also called as a Zen garden is an enclosed sandpit containing sand, gravel, rock, grass and other natural elements. The epitome of a Zen garden design is balanced when Yin (female) and Yang (male) balance for harmonious Feng Shui. The basic idea is to create a visually appealing and enchanting garden, irrespective of the size of the garden.

Here are some of the interesting features of a Zen garden design which may inspire you to have it in your home.

1. This garden is basically designed to produce a 3-D effect of height and depth and a garden is planned keeping the foreground and the background in mind. Trees and large shrubs are placed at the rear of the garden to provide a natural backdrop. According to Feng Shui, placing large overbearing trees or shrubs at the home’s entrance blocks your energy to the outside world. Moreover, the gateway should be neat and uncluttered for positive Feng Shui.
2. Always choose the plants that flourish in your region. For example, you can plant mosses, flowering blooms, shrubs and trees to add charm and vibrance to your garden. You can also have drought resistant plants in a sandy or low rainfall Zen garden. Moreover, mosses and pre-existing pathways or walkways promote the flow of Chi or Feng Shui energy.
3. Basically, these gardens contain rock, sand and gravel which can be occasionally moved or removed from one location to the other. The gravel represents ocean and the rock represents the islands of Japan. The rocks form a part of mind or heart and also represent a mother tiger with her cub, swimming towards the dragon. Select unique rocks and stones, and organize them according to their color, size or texture to add a smooth touch to your garden.
4. It is very essential to have some or the other water features in your garden, as water is considered to be the collector of wealth and prosperity (according to Feng Shui). Water elements may include ponds, water fountains or waterfalls either natural or man-made. You can decorate these features by planting flowers, marble statues and other ornaments in and around them. You can also introduce Japanese fishes such as Koi in the pond or lake for harmonious balance of the Feng Shui energy.
5. Lastly, you can also have gates and arbors in the garden. Gates are available in a variety of materials and designs and if properly placed can give an illusion of more depth and area to your space. Arbors on the other hand, tend to draw the eye near or far giving an essence of privacy and beauty.

Well the above ideas will definitely help you to create a wonderful and lavish Zen garden for your home.

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