We recently visited Bob and Linda Vivian’s beautiful Pennsylvania garden (Gardening in Pennsylvania), and today Bob is welcoming us back to take a tour of their Japanese-style garden.
This view looks through a tangle of the trunk of the fringe tree (Chionanthus virginicus, Zones 3–9). It’s not a Japanese maple (Acer palmatum, Zones 5–9), which would be more traditional in a Japanese garden, but it has character and age.
I look at some of the stones in this picture and remember when Linda and I rolled them around like giant marbles. Ever try to get a 250 lb. rock to sit perfectly on the first try?
At the forefront is Hosta ‘Praying Hands’ (Zones 3–9)—so unique, so architectural. I love ’em. I had never seen them before, nor have I seen them since. In the background at top right is the stone bench that I meditate from. Because it’s stone, you can’t meditate long in the cold weather.
I found this small iron kettle half buried at a job site many years ago. I like it in this spot. Beyond, in the upper left, is the perennial garden filled with color and pollinators. It’s a wonderful contrast.
This is the full view of the entire garden. You can see that the Japanese-style garden is not very big. It does, however, have everything as I intended. It’s been my dream for a long time. I’m satisfied.
Have a garden you’d like to share?
Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!
To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.
Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening!
Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here.
Comments
Your garden is lovely! Thank you for sharing 🌱. I'd love to see it in person.
Very different from traditional Japanese gardens, but it does create the same feeling. Great job.
Lovely & very relaxing garden. Enjoy & thanks for sharing!
My, my, how very lovely!
I really enjoyed this look at your Japanese style garden area.
Loved reading about you remembering the placing & rolling of heavy stones (moving stones is very memorable for me also, I totally get it!)
Very creative to use to "found pot" in the garden, and good placement.
This little spot in your garden has everything- water, stones, great plants...just gorgeous what you two have created here.
PS...the ornamental column is really nice in your garden...I was wondering if there was an interesting story on that garden ornament?
Thank you, SimpleSue, for your inquiry and to everyone for your kind comments. I think that column is either part of an asian fence rail or a hitching post. The antique store I bought it from could offer no history. You bring up a good point. I should be more curious about it and the lg iron kettle in the water feature. I will research their history. Can anyone provide a clue?
I love your use of the fringe tree instead of a Japanese maple. And you have achieved the serenity, balance, and sense of movement that I associate with Japanese style gardening. Hope you are able to discover more about your column and kettle. Thanks for sharing.
Linda & Bob - I adore your Japanese style garden.
Beautiful garden! I especially love the use of the native fringe tree. I am trying to add more natives to my central MA garden. Thank you for sharing!
This little part of your garden is just lovely. So serene and thoughtful. Having rolled around many very large rocks in my day, I can totally relate to your story! Had one standing just perfectly once, was packing soil and gravel around the base to stabilize it, stepped back to admire my creativity, then.... plop!! Finally did get it to stay the way I wanted.
I had to chuckle at your travails in your tale of stone placement. It seems that all ( and I do mean all) of the forces of nature, including gravity, are working against the gardener. We do, however, prevail somehow. Bravo!
Lovely example of a Japanese style garden. I loved your comment, "I'm satisfied". That's the feeling I get in Japanese gardens, a sense of calm and contentment. Well done.
Thank you for sharing your garden. It's lovely and perfectly maintained adding to its sense of order and peacefulness. Congrats!
Your 'found' pot could serve as a replica or antique "Singing Bowl" which are used in meditation. Here in NC I am not far from Juniper Level Botanic Garden. They sell and Tony Advent, plant Hunter, hybridizer, is a place for unique plants in all families. Your praying hands hosta is a popular item here abouts! Delightful and Inspiring achievement you made. I hope to add a meditative space sometime this season as well. Thank you for sharing!
Ooh, you've inspired me! I have the perfect spot for a garden like this. Mine is shadier, though, as there's a large horse chestnut growing there - but I should be able to use shade-tolerant plants. I can hardly wait to tell my husband he's going to help me purchase and move a bunch of large rocks! ;-)
You go nicki-s. It's truelly gratifying to know that my little piece of heaven is a source of inspiration to others. Trust me, when it's all said and done, you and your husband will love it.
Absolutely stunning!!! I love Japanese Gardens. The peace, serenity and beauty are soothing to the soul.
JoS29803, I totally agree. I've been a student of and an admirer of Japanese gardens for many years. I'm aware that small gardens, in limited space, are very different from the expansive Zen gardens we all know.
Even with my American eye, I've tried to be true to the elements in those gardens, controlled but natural, agedness, open, empty space, the water feature, predominant green plantings, etc. I don't pretend to fully understand the nuances and symbolism of the Japanese garden. That's why I purposely call my garden Japanese "styled".
The trees are very beautiful. This place looks great. The small streets with small pebbles show the Japanese style, you can immediately recognize it just by looking at it we become what we behold
Log in or create an account to post a comment.
Sign up Log in