December 6, 2011 Japanese Garden

[CaliforniaMama]

This stunning Japanese garden is in Portland, Oregon.

Traditionally, the art of creating a Japanese garden was passed down from sensei to apprentice. That is starting to change. Now the art can be learned in a trade school.

The garden above is a rock garden or dry landscape. In Japanese, it is called karesansui. There is no water in this type of garden. Sand or gravel is used to represent the water elements instead. Stone and shaped shrubs represent mountains and other land elements. Moss represents land that is covered with forest.

Karesansui gardens are often, but not always, meant to be viewed from a single vantage point, from a seated position.

Photograph by Stephen Gray

via Twisted Sifter