Haiku Gardens your Japanese Landscaping Company offers five basic styles of japanese gardens:

Hill and Pond Style

Originating in China around 200 B.C. it was available only to the nobles and the rich, mainly because the sheer scale of the hill and pond style was so large that only they could afford it. However, by simplifying the design and using different scale perspectives this style garden can be created in a urban or suburban yard. The name came from the chief features of this style which were artificial lakes or ponds, symbolizing the sea, and hills in the ponds, representing islands. Over time, hill and pond gardens have incorporated mountains symbolized by large stones on earthen mounds and low evergreens to suggests forest foliage. Lanterns, trees, bridges, ponds and other features are kept in proportion to the landscape.

Dry-Landscape Style

This style came into popularity in the 6th century AD with the advent of Zen Buddhism. It is an enclosed, minimalist, flat garden usually with a raised veranda for viewing. It was used by the monks for meditation and was not meant to be walked in. It is considered the most austere type of Japanese gardens. The garden is usually represented by fine gravel or pebbles suggesting the illusion of water. Stones are used to symbolize islands and plants are used sparingly.

Tea-Garden Style

Influenced by the Zen movement in the 16th century, the tea-garden style of Japanese garden was a participatory garden that required the visitor to travel a path through the garden with scenes that would soothe the spirit, remove worldly cares, and prepare the visitor for the tea ceremony. The tea garden is narrow requiring just enough room for a path that leads to an enclosed inner garden where the tea house is located. This style garden lends itself well to American homes with the narrow passages along the sides of the house that leads the visitor to a larger more private backyard. Elements of the tea garden style include natural stone paths that slow the visitor down and create the illusion of a larger space. Evergreen plants are primarily used. The area can be softly lit by lanterns or guide posts. A natural stone water basin is normally located at the end of the tea garden. The water basin was used to cleanse the visitor's hands and refresh him before entering the tea house.

Stroll Style

Similar to the hill and pond style, the stroll garden is a serene quiet area that was meant to be walked thru and viewed from various vantage points. The hide and reveal principle allows for different aspects of the garden to be revealed to the visitor as he or she strolls thru the garden. It does not reveal the entire garden from a single viewing area. The paths are usually made of stone and are curved and not straight in order to reveal unexpected views of the garden.

The Courtyard Style

Throughout most of Japanese history, only the wealthy and nobles could afford gardens. The Buddhist monks were allowed to have small, inexpensive enclosed gardens around their temples. Later on, with the development of a well to do middle class, those who had even a tiny patch of area around the house could afford to have a garden. The garden was usually a private, enclosed garden with three main elements. A stone lantern, stepping stones and a stone water basin. These are almost always ornamental and not functional. Plants are mainly evergreen. The courtyard garden was not meant to be walked in or used but only to be enjoyed from a viewing area within the house. The main criterion for the courtyard garden is that all elements must be full size. Scaled down elements would just emphasize the smallness of the garden. The garden will look its best when kept clean and when sprinkled with water to highlight and accentuate the various elements.

Combination

Combination Gardens are a mixture of two or more of the above.