If you want to change your boring lawn into something new and attractive, you might want to create the ideal Japanese garden. It is one of the popular garden designs used by numerous homes and buildings nowadays. The Japanese garden is very beautiful and is the ideal place to unwind after a long stressful and tiring day. A Japanese garden utilizes all the elements found in nature and creates a wonderful combination to reflect a type of reality. Some garden designers also utilize this style by using the same elements but they make modifications and change them into unnatural forms.  If you are planning to create the ideal Japanese garden, you need to take note of important tips to make your garden the best.

One of the features that must be present in every Japanese garden is the hills and ponds. The two are a common theme depicting Japanese tranquility. You can use water or replicate the water together with gravel or small stones. For the hills, you can use mounds of earth to create the mountains that you want to recreate, and then you can use undergrowth to be used along the sides of the mountain you created. You can also add some natural stone benches and tables, preferably besides the pond. You can also add Japanese fountains that include a bamboo spout for creating the ideal Japanese water features in your garden.

Next is to consider the placement of contemplation gardens since the Japanese mainly have them in their gardens. You can design and create your very own Zen area in your garden. It is best to use sand and rocks since they flow together in a design that best represents the seashore. If you are going to add plants, choose the ones that grow naturally in this kind of area for a realistic effect. Another option is to make a river or stream instead together with natural grasses and flowers that also grow along the shores as well. With this kind of natural arrangement, it is the ideal choice in creating a garden with a courtyard type setting.

Another feature of the Japanese garden is that their garden style utilizes a flat terrain. This focuses more on the functionality rather than the form. They are commonly called as tea gardens. With this type of garden, it has a path that leads to a stone water basin. The garden path is decorated or lined with lanterns that are basically made of stone. The Japanese garden is best described as having fewer accessories. With the traditional Japanese garden design, the main garden is the introduction before entering the teahouse; this is supposed to have a calming effect to those who enter the garden. The teahouse plays an important role in the Japanese culture and there are various types of ceremonies performed that require calmness and serenity. You can also add some hand crafted garden statues in your garden to add tranquility.

Other characteristics of the ideal Japanese garden includes the use of bonsai style trees, flowering azaleas and rhododendrons, plants with reddish colored leaves and palm cones. The characteristic elements that are present in every Japanese garden are formed by the combination of the trees, bamboo, shallow water basins and the presence of pebbles. A complete mix of nature in the garden is the vital factor in every Japanese garden. You have to take note that the perennials and the bulbs must be planted in a sporadic manner. It is used to emphasize the natural character of the garden nooks.

Click here to view the embedded video.

In every Japanese garden, you have to take into consideration that the stone and water complement each other. Their combined existence is highlighted with the various colors of the plants. It is vital that a miniature pond or a bowl containing water is present since it is a necessary ingredient in any garden; it is also decorated in an oriental style. The stone boulders best represents the shrouded mountains.

When it comes to the care and maintenance of a Japanese garden, it can be quite an arduous task. On the other hand, the maintenance is performed in such a way that the human intrusion is not noticeable.

Your Japanese garden must be naturally composed. The most important objective of this type of garden is stressing on the harmonious beauty of nature. The Japanese garden is ideally created to encourage contemplation, without overpowering the senses with a wide variety of bright colors.

In creating a Japanese garden, it also allows you to explore the philosophy utilized by the oriental gardeners in order to understand the principles in the selection of the vital materials, plants and other important factors that must be present. Based on the Japanese philosophy, you have to take note that everything old is valuable. This rule is also applied when creating your garden. The boulders with overgrown moss, old trees and branches are meant to remind the viewer that it is not about the past. The garden compositions are exclusively designed to symbolize the male and female element and their balance. It can either be complementary light and shadow or stone and water. When it comes to the garden boundaries, the small areas might include a growing tree or bamboo groves. Just take note that they should go unnoticed in order to complement the horizon views.

In the creation of your ideal Japanese garden, you need to take note of the features and factors mentioned above. All of them must be present in order to create the best Japanese garden for your home. It is indeed a lovely addition for your home where you can relax after a stressful day and enjoy the calm environment it has to offer. With the combination of rocks, plants and water to recreate what is exactly found in nature, this is what makes the Japanese garden unique. These gardens are meant to take you on a wonderful journey within where you can contemplate due to the calmness and serenity the environment brings.

The principles involved in the classical Chinese gardening are quite useful and can provide garden insights to garden designers all over the world. The Chinese gardening design has inspired numerous home gardeners to try out something different such as the use of a garden fountain and encouraging the expression of culture and philosophy through gardening. The traditional gardening method in China was developed into an art form with equivalent ranking to other popular arts such as painting, poetry and calligraphy. The well known and finely built gardens were built during the Qing and Ming dynasties and have even survived the passing of time.

One famous Chinese garden is Suzhou, located about 50 miles west of Shanghai. It is also known as the “city of gardens”. Over the years, various officials, merchants, scholar, garden designers settled in Suzhou. In Suzhou, you will see the application of the principles of the classical Chinese gardens. Visitors from all over the world visit Suzhou in order to take a glimpse of the wonderful gardens and to learn their secrets.

These Chinese gardens will provide an insight to the traditional Chinese view of nature as well as the inclusion of the human role in the natural order. The gardens contain clues to the ancient Chinese mind through the twisting paths and they utilize symbolism and the selection of plants. Based on the traditional Chinese view of nature, they view humans as equals with everything in the natural world.

The Chinese gardens were primarily designed to represent a living entity. The rocks and stones form the skeleton whereas the water and fountains serve as the blood while the plants provided the outfits. In order to portray the influence of humans in nature, the architectural constructions were incorporated into the design of the garden. The main purpose was to provide the ideal interaction that reveals the merging of humans together with nature. The elements that makes up all that is natural includes mountains, vegetation, bodies of water and Chinese fountains as well as the human influence. The manner in which they were incorporated in the garden expresses their relationships they have in nature.

Gardeners from other parts of the world were not able to follow the style in which the ancient Chinese gardeners characterized nature, but they can comprise the other parts of every element. The main goal is to create a sense of wholeness within a particular location and to incorporate all the important elements as the main part of the garden.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The main elements of the Chinese garden represents the parts of a living whole, they are considered as the symbols that comprises the cultures and beliefs that are scattered all over various Chinese gardens. One example of a popular belief, the bad spirits were thought to move in a straight manner, as a result, the pathways in the gardens were not designed in a straight or even manner. The Chinese believe that the changes in the height and route made it quite hard for the bad spirits to inflict harm to people strolling in the garden. The dragon is a symbol of strength, goodness and change is also generally used to adorn the Chinese fountains, walls and roofs of the garden structures.

When it comes to the creation of the ideal Chinese garden, there are certain factors that you need to take into consideration. The first is the appropriateness of the location where you will create your garden. You need to look for a fitting location for your Chinese garden. You also need to take note of the seasonal changes, plants as well as the physical necessities of the garden site. Another is to find a suitable place for every garden element within your chosen location such as the rocks, plants, water fountains and architectural constructions. Others details such as the shape, size, color and placement of the railings, windows, and doors in a particular building. This is important to ensure a complete harmony with the surroundings.

Next is to take advantage of what you have. The Chinese garden designer utilizes every aspect of the garden’s surrounding. The highlights, movement, sounds and quietness are also used as part of the scenes created within the Chinese garden. Most of the private gardens in China were small in size. Another factor is the refinement of the Chinese garden. In Chinese gardens, refinement simply means the incorporation of tranquility, sophistication, tidiness and distinctness that is in tune with nature.

Another important factor is maintaining the simplicity of the Chinese garden. Resources that are found on the location are considered as the ideal materials to be used in the creation and designing of the garden. You no longer need to place uncommon or strange objects and plants since it will only make your garden look profligate. Lastly is the variableness of the garden. It expresses the natural law of constant change. A particular Chinese garden design can give out a sense of change and unexpectedness with different scenes at every turn of the path, a different view from every window and aesthetic modifications with each changing season. The designs used includes changes caused by the weather and nature such as the sun, wind, clouds, rain, snow, birds, insects, plants and water.

As an overview, the original garden was situated in Suzhou; it was built for the needs of King of Wu during 6^th century BC. The Pijiang Garden is best described as the initial private garden built in Suzhou based on historical records. The garden was built during the Eastern Jin dynasty. During the centuries that followed, numerous gardens were also built. It was during the Ming and Qing dynasties where Suzhou gardens gained popularity. It was during this time when the economy of Suzhou boomed, this allowed more people to build their own private gardens. Based on records, during this time period, around 200 gardens were built in Suzhou. Several of the gardens survived and they were carefully and scrupulously maintained. This gives the world a peek into the Chinese “earthly paradise”.

You have to take note that these private gardens where created in a limited space, the garden designers had to devise ways to make a limited space seem limitless. The design of the Suzhou gardens focuses on the natural world but in more artistic manner. They only use stones, plants, water and earth in these gardens. They would serve as the mountain ranges, bamboo forests and the flowing rivers. The Suzhou gardens were exclusively designed so that only a small part is seen at any given time. As you walk down the zigzag paths, you are exposed to a different environment every time you turn in every corner. The ideal Suzhou garden is designed to make a visitor feel that there is always an area left unexplored.

The structures and buildings found in the Suzhou gardens are purposely placed in a particular way that makes it appear as part of the natural environment. Every garden has small pavilions as well as large buildings in order to gratify the needs of the owner. Each building has a different function in every garden. The small pavilions were basically constructed on top of the artificial mountains in order to give the visitor an overall view of the entire garden while still concealing some of the aspects of the garden. Some of the pavilions were created to cater to the desires of the owner such as reading, creating art or a place to relax and view the scenery around as well as enjoying a cup of tea.

Click here to view the embedded video.

When it comes to the characteristics of the Suzhou gardens, you need to take note of certain differences if compared to other types of gardens. First, these gardens set great examples on how small garden spaces are ingeniously designed. The classical Suzhou gardens were specifically laid out by imitating the natural landscape in order to meet the emotional and intellectual needs of the Chinese people. They see to it that the earthly contours of the garden location are utilized in a good manner. The methods and techniques use are numerous, this includes barred views, borrowed views, framed views, opposite views and the decorative and functional alteration as well as the concrete and abstract alteration. The limits of the garden spaces were designed in order to produce an immeasurable effect.

Second characteristic of the Suzhou gardens is the creation of the natural scenery through the process of decorating the garden with trees, flowers and shrubs as well as designing the waterways and mountains. The classical Suzhou gardens were built by the great masters of various dynasties, utilizing great methods and techniques. The gardens noted for their great landscapes and waterways are the Lingering Garden, Humble Administrator’s garden, the Master-of-Nets garden and the Mountain Villa with Embracing beauty. The best lime stone mountain was created during the Qing dynasty and found in the Mountain Villa with Embracing Beauty. The Suzhou gardens have an abundance of various flowers and trees. You can also find highly valuable plants such as the hundred years old gingkoes located in the Lingering garden, the wisteria in the Humble Administrator’s garden and the Sabina chinensis located in the Master-of-Nets garden.

Third characteristic of classical gardens in Suzhou is they are considered as an embodiment of beautiful and diverse ancient buildings located in the southern area of the Lower Yangtze. These classical gardens of Suzhou offer varieties of little pavilions and large building that has a basic beam framing. They basically gratify the needs of writing, reading, painting, viewing the scenery, meditation, relaxation, drinking tea, serving banquets and many more functions. These structures have the basic Chinese furnishings such as the highly festooned and carved door frames, hangings, windows, balustrades, pavements and moon gates and many more. All of them are exclusively harmonized when it comes to the functionality, aesthetic and structural considerations.

Fourth characteristic is the gardens in Suzhou are loaded with literary connotations, providing visitors information regarding the Chinese culture. With ancient Chinese aesthetics, philosophy and ideology, the gardens boasts unique architectural forms that has poetic names and designed with calligraphy in order to enhance the appearance of the garden. There are also numerous inscribed stelae of relics distinguished for their superior workmanship and literary connotations.

The classical gardens of Suzhou have reached over two millennia. It has experienced numerous ups and downfalls through the passing of time until it has achieved artistic flawlessness. Once you enter the classical gardens of Suzhou, you will enter a world of calmness and serenity, you feel as if you have stepped inside nature itself along with the various architectural designs and structures that directly links you to the Chinese culture. You no longer feel the bustle of the hectic city life as you step in a realm of tranquility and great artistry. Your visit to the Suzhou gardens is a one of a kind trip that is definitely a memorable one. You will surely want to experience sipping tea while enjoying the beautiful scenery of the gardens.

Workshop IAV Orléans


Image by Abstract Machine
- Workshop Nouveaux espaces interactifs : L’orientation algorithmique
- Intervenant : Douglas Edric Stanley, artiste numérique franco-américain www.abstractmachine.net
- Enseignante associée : Caroline Kassimo-Zahnd, conceptrice multimédia
- Unknown photographer

For more info:
- www.iav-orleans.com/spip/spip.php?article134
- www.abstractmachine.net/blog/lorientation-algorithmique/
- www.abstractmachine.net/blog/?p=290

Workshop IAV Orléans


Image by Abstract Machine
- Workshop Nouveaux espaces interactifs : L’orientation algorithmique
- Intervenant : Douglas Edric Stanley, artiste numérique franco-américain www.abstractmachine.net
- Enseignante associée : Caroline Kassimo-Zahnd, conceptrice multimédia
- Unknown photographer

For more info:
- www.iav-orleans.com/spip/spip.php?article134
- www.abstractmachine.net/blog/lorientation-algorithmique/
- www.abstractmachine.net/blog/?p=290

UNL Extension Turfgrass Specialist Roch Gaussoin takes us through the steps of lawn renovation. Produced by Backyard Farmer, Nebraska’s premier gardening program. Visit us at byf.unl.edu
Video Rating: 5 / 5

Green house in Morro d’Alba


Image by Bill Kirkpatrick
Green houses are relatively rare in Italy.

Eerie Green House


Image by *PaysImaginaire*
Ordinary made … not so

Green House


Image by and one half images
A literal green house processed through HDR Pro in Photoshop.

Pond-weeds-Robert-07


Image by agrilifetoday
Pond vegetative growth helps filter the water and indicate the pond is healthy and fish-friendly. But when growth interferes with recreation, irrigation or livestock watering, it’s time for action, said Dr. Billy Higginbotham, Texas AgriLife Extension Service wildlife and fisheries specialist. (Texas AgriLife Extension Service photo by Robert Burns)

A bathroom sink drain trap prevents unpleasant rising smells. Install a sink drain trap with thehelp of a professional contractor in this free video. Expert: Joshua Clement Bio: Joshua Clement has been a foreman for Lighty Contractors for the past eight years. Filmmaker: Nathanael Rittichier Series Description: The ability to make basic kitchen and bathroom repairs can save hundreds of dollars in home maintenance costs. Perform basic kitchen and bathroom repairs using this free video series presented by a professional contractor.
Video Rating: 5 / 5

This year at the 2010 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show in Chicago, Fuji Industrial USA, Inc. is proud to announce that the Fujioh brand is the 1st Asian Range Hood Brand in North America to be partnered with Energy Star and the launch of 3 brand new products; BUF-07 (1030 CFM blower pack), FES & FSR under cabinet range hood. Fuji Industrial USA is a manufacturer specializing in Kitchen Ventilation. Our products include, Range Hoods, Blower Packs, Wood hoods and Liners. By comparison we offer more styles and standard colors than many of our competitors;including our no-fingerprint Stainless Steel. Blower Packs from 250-1400 CFM. Both Internal & Remote Blowers. 5 standard colors with matching liners. All models in stock for immediate delivery. Custom liners; guaranteed delivery in 30 days or less. www.fujioh.com FUJI INDUSTRIAL USA, INC. Riverview Plaza Bldg. 3, Suite 212 16300 Christensen Road; Seattle, WA 98188-3403, USA TEL: +1 206-835-9880 FAX: +1 206-835-9876 TOLL FREE: 1-888-547-9880 Email: sales@fujioh.com
Video Rating: 5 / 5

Letting Go Of Stuff® 9 Week Home Study Course
68% Commission. Affiliate Site Provides Swipes And Social Media Messages. Markets To Network Marketing, Weight Loss, Moms, Females Between Ages 20 And 65, And Self Help.
Letting Go Of Stuff® 9 Week Home Study Course

[/random]