Everyone wants more serenity. But can a Japanese garden—which emphasizes stones, water and a lot less color than most American gardens—really promote inner peace?

I'm at the bamboo gate to Diane Hunter's Japanese garden in Barrington, Illinois (35 miles northwest of Chicago), to test that question.

Twenty years ago, Diane, now a retired biological sciences professor, became so intrigued with the "wonderful feeling" she found in Japanese gardens, she created her own so she could feel that way every day.

The more Diane learned, the more she wanted to know. "I was educating my creative spirit," she says. Her desire for deeper understanding led her to visit more than 80 gardens during four trips to Japan. Now, she only needs to step out her back door for comfort.

"Whenever I've been troubled, I come here and get new insights," Diane says. "Some of my most joyful times have been during moments in my garden where I feel calm, protected."

The garden lies in a typical backyard, about a quarter of an acre. "Japanese gardens are traditionally small," Diane says.

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