A Japanese Meditation Garden
An Illinois woman's Japanese garden demonstrates how seemingly simple techniques and thoughtful design can help you relax and let go of stress.
Perfecting her garden
A retired biological sciences professor, Diane dedicates most of her time to her quarter-acre garden. Diane selected and placed each stone of the dry streambed (left).
"Japanese gardens are traditionally small," Diane says. To make a section look larger, Diane places smaller rocks at the back of an area and larger ones in the foreground. This creates the illusion of distance.
Because traditional Japanese gardens are metaphorical and signify spiritual lessons, finding the perfect spot for a single rock has, at times, taken Diane as long as two weeks. "I'm out at five in the morning, seeing how the light hits it," she says. "Moving a few inches in any direction could reveal quite a different view."
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