One Stop Garden Museum

Japanese Gardens Landscaping

A Japanese Garden of Pure, Clear Harmony and Peace

“Are you looking for peace and harmony on the Internet? Enter Seiwa-en where you can experience such quietude. This garden is a project of the Missouri Botanical Gardens, designed by ‘Koichi Kawana, M.F.A, Ph.D., a native of Japan and Principal Architecture Associate and lecturer in Japanese art, architecture and landscape design at the University of California, Los Angeles. Kawana Sensei not only designed Seiwa-en but also supervised its construction and development until his death in 1990. Here’s your opportunity to experience this ‘wet strolling garden’ in the solitude of your home and maybe even develop a few ideas of your own for recreating a similar masterpiece in your own backyard!”

Seiwa-en, a Japanese garden of pure, clear harmony and peace

Did I go to the garden? Of course. It’s beautiful.

It also made me sad and glad at the same time. Why does there need to be a garden of serenity on the Internet? Do we lack our own “real” gardens? Do we spend so much time in virtual reality that an Internet garden is preferable to one in the backyard?

Zen gardens have a serenity that plenty of regular earth gardens do not. They borrow scenery, they show us imperfections, they exemplify nature.

What I began to wonder was if we need, in addition, to summon, build, create, maintain and nourish a place of pure, clear harmony and peace within ourselves so that we are able to find peace in any scenario? There is a Greek word that I’ve loved for a long time: temenos. It means sanctuary.

This week I offer you temenos. Sanctuary. On the Internet in a virtual sense, and on offer from within yourself at any moment you make that choice.

About the Author

Spiritual author and counselor for 25 years; ordained omnifaith minister, corporate consultant on the spirit of business; blogger for Ode Magazine on peace and for The Huffington Post on spirituality in the world. For all Dr. Corso loves and creates, continually visit http://www.susancorso.com. You can read her personal blog at http://www.seedsforsanctuary.com

wanting a japanese garden in my front yard – where do I start?

I’ve just purchased a new home this is a pic of the front of it:

Lorry load of small pebbles and lawn killer. Spread out pebbles and plant a few Japanese maples. OH! if you have a large pond build a bridge over it

Japanese Garden “Before & After” Lee’s Oriental Landscape Art