Peter Dowdall: So many reasons to love Japanese gardens
I've always been taken with Japanese gardens, and the more I have learned about them and seen them, the deeper that fascination has become.There’s something about their peacefulness, the attention to detail, and the way they seamlessly blend the hard and the soft that I find fabulous.I remember the first time I saw a traditional Japanese garden; the effect was almost meditative — the sound of water trickling, the careful placing of each stone, and the way the plants are used not for their flamboyance but for their form, texture, and seasonal significance. It was gardening as philosophy, and I was hooked.Kazuyuki Ishihara won the top awards at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show, winning both the prestigious Garden of the Year and the People’s Choice Best Show Garden for his creation, the Cha No Niwa, a Japanese tea garden.Clinching both accolades is a rare and remarkable achievement, and it tells you all you need to know about the garden’s impact. It wasn’t just the judges who were moved by it; the public, and this gardener too, were captivated.It’s no surprise, really, that interest in Japanese gardens has been steadily growing in recent years. In a world that often feels increasingly chaotic and noisy, many of us are turning to spaces that offer a sense of calm and contemplation.A Japanese garden, with its minimalism and quiet symbolism, seems to connect with that yearning for peace, stillness and simplicity.But it’s not just about minimalism, it’s about meaning. Every element in a Japanese garden has a purpose and thought behind it. Nothing is placed there “just because”.There are several key principles at the heart of Japanese garden design, and once you begin to understand them, you start to see how layered and meaningful this style of gardening really is.One of the most important is the concept of “shakkei”, or borrowed scenery. This is the idea that a garden doesn’t stop at its boundaries. Instead, it uses the landscape beyond, a distant mountain, a treeline, or even just a view across a neighbour’s field, to extend the sense of space and create a visual harmony between the garden and its surroundings.Another guiding principle is asymmetry; Japanese gardens tend to be organic and fluid.A path that meanders, a pond that isn’t quite centred, or a grouping of stones that appears spontaneous, all of these contribute to a sense of natural beauty that feels both intentional and effortless.Symbolism is omnipresent in Japanese gardens. Rocks might represent mountains or islands, a raked gravel area might symbolise water, and a stone lantern can act as a marker of spiritual presence.Nothing is chosen simply for its looks. This layering of meaning makes the garden not just a visual experience, but it connects with us emotionally as well, inviting, nearly forcing us to slow down, to think, to notice.Water is almost always present in some form, whether it’s a reflective pond, a bubbling stream, or the suggestion of water through raked gravel. It brings movement and sound, but also plays a symbolic role, representing purity and the passage of time.Moss, too, is a key feature in many Japanese gardens, creating a sense of age, quietness and permanence. It’s one of those plants that here, we often try to get rid of, but in Japan, it’s cherished for its softness and depth.THERE’S a lesson in that, I think, for all of us. We often spend so much energy fighting against what wants to grow naturally in our gardens, rather than embracing it and working with it. Japanese gardens show us that restraint, respect for nature, and thoughtful placement can often result in something far more beautiful than any grand display of colour or symmetry.I’ve been incorporating elements of Japanese garden design into some of my own work over the years. Not in a purist way, but the idea of creating a garden as a reflection space, as a personal retreat, is something that resonates deeply with me. There’s a humility in Japanese gardening; it’s not about showing off or impressing, it’s about creating something that allows nature to breathe, and us with it.There’s one Japanese garden that I’ve been meaning to visit for far too long, and that’s the Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Gardens in Tramore, Co Waterford. From everything I’ve heard and seen, it’s a truly special place, not just in terms of the plants and layout, but in the way it tells the story of Hearn’s life and his connection to both Ireland and Japan. Every time someone tells me about a visit, I make a mental note to go.If you’re looking for inspiration this summer, take a moment to explore the world of Japanese garden design. Whether it’s a visit to Tramore, a book from the library, or just a few thoughtful changes in your own garden, it might just offer you a new way of seeing the space around you, and who knows, you might find a little peace and clarity there too.Got a gardening question for Peter Dowdall? Email gardenquestions@examiner.ie
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