Japanese Landscape Design With Rock & Bamboo Elements

April 26, 2007

Japanese styled landscape project, Shorewood – Minnesota

The majority of the stones used within this garden room were large gray colored basalt type boulders along with yellow/buff colored limestone.  After the stones were set into place we planted the garden with thousands of perennials as well as trees and shrubs, creating the lush garden seen today.  When walking through the garden you will discover a natural stone water feature fed by a bamboo pipe emerging from the evergreen foliage of the garden.

From the inner garden users can access the outdoor rooms of the swimming pool area through a gate in the fence pool enclosure.  The detailed cedar fence and retaining wall combination provide beauty and privacy while setting off a seating area with flanking New Mexico light fixtures mounted on two of the fence posts.  A stepping stone, tobi ishi, path leads to an outdoor shower with a complimenting “nobedan” style floor.  Adjacent to the swimming pool is the primary deck, which is connected to the house by an “engawa” style deck.  From the “engawa” deck users can enter the master suite garden by the using the shoe and companion stepping stones.  There is a long sitting bench attached to the house with a bed of polished black stones behind its back rest enhancing the view and spa like atmosphere of the adjacent master bathroom and tub.  The bench and the flanking deck steps incorporate stucco detailing providing a strong architectural connection the house.

A stepping pad walk located along the side of the garage and under the roof overhang completes the circulation around the house proper.  From the master suite garden this walk takes guests to the front exposed aggregate auto court and guest parking area.  There is a matching stepping pad walk hidden behind the entry perennial garden bed.  This bed was designed with a gentle slope facing the driveway and guest parking area.  This allowed us to conceal the dry stepping pad walk and make the perennial bed more visible to approaching guests.

There is still one more key element of the project not to be forgotten, and that is the spectacular sunset views over the lake below.

Working closely with the home owners and their architect, Kelly Davis of SALA Architects, Inc., we were able to design and build a beautiful landscape project where each discipline and there related work flows seamlessly from one to the other.

Posted in Asian Gardens, Garden Types, Japanese Garden Design, Landscape, Paths, Stonework