Create Your Own Japanese Garden: A Practical Guide

I don't normally do book reviews but I had to for this one.I'm a huge fan of Japanese gardens. When I lived in California I used to regularly visit the one in The Huntington, and my goal is to create one of my own. I had no idea where to start, so this book is a big help. The author is a true expert and really knows their business. They break down gardens into simple elements- water feature, large rocks, small rocks/gravel, and bushes/trees, soil. Using gorgeous photos of real-life examples as well as diagrams, the author then explains step-by step how each garden was achieved.A lot of people in the reviews complained that this book was way too complicated and made Japanese gardens seem unattainable due to the need for things like backhoes and drainage plans, etc., but I'm not sure what they were expecting. These gardens are works of living art, and don't emerge from the ether fully formed. The main thing I understand now that I didn't before reading this book is that 1) Japanese gardens require a lot of PLANNING, money, time, energy, hard work, and heavy machinery to create. There's just no way around it. 2)The beauty of the garden requires constant maintenance. The author even says that if you make a garden, you must be willing to care for it constantly as though it were your own child. This made me really appreciate even more the work that goes into the serenity and beauty of a Japanese garden.This is an inspirational book that I will cherish.

This book is beautifully illustrated. It tells all you need to know to create your own Japanese garden.

I checked this book out at the library and liked it so much that I bought my own copy. I'm interested in creating my own version of a Japanese garden and this book has plenty of inspiration photos as well as detailed explanations of principles and how they're implemented.

It is as described -- a practical guide. However, the author uses dozens of Japanese words, so one really needs to be familiar with common garden construction words and phrases.

Love this book!!! It is definitely a coffee table book. Great piece for your home!!

I think that this is going to be a very useful book my wife really likes it and soda way

The book is advanced level for someone with the money, muscles and maneuverability...I am a simple gardener who loves the simple elegance of an oriental garden with limited funds and no access to cranes and heavy equipment or monumental changes. I happen to like the finer educational aspects of a master's thesis.......so I liked the book as a reference.

I'm trying to put together a fairly authentic Japanese garden in my backyard, and this book is full of ideas you can implement, but it's also a simply beautiful picture tour of Japanese gardens and the elements that make them up.