10 Great Apps for Landscape Architects – Part 2

The second edition to our hit article featuring apps. to make your life as a landscape architect easier.

We are spoiled for choice when it comes to apps — they range anywhere from recording our sleep cycle to reminding us to brush our teeth. Apps are constantly being developed to make our lives more interesting, if not easier. The apps for architecture and landscape architecture are plentiful, adapted to our habits from desk to field research and everything in between. In this article, I hope to show you some apps that made my academic life a bit easier and provided a more fascinating and different approach to projects.

Apps for landscape architects

1. Photosynth

Photosynth stiches together numerous images of an area and puts it into one file, creating a panoramic picture. The app takes the images from left to right, up to down, to create a photographic orb. On field trips, I found this app very useful for recording the space in order to get a better feel for it when I returned for desk study.

2. Behance and Behance Creative Portfolio

Behance is a site to display and discover online portfolios from across the artistic board, from categories such as Photography, Graphic Design, and, of course, Architecture. There are two apps, both by Behance: The first app is the site; the second is Creative Portfolio, which allows students and professionals to upload to the site, showcasing their portfolios.

3. Mini Scanner

This app has saved me many a time in the library! It is a simple app in which you can “scan” text or pictures and turn them into simple black and white drawings that are clear to read. The app is free, but you can upgrade it and gain the ability to email your images. I found this app very useful when I had small paragraphs of text to use, but didn’t want to waste paper photocopying.  This is a definite favorite of mine.

4. Virtual Sketchpads-Paper by 53 and SketchBook by Autodesk

These apps are virtual sketchpads, designed to replicate a paper sketchpad. Both apps have an ease of options, allowing natural flow of the virtual pencil or pen. I find it works well even on the iPhone, but I would recommend a stylus. Paper by 53 is solely for iPad.

5. iRhino 3D

This app allows you to interact with your 3D models made through Rhino 3D from your portable device. There are some constraints, as you must shade your model in Rhino before opening it in the app, and there is a file size limit of about 50MB.

6. Google Drive/SkyDrive

In relation to your choice of email, these apps allow easy sharing of work and a peaceful mind. Whether it is my hard drive breaking down or, in a more recent situation, sending files that I couldn’t send through normal email due to size constraints —  i.e portfolios, these are unbelievably useful. I have gotten into the habit of saving all my projects onto Google Drive after crits, and it really gives me peace of mind.

7. Adobe Reader

Adobe Reader is a simple and familiar app that allows interaction across various platforms. You can open documents directly as they are sent. It is very user friendly, with easy functions, and allows easy input and editing of existing information.

8. Dirr’s Shrub and Tree Finder

This app is a pocket version of the renowned Dirr’s book. Although this app is quite pricey, it seems like a very comprehensive app, with a variety of search options. This app is more for reference than plant identification, but allows a large, helpful book to be condensed into an application on your phone.

9. Evernote

This app makes life in general easier! Although this is not a landscape-orientated app, we all need a bit of organization, and this app is here to help. It allows you to save, sync, and share files and, with an upgrade, you can take your notes offline.

10. Bluebeam Revu

The perfect app for PDF creation, markup, editing, and collaboration for a paperless workflow. Also, ideal for punch lists and simple to navigate.

Apps are becoming increasingly popular in the world of design, and certainly are certainly going to continue to influence the design process.  With hundreds to choose from, and new creations daily, the future of apps for designers is bright!

Central Park of Hunnan Axis, By Niek Roozen Loosvan Vliet, with: Urhahn Urban Design and Landscape Institute Shenyang, Shenyang, China

China is making huge efforts to improve its relationship with water — our most precious resource. This is due to its historical importance to the country’s development, as we have seen in the article Is China Transforming its Relationship with Water? A Look at the Aiyi River Landscape Park, . In Hunnan Axis Central Park, it is no different – water is beautifully represented throughout the park, sometimes portrayed as calm and serene in the form of ponds, or as vigorous and lively in the form of water jets. The truth is, this dynamic element can create stunning aesthetic results in the urban scene (and even energize wealth luck to the surrounding neighborhoods).

Photo Credit: Central Park at Hunnan Axis by Niek Roozen Loosvan Vliet

The Location of Hunnan Axis

Hunnan is one of the nine districts of Shenyang, capital of Liaoning province. Its master plan follows an orthogonal network of streets, with its axis running from downtown Shenyang to the airport on a north-south orientation. This privileged location has been enriched with a beautiful public space — Hunnan Axis Central Park, an elegant and inviting open area that gathers the local community together.

Photo Credit: Central Park at Hunnan Axis by Niek Roozen Loosvan Vliet

A Park Full of Water Features

Running in line with the Hunnan Axis, this 300-meter-wide, four-kilometer-long park offers an amazing display of various water features, including canals, waterfalls, water jets, and ponds. Covering a total area of 130 hectares, it was designed in 2011.

Construction started that same year, reaching its completion in autumn 2013. The context-sensitive approach adopted by the designers is clearly displayed in the water features, which reflect the orthogonal pattern of the district’s master plan. Also, its bold scale emphasizes the strict geometric forms for a big visual impact, which is counterbalanced by the calming effect of water.

Photo Credit: Central Park at Hunnan Axis by Niek Roozen Loosvan Vliet

The Designers of Central Park at Hunnan Axis 

Hired by the city of Shenyang, NRLVV (Niek Roozen Loosvan Vliet) was responsible for the project, in collaboration with Urhahn Urban Design andLandscape Institute Shenyang. NRLVV is a China-based landscape architecture and urban planning firm with an interdisciplinary approach.

The working team includes landscape architects, architects, urban planners, civil engineers, industrial designers, interior architects, and plant specialists who also work in collaboration with infrastructure specialists, plan economists, project managers, and legal experts.

Photo Credit: Central Park at Hunnan Axis by Niek Roozen Loosvan Vliet

North-south

A noticeable theme emerges as you go through the park – in the northern area, vegetation and hills are predominant, while to the south, water takes over the scenery. A stream flows gently from the north, where slopes and dense vegetation are alternated with open lawn spaces.

The hills are separated by paved plazas that provide leisure facilities, flower beds, and benches. The area of the park located south of City Hall is made of plazas and water features, ending in a massive lake with orthogonal-shaped islands that serve as inviting rest areas for visitors.

Related Articles:

• Lotus Lake Park Sets Precedent for Sustainable Urban Design in China
• Contemporary Landscape Architecture in China: Beautiful or Dangerous?
• Awesome Plaza Shows You Why China Are World Leaders in Landscape Architecture

Photo Credit: Central Park at Hunnan Axis by Niek Roozen Loosvan Vliet

The Water Features

The use of water as an ornamental feature has long been a staple of traditional Chinese landscape design. In Feng Shui, this is a crucial component to activate prosperity and increase income if the location and direction of flow are auspicious. Hills located to the north, from which a stream flows heading south, is supposed to attract great financial luck (as water is the ultimate money and wealth symbol in Feng Shui cosmology).

Photo Credit: Central Park at Hunnan Axis by Niek Roozen Loosvan Vliet

Hunnan Axis Central Park allow us to gain an insight into what a dynamic and powerful element water can be in outdoor public areas, improving urban life on both the environmental and social levels.

Paisagismo: Plantas ornamentais despoluidoras

m tempos de discussão sobre a extrema necessidade de nos preocuparmos com a manutenção e recomposição das áreas verdes, uma pesquisa feita nos Estados Unidos, por cientistas do Centro de Investigação Atmosférica (NCAR) demonstrou que as plantas absorvem mais poluentes atmosféricos do que inicialmente se previra. Algumas inciativas usando plantas para descontaminar o solo Plantas nativas regeneram espaços contaminados em Portugal e aCasca de banana pode despoluir a água e Novidade! Uso de plantas ornamentais em saneamento.
Que elas purificam o ar, já sabemos, mas a pesquisa mostra que algumas têm uma capacidade maior de exercer esta função em virtude de processos químicos usados por elas para se protegerem.

Como funciona
As plantas para se protegerem de substâncias irritantes e repelir invasores como os insetos, produzem compostos químicos para se protegerem. Mas, quando estes compostos são produzidos em excesso podem tornar-se tóxicos para a própria planta. Para evitar este efeito, as plantas aumentam a produção de enzimas que diminuem a toxicidade destas substâncias. Durante este ciclo, há absorção de mais COV, que são também metabolizados por estas enzimas. Esta absorção é especialmente mais rápida na cobertura das florestas densas, que representam cerca de 97% da absorção total destes químicos.
Algumas espécies vegetais têm um papel ainda maior. Além de retirarem o gás carbônico da atmosfera e devolverem o precioso oxigênio, algumas plantas também agem como eficientes despoluidoras do solo, ar e agua.

Exemplos de plantas altamente despoluidoras, segundo as pesquisas realizadas:

    
O girassol (Helianthus laetiflorus) absorve chumbo de solos contaminados.

O filodendro (Philodendron oxycardium) e a gérbera (Gerbera jamesonii) são capazes de absorver benzeno, utilizado na indústria química como solvente, altamente inflamável.

O clorofito (Chlorophytum comosum), a espada-de-são-jorge (Sanseviera trifasciata) e a jiboia (Scinddapsus piclus) capturam o gás formaldeídeo, usado na fabricação de corantes e vidros.

Uma árvore muito eficiente na captura de gás carbônico e outros poluentes liberados por automóveis e tem ganhado destaque em projetos de arborização urbana é a acácia-australiana (Acacia mangium).

  
Entre as espécies aquáticas, destaque para o onipresente aguapé (Eichornia crassipes), que atua como filtro, livrando o ambiente aquático de elementos que possam prejudicar sua pureza. Além do aguapé, a salvínia (Salvinia sp) e alface-dágua (Pistia stratiotes) também possuem estas características.

A mostarda(Sinapsis arvensis) é usada para auxiliar a retirada de óleo diesel.


A flor-de-tabaco(Nicotina alata) ajuda na limpeza de lugares contaminados por cádmio, ainda muito utilizado em pilhas.

Aconselha-se que plantas que agem na limpeza do solo devem ser retiradas após um tempo determinado por um engenheiro agrônomo e depois serem incineradas pois elas armazenam as substâncias que tiram do ambiente poluído. E estas espécies não devem ser mantidas em ambientes sem ventilação.
A solução existe, é simples, está na natureza, basta ouvi-la e ter o empenho em realizar a nossa parte.

Fonte: www.sciencedaily.com

Spanish Landscaping Ideas

Spanish garden design was strongly influenced by the renowned Islamic, Persian and Moorish gardens. Originating in Spain, this style is now popular all over the world, especially in areas with a similar hot, dry climate. The Spanish combined the powerful elements of their influences and perfected the principle of separating spaces or rooms within the garden layout. Walled sections create intimate patio areas, courtyards house impressive fountains and terraces offering views into the landscape are all incorporated into the Spanish garden style.

Elements within Spanish gardens:

• Tiered Spanish fountains
• Moorish lanterns
• Carved cantera forms
• Urns
• Slump block
• Saltillo tiles
• Cantera stone
• Plaster

Common elements within a Spanish garden:

1. Courtyards - are designed down to the smallest detail. The architecture surrounding the courtyard reflects the architecture of the home with Spanish archways and mosaic accents. These courtyards always include a water feature or reflection pool.
2. Terraces - are located throughout the design, often providing overviews of the gardens below. Seating areas and potted plants should be incorporated into these areas as well.
3. Fountains - and the use of water are extremely important in the Spanish design. Getting their influence from Islamic gardens, the Spanish design differs by consisting of multiple small fountains throughout rather than one large fountain in the center of each outdoor room or courtyard.
4. Reflecting pools - are also from the Islamic gardens, where they are often the focal point to major entryways and courtyards. Reflecting pools are designed amongst geometric shaped, symmetrical planting beds.
5. Symmetry - is one of the main elements of the original Spanish garden. Although you may find they are changing, their design should have some symmetrical areas to hold the authenticity of the true Spanish garden.

Spanish gardens have a drought-tolerant plant pallet; large grassy lawns that require lots of water in a hot dry climate just don’t make sense, nor do they represent a real Spanish design. Ceramic tiles are used commonly in almost any hardscape elements of the design such as: built in benches, water fountains, reflecting pools, retaining walls, walkways, and are even carried heavily into the décor. Large terracotta pots, bright blue glazed accent décor, rod iron and unique urns against the light colored or white plaster calls for amazing eye candy as you’re walking through the garden.

The Spanish garden design has a unique way of incorporating architecture with private garden spaces, making it one of the most popular residential garden styles today. Before you start your design consider the architecture of your home and size of your yard. If you don’t have the space to design all of the areas of a Spanish garden, choose one or two and create a powerful design around them. Create focal points in areas and allow plenty of room for a nice outdoor entertainment area; possibly with an outdoor kitchen. The Spanish garden is all about relaxation, enjoyment, sustainability and attention to detail.

Shades of Gray in a No-Lawn Garden

 

 

 

 

I’m thrilled to say that, as a landscape designer, most of my clients have fully embraced the thought of trading in their un-used front lawns for a garden filled with color, scent, edibles and year-round beauty.

In one of my favorite recent projects, we removed the threadbare, water-thirsty lawn and replaced it with a more sustainable, fun, and livable garden. One that not only uses 40% less water, but also incorporates plenty of native plants to encourage all types of wildlife to visit. My first step was to rip out the turf lawn and reinterpret a newer, smaller version using Dymondia. I chose the tough, evergreen and drought-tolerant Dymondia as its also able to withstand a decent amount of foot traffic with ease. Plus, it's just so darn pretty.

My client did have an initial concern, however, which was a blinding, bright and parched effect might result from using such an expansive amount of gray in the garden. This is a perfectly valid concern, and one that I've often heard from others who have experienced the unintended 'glare' in their own gardens as a result of an overuse of gray plants.

In my new book, Refresh Your Garden Design with Color, Texture and Form, I encourage gardeners to see colors in a whole new light - more as design workhorses than ‘pretty shades of pink’. The color gray is particularly interesting, with a unique ability to straddle both sides of the color wheel (ie: warm yet cold, lush yet bright), making it particularly useful - or challenging. When using gray in the garden, here are a few tricks to help tone down the brightness while still enjoying all this color has to offer.

Shades of Gray

First, it's important to realize that there are different shades of gray ranging from light & bright, to medium gray all the way to dark, charcoal-like foliage. And it’s because of this wide spectrum of shading that makes no two gray plants the same. It's perfectly okay to use plenty of gray plants in the garden as long as you vary the shading. No one really wants to look at one bright gray plant after another without a place for the eye to rest, so remember to use plenty of mid-level and dark gray plants sprinkled throughout.

Keeping it Lush

In order to prevent gray plants from creating a 'pass the sunglasses' effect in your garden it's important to include plenty of deep and rich colors nearby, such as burgundy, purple and dark green. In this garden, I included the brilliant blue flowers of our native Penstemon 'Blue Springs', vibrant purple lavender and deep burgundy stonecrop to soften the edges of the Dymondia lawn.

The lambs ear (in the above photo) is used sparingly throughout the garden as its a particularly bright shade of gray and could easily cause the Dymondia to seem brighter than it actually is.

Each thin, strappy Dymondia leaf actually consists of two colors - green on the bottom and gray on top. To emphasize the green in the bi-colored foliage, I’ve included plenty of other surrounding plants with green colors, such as Carex divulsa (Berkeley sedge) and Calamagrostis foliosa (feather reed grass).

Many other gray plants have subtle hints of green in their foliage, as well. Take a closer look at lavenders, senecios and hostas and you'll often notice a layer of green beneath the gray. Highlighting this hidden layer of green is what allows you to cool down a potentially bright planting combination.

To emphasize Dymondia’s blue tones, I included plenty of nearby blue plants in the garden, such as 'Beyond Blue' fescue, various succulents, and blue-flowered perennials. My goal was to emphasize the tones and colors that I wanted while minimizing the tones that I didn’t. Can you imagine how bright this garden would be if I had used an overabundance of white flowers and foliage?

Hardscaping

Hardscaping (such as nearby flagstones, patios and sidewalks) play an important role when placed near gray plants as they, too, can serve to either tone down the brightness or amp it up to blinding proportions. I've seen plenty of instances where drifts of bright gray lamb's ear or Artemesia were planted next to a bright cement sidewalk. And 9 times out of 10 that’s the area the homeowner is referring to when they say they don't like the color gray. To eliminate this blinding effect, just remember to use hardscaping with warmer and/or darker colors.
For this garden, we chose flagstones with slightly creamy-pink tones to them. The warm, muted shades help to soften the bright gray colors of nearby plants.

 

The look of gardens has changed and currently not all gardens adhere to eco-friendly

The look of gardens has changed and currently not all gardens adhere to eco-friendly guidelines. This is due to the nature of things we use to help our gardens adapt to the prevailing environmental conditions. Our gardens are loaded with chemical rich pesticides which do them more harm than good. Through gardening we can foster a green eco-friendly environment. It does not have to be sophisticated; the tiny space in your backyard can be a perfect garden. Consult a gardener to know which plants will suit your backyard. Pay attention to the weather and look after your plants well so as to get good yields. Below are 10 tips for green eco-friendly gardening that you can adopt.


Place things that will attract natural pest eliminators like birdsPests are a hindrance to the development of healthy plants and fruits. Nesting boxes and water pots are ideal in capturing the attention of birds. These birds will catch and eat tiny insects as well as transfer pollens.
Harvest rain water for future useRain water will help you throughout the entire year. Preserve the water well to ensure no germs contaminate it. Beside you could also develop a more convenient way of watering your plants like a faucet and a hose pipe. Remember water is vital to the survival of your plants.

Get an alternative for chemicals, pesticides and worm killers

You definitely need to keep worms and other harmful insects away from your garden. Unfortunately most pesticides have dangerous chemicals and could as well kill beneficial insects like earthworms, butterflies and bees. Natural compost manure is a good replacement for commercial insecticides. Besides you can effectively prepare compost manure at home using left over from fruits and vegetables.

Pile mulch in the garden cornerThis will keep beetles which are necessary in increasing soil air supply and improve production. You can use decayed leaves as mulch, they are much easier to come by.

Store your seeds in a cool and dry placeRemember next season is coming and you will require seeds to sow. In addition, let nature take its course never use any growth boosters for your plants. Seeds stored in good condition remain intact for as long as it takes.

Do not use peatDesist from using peat and instead explore its alternatives. Peat cannot be recycled and will end up destroying the environment and even plant habitats.

Grow fruits and vegetables of your ownIf you have a garden in your backyard there is no need to buy fruits and vegetables from the market. Common vegetables grow quite easily and do not demand so much attention. Having these fruits in your yard will act as a motivation to friends and even inspire them to venture into gardening.

Do not use a sprinkler to water your plantsOnce you have used mulch in your garden, plants will not need so much water. As such you should learn to use water sparingly. A sprinkler will waste a lot of water. Therefore use a hose pipe or a bucket which are ideal in conserving water.

Avoid the use of wooden furniture to decorate your gardenYou obviously want your garden to look attractive and appealing. For your backyard to be friendly and homely to friends and relatives, you have to decorate it. Synthetic marble or granite will be very appropriate for decorations. If you must use furniture then opt for bamboo, whichever way just ensure you do not contribute to deforestation.

Plant based on the prevailing climatic conditionsDifferent plants survive in different environmental conditions, some in dry others in humid weather. Know the type of plants that are ideal for your home weather. For example in dry locations plant plants which need very little water. In addition maintain a small distance among plants. This way they will be tough enough to endure strong winds and storms. You can also consult Environmental Data Resources for environment related courses.

Born to Be Wild: Gardens That Call for Creatures

katherine Kosiba started a new chapter of her life in 2001. She retired from her career as a project manager for Aetna Inc. and moved from the insurance industry’s mecca in Hartford, Connecticut, to the town of Colchester, 20 miles away in the same state. Kosiba settled in a home perched on nearly two acres of a once-thriving apple orchard that had been neglected for 25 years.

Kosiba went to work with a plan to transform the property into something that would encourage small visitors by land and air. In 2012, it is a thriving wildlife garden.

“I get a tremendous amount of satisfaction and enjoyment from looking out my window and seeing all of the animals,” Kosiba said. "And neighbors stop and talk to me (about the animals) when I’m out in the yard gardening.”

Garden Parties

Kosiba's vision for her wildlife garden began in the advanced master gardening course that she took after acquiring the property. She learned about all the different local plants, including the invasive ones. She also learned about the National Wildlife Federation’s Backyard Wildlife Garden program.

“A friend of mine in the class was certifying her property,” Kosiba recalled. “I already had a lot of wildlife on my property: lots of rabbits, lots of birds, like Baltimore orioles, bluebirds, cardinals, chickadees ... and deer, of course, because of all the fruit.”

She eventually certified her property as a “wildlife garden.” At its heart, a wildlife garden is a micro wildlife habitat, complete with the four core components wildlife need to survive: food, water, shelter and a place to raise young. Kosiba has accommodated a bevy of creatures that either pass through on migratory journeys or establish permanent residence -- like the woodchuck she's seen for 11 years.

“He has a number of holes to hang out in, in a rough section I left for him in one corner, which is about one-third brambles, grapevine and (blackberry bushes)," Kosiba said. "He’s looking a little gray now,” she added.

A couple of chipmunks live in the stone fence that borders her property. Rabbits and many birds visit in the day’s dying sunlight. Kosiba loves the show and has bought bird books to learn more about her guests.

“I think it’s the excitement and discovery of what type of wildlife is out there," she said. "And a new interest cultivates out of that."

Growing Interests

The National Wildlife Federation has experienced a huge upswing in wildlife garden certifications since late 2003, when it put the certification application process online, according to Roxanne Paul, who runs the organization's Community Wildlife Habitat program.

“We started the program in 1973, and over that 30-year span we certified 38,000," said Paul, the federation's senior coordinator for community and volunteer outreach. "Then, in less than a decade we got up to 147,000.”

She attributes the increased number of certifications in part to simplification of the process. For example, the federation no longer requires a diagram or photograph of the yard as part of the application. The surge, however, is due largely to people focusing on the environment and the loss of natural wildlife habitats, she says.

“People are seeing green spaces disappear around them, the wetlands being drained … and parking lots and other developments popping up that are destroying the wildlife habitats around them," she said. "They’re not seeing the wildlife they once did a generation ago.”

While the most common wildlife gardens are for birds and butterflies, Paul says some “more knowledgeable” homeowners have turned their attention to habitats for endangered bees. Sarada Krishnan, director of horticulture for Denver Botanic Gardens, says she has seen the same trend.

“There is a lot of interest these days as people hear about the bees disappearing and they’re not seeing as much wildlife,” Krishnan said. “There’s a lot of personal satisfaction that people are getting from creating these habitats in their yards, which is that they are contributing to wildlife   

Setting Up

Wildlife habitats for the birds and butterflies are the most common and convenient for people to create.

“When you talk about wildlife habitats it comes down to three main things: food, water and shelter,” said John Bodiford, senior horticulturist for the South Carolina Botanical Garden at Clemson University. “It’s the same whether you’re talking about a yard or on a balcony with full sun. You still have to think about all those same things.”

Would-be wildlife gardeners must do some homework to identify birds and butterflies native to their region and the needs of those creatures. Bodiford said the gardener should select plants that attract the wildlife, set up a water station, and create a shelter. The shelter might be a birdhouse or a small brush or wood pile that serves as a nesting spot.

Mulch will provide cover under which butterflies' larvae may overwinter, Krishnan said. The caterpillars will require a slight bit of tolerance as they chew vegetation. Butterflies will feed on nectar.

“First, you need to know what butterflies are in your area,” Krishnan said. “Second, you need to know what the host plants for that butterfly’s first stage are. The monarch butterfly, for example, as a larva eats only milkweed.”

Adult butterflies prefer sunlight and blooms with a landing platform “so they can land when they’re sipping nectar,” Krishnan said.

Hummingbirds prefer blooms of reds and yellows.

Animal Attraction

Although many people certainly may like to attract larger animals such as deer to their yards, Paul said the National Wildlife Federation does not advocate it.

“Mammals can become dependent on the food, whereas a bird is only going to take about 15 percent of their total food intake from a feeder,” Paul said. “They don’t associate people with food.”

People who have moved to a property already teeming with wildlife represent an exception. Kosiba said she had no problem keeping her land inviting to her wildlife neighbors.

“By leaving a naturalized area of 6 or 7 feet that I haven’t cultivated, the woodchuck has got a place to live but he hasn’t been a nuisance to me,” she said. “For the rabbits, I did not use a pesticide to kill off the weeds, and they love to eat the natural dandelions and other weeds rather than eating my (purchased) plants or vegetable garden. It’s so nice to come home at twilight and see about four of them in the backyard, or come out at night and see more in the front yard.

“There’s just the simple benefit of delighting in nature and by what you see,” Kosiba said.

Os modelos dos primeiros jardins japoneses vieram da… China e representaram o prazer e divertimento dos aristocratas. Os do Período Heian (794-1185) tinham normalmente um lago com uma ilha e eram construídos para contemplar a Natureza através das mutações das estações do ano. A partir disso, os jardins começam a desenvolver características próprias, dando destaque para os arranjos de pedras.

Os jardins do século VII e do século VIII tinham elementos como lagos artificiais, pontes e lanternas à semelhança dos chineses e coreanos, ou a noção budista da montanha Sumeru como o centro do cosmos. O palácio imperial e as residências da nobreza do período Heian eram construídos sobre lagos artificiais com pavilhões de pesca num cenário de montanha. No período Kamakura, um grupo de guerreiros das províncias, bem como de nobres e de monges, começou a mostrar interesse na construção de jardins. O primeiro depoimento crítico do arranjo do jardim japonês, o Sakuteiki (Ensaio sobre a Concepção de Jardins), foi escrito por Tachibana Toshitsuna, no início do período Kamakura (1185-1333).

A água surge com um elemento característico dos jardins e é apresentada sob as mais diversas formas. Em muitos casos, um simples regato pode sugerir a ravina de uma montanha, ao passo que uma ilha de pinheiros num lago artificial pode sugerir Matsushima ou outro local belo. Nos jardins Zen, a gravilha branca as rochas sugerem um rio a correr, um oceano ou, a água pode provocar um som fresco e calmo ao cair dentro ou sobre uma bacia de pedra.

Entre os designers de jardins mais famosos da história do Japão conta-se o monge Zen Muso Soseki, do século XIV (1275-1351). Até os 50 anos, Muso viveu como um monge mendicante à procura da "luz". Ao longo de suas viagens fundou vários pequenos mosteiros nas montanhas, com jardins integrados no cenário natural. Mais tarde foi protegido pelos shoguns Ashikaga e pelo imperador Godaigo e nomeado abade dos mosteiros de Tenryuji e de Rinsenji, em Kyoto, onde concebeu maravilhosos jardins. Já no fim da vida retirou-se para o pequeno templo de Saihoji, onde criou um jardim utilizando o musgo como elemento principal e incorporando o ideal chinês de "dez visões maravilhosas".

1. Creating A Zero Maintenance Garden (Image 1 of 6)

There's no such thing as a zero maintenance garden - but there is such as a thing as a very low maintenance garden. The trick is in creating a space that's easy to care for, but still has enough interest in it to make you want to spend time there (and invite your friends over). Hard landscaping is obviously the way to add interest - in terms of different materials and changes of level, but that has to be tempered with clever planting that looks good all year round, but needs little care. Basically, you just want to have a sweep round and a quick prune once a month, and be done with it.

2. Divide Your Space (Image 2 of 6)

If your garden is not going to be used for ball games, running races or volleyball, dividing it up will turn the classic square or rectangle into something much more interesting. How to divide it without making it smaller? Keeping the design simple helps - but do go for changes of material, and add extra detail by choosing hard landscaping in different colours. Softening the divisions with planting helps, too - this back garden has tall, but 'see-through' plants, such as verbena, between the two landscaping materials. This adds height, some shade and colour to the garden, too.

3. Choose Year Round Colour (Image 3 of 6)

This verbena doesn't provide year round colour - but it does return year after year. If you want something that's a similar shape but more permanent, you're going to have to go something like a bamboo - but if you do, ensure you plant it within containers sunk into the flowerbed - otherwise you may find that shoots appear amongst your paving and gravel outside of the bed.

4. Choose Colour Carefully (Image 4 of 6)

So, you've decided to add extra colour and life to your garden with colour - whether within the hard landscaping or by painting masonry. Which shade to choose? In a traditional space, you would ideally pick a colour that tones or blends with the natural tones of the surrounding area - so creams, pale blues, and greens. If you're going for a contemporary look, you can afford to pick a colour that contrasts with the natural surroundings - think greys, blacks, reds, even purple. Whatever you pick needs to be chosen to show off your plants. Not sure? Get a few lengths of lining paper, paint them in your chosen shade (or near enough) and place them around the garden to see what works and what doesn't.

5. Sculpture, Shape & Uniformity (Image 5 of 6)

Planting neat hedging or specimens in rows or blocks within gaps in paving is a clever way to add interest to a garden. Think it's high maintenance? It needn't be - box hedging, for example, doesn't need trimming more than twice a year. To save money, buy young plants that you can train into a shape to suit your garden.

6. Vary The Plants' Heights (Image 6 of 6)

A trick within a garden that's fairly bare of foliage is to choose a range of plants that grow to different heights and plant them separately. This garden is a clever mix of ground cover plants, as here, the tall, see through verbena, and the single specimen tree, set in a can't-miss spot on the patio just outside the French door. So, not much has been spent in terms of time and money on your planting, but the impact is greater.

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