Perfection in plants
Stick to a few simple types of plants and repeat the mantra, “less is more”
Azaleas
From now until June, the Japanese Garden at Compton Acres is ablaze with the bright pinks, reds, purples and white blossoms of evergreen azaleas. Azaleas prefer moist, acidic soil. Plant in groups and trim after the blooming period to ensure an awe-inspiring abundance of flowers every year.
Maples
Compton Acres is also home to an array of Japanese maple, which are appreciated for their lacy leaves and autumn colours. Dwarf varieties such as Acer palmatum ‘Red Pygmy’ and ‘Ōsakazuki’ are perfect for smaller plots and containers. Plant in partial shade to avoid scorching.
Ginkgo
In Japanese art, ginkgo trees, with their distinctive, fan-shaped leaves, are symbols of longevity as the trees themselves can live for 1,000 years. Small ginkgo trees, such as the variety ‘Mariken’, are perfect for home gardens as they bring intriguing shapes and shade to the garden.
Japanese spurge
Pachysandra terminalis is a simple, useful evergreen ground cover for dappled or deep shade, that reaches about 30cm (12in) tall. Glossy foliage will carpet your garden to save labour and keep your simple Japanese planting scheme to a minimum. Tufts of white flowers appear in spring, too.
Primula sieboldii
A serene, damp, woodland and meadow plant, with leaves and flowers that are frilly and elegant. Plant in dappled shade in moist but free-draining soil. They’re native to Japan and bred into a number of colours and wavy or serrated shapes, and often called the ‘cherry blossom’ flower.
Kirengeshoma palmata
An elegant plant with yellow, tubular flowers for semi-shade, to sit in a moist, spring woodland – the ultimate Japanese herbaceous perennial. It needs a deep root run and humus-rich soil. ‘Ki’ means yellow and ‘rengeshoma’ means anemonopsis, a similar Japanese woodland perennial.
Gravel patterns
Japanese Zen gardens more often than not have swirling, neat patterns in swathes of gravel, which are key to resting the mind, adding to the peaceful atmosphere of simple plants and muted colours. Its satisfyingly neat waves and lines catching the light and creating shadows only furthers the calming atmosphere.
Structural symbols
Structures within Japanese gardens are meant to be places where one will linger and take in the beauty of the landscape. Compton Acres features several authentic structures, including an original Japanese tea house draped in wisteria and a small wooden bridge. Scaled down structures, or even a bench, painted in bright red, can provide a similar place to sit and reflect, however, you must ensure they’re in harmony with the surrounding nature.
Water elements
Ponds are a central element of most gardens, with water representing the continuous flow of life. At Compton Acres, a large pond creates sound when stirred by the passing wind and reflects light, creating harmony with the surrounding plants. It’s also occupied by a large number of brightly coloured Koi carp, which are seen in Japan as living flowers. At home, even a small water feature or pond can be installed to create a similar effect and capture this key element.
Authenticity in artefacts
In Japan, heavy stone artefacts are symbols of the durability and omnipresence of nature, they anchor the garden to the ground and give it its specific personality. At Compton Acres, the original owner imported many artefacts from Japan in the 1920s, including bronze statues, vases and stone ornaments. At home, small stone ornaments or Buddhist statues can be used to create the same effect. Stone lanterns also work well as they echo the roofs of traditional Japanese buildings.