A water garden, which is also called an outdoor pond or backyard
pond, is a combination of elements brought together to
create a backyard paradise. The pond itself, waterfalls,
trees, shrubs, aquatic
plants, night
lighting and koi fish are
all equally important factors. Outdoor Magic is the premier design
and installation company of water gardens in New York (NY), New
Jersey (NJ) and Connecticut (CT).
Water gardens originated in Japan
and the cultural and historical point of water gardens is simplicity, clarity
of mind and body, and enlightenment. The fundamental purpose
of any Japanese-inspired water garden is to create harmony and
balance in order to produce a calming effect. Japanese-inspired
water gardens
are
based
on natural renderings of nature. They are intended to express
spiritual values and philosophies of Japanese principles by integrating
essential elements, including stones,
water, plants, bridges, and ornaments. Each one of these particular
elements is placed in the garden for a reason and each has a
specific meaning.
Stones are used to symbolize mountains and islands. They express
the human emotions of strength and endurance. The stones are
generally the first element placed in the
water garden. Most are positioned in odd numbers (3, 5, 7, etc.)
and are grouped together in a triangular arrangement. They can
be used as sculptures or given a function, such as stepping stones
for paths and walkways.
Pathways are typically designed to guide others through the garden
and are symbolic of a person’s journey through life. Most
are made up of either groupings of stones, gravel, or sand. These
can be set in raked gravels or a mossy surrounding. Stones give
the garden a lasting quality.
Water plays a significant part in most every water garden and
is usually the heart of your garden. It entices the feeling of
serenity
and
symbolizes purity. At Outdoor Magic, we understand this concept
very well, and always create the water source to appear as
part of the natural setting. For
instance,
ponds
should
have
a natural
shape, waterfalls should depict those seen in nature (not in
man-made fountains), and even streams should twist and turn in
a natural way. Water
symbols can either be actual water or gravel representations.
The use of Japanese
koi fish make an attractive decorative element in any water
garden constructed for the purpose of their inclusion.
Bridges symbolize a journey. They represent the movement from one
world into another and are a common Japanese theme. Stone bridges
can make an exceptional accent – either crossing a small stream
or a gravel river. Bridges can also be placed as a path through
a
deep bed of plants.
Water gardens maintain respect for nature and an appreciation
for everyday objects. In NY, NJ and CT, Outdoor Magic pays
great attention to detail in designing, installing and maintaining
water
gardens
so
that they can be enjoyed at all times of the year. Call
us at (845) 398-2116 to discuss your water garden
project.
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