From Peaceful Gardens compact edition by Stephanie Donaldson brings us a tip on making your garden a more relaxing place to be.

Every plant and every surface within the garden has a texture and a relationship with its surroundings. Soothing textures are more about that relationship than the feel of a leaf or the finish of a stone. An easy way to understand the relationship between different textures is to look at a Zen garden. Its timeless and peaceful beauty is an enduring legacy of the Buddhist monks who created it. By creating symbolic gardens that represented the pathway to enlightenment, the monks were able to explain the principles of Zen to their followers.

Each rock, tree, or shrub is placed with infinite care and has special meaning. A rock placed horizontally can represent the sky, vertically the earth, or depending on shape or position, it may be an island or even an animal. A clipped shrub symbolizes billowing clouds, and the use and form of small pebbles, gravel, and sand help create an atmosphere conducive to meditation.

Each element is pared-down, simple and refined. Change is not necessary. There is nothing superfluous or frivolous, no giving way to the temptation to include a favorite flower or put a seat in a sunny corner. In the Zen garden, everything has added meaning, and looking at it can be a profound experience.

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