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LDN
Spring 2013 Home Improvement Magazine
Finding Zen in the home or in the garden
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[May 11, 2013]
Are you like most people today,
making lists of things to do, and the list never seems completed
before the next list is started? Day in, day out, there never seem
to be enough hours in the day to do everything you think needs
doing.
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 Too much to do and not enough time for relaxation seems to be a
number one complaint in the lives of nearly all of us today, and
stress the number one ailment.Last year, when we presented our
spring home improvement special section, Sherwin-Williams was
featured. At Sherwin-Williams they had just rolled out a new
wallpaper group that featured various natural grasses in textured
papers. The patterns were designed to bring the harmony of nature
into your indoor environment.
The demand for relaxing interiors remains in high demand.
Interior designers understand the use of natural elements or their
resemblance in the home and how it soothes our souls.
Maybe you've been to the beach, or as a child at the sandbox, and
caught yourself picking up warm sand and letting it run through your
fingers. It was so relaxing.
The pursuit of Zen has become a popular concept. The tenets of
Zen Buddhism began in China in 1004 C.E. Then and there, monks began
arranging pebbles and rocks in a garden to represent flowing water.
Sand is often used today and raked into gentle waves or complex
patterns.
The simplicity of the Zen garden is intended to create an
environment where one can clear the mind and find peace within.
You can find a Zen garden today at any major botanic garden. The
botanical gardens in St. Louis and Chicago both have large displays
in their extensive Japanese garden areas.
But more important, these simple gardens that cultivate harmony
are now more commonly being used inside and outside homes. You can
easily make either an indoor or outdoor garden yourself.
Indoors, the garden can be made small enough to place on a
desktop. Start by deciding what space you will use. Then make or
purchase a frame from wood. Cut Plexiglas or plywood for the bottom,
and glue or nail the frame to it. Fill it with sand. Place a few
rocks sparingly. Now rake the sand into designs or long, wavy
patterns; a small sandbox rake works well for this.
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You can even buy a small garden fully equipped with a frame,
sand, rocks and a little rake for as little as $6.95. Just Google
"Zen garden" and you'll find plenty of ideas to make your own garden
or to buy a ready-made kit for indoor use.
Outdoors, garden size will likely be decided by the space you
have available. It may be as small or large as desired, even acres
in size. Define the area using two-by-fours or wood timbers that you
will paint or disguise by topping with rocks later, or simply use
rocks for the border. Lay black plastic to prevent weeds. Fill with
a couple of inches of sand or small gravel, and level.
Now comes the important part. Sparingly place a few sculpted
rocks or interesting logs to look slightly submerged. You don't want
to over-clutter the area, but depending on how much space you have
to work with, you may also add a few small plants or moss, a low
bench, and possibly a water feature and bridge. Simple Japanese
lantern-style lighting at entries may also be used to enhance the
garden for use at night.
A beautiful Zen garden can be relaxing to create, soothing to
look upon, and it can be re-created daily simply by re-raking the
sand or gravel into new patterns.
May you find peace and harmony.
[By JAN YOUNGQUIST]
LDN 2013 Spring Home Improvement
Magazine
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