"Creating a Japanese garden can be quite simple, yet at the same time, it can be quite complicated. You can not just place plants, rocks and water features willy nilly around your backyard and call it Japanese. There are many elements and characteristics that are important to the design itself. In reality, they are works of art, and as the artist, you must be clear on what you want to incorporate into your garden and why.

The defining characteristics of any Japanese garden design will include simplicity in it's layout, with an informal naturalness to the area. It will appear elegant, yet understated and always look pristine. While most gardeners are used to filling their garden spaces as full as possible with plants and a profusion of colors, the gardens of Japan can take a small space and create the illusion of spaciousness with it's clean lines and minimal arrangements of plants, rocks and water."