SERENITY NOW

THE SOOTHING LURE OF A ZEN SCULPTURE GARDEN

Creating a soothing spot to reflect, relax, and put aside the world is all the more attractive these days— and a en sculpture garden is just that space.

In the traditional sense, en Buddhism is the study of humanity and nature’s place in the world, says Janice Parker of Janice Parker Landscape Architects based in Greenwich, Conn.

“Within a en garden, there are classically eight main elements bridges, islands, plant material, sand, stones, trees, water, and waterfalls,” she says. “ en gardens, to me, should show a serene place where we can still our minds.”

To create a calming enclave of your own, however, you needn’t follow strict Buddhist principles. Even a small space with a statuary or a water feature, a spot that simply allows you to breathe, can bring on en vibes.

“A well-thought-out sculpture garden should give a feeling of tranquility and calm,” says Andrew Kay, of Andrew Kay Sculpture in Cumbria, England. “It should immediately be able to draw you in and allow you to escape mentally— even if you just get glimpses of it from a window in your home.”

And feel free to do what you prefer. “ onor what truly brings you to that peaceful place,” says eather Trilling of Trilling Landscape Design & Build in Los Angeles. “Is it a wild, overgrown space with aged, bronze sculptures Or a meticulously pruned garden with polished metal pieces Own your type of en and then go from there,” she says.

By adding sculptures to your outdoor space, you’re including both an architectural element that adds height, depth, and visual variety and a very personal piece of art, Trilling says.

PLACEMENT IS PARAMOUNT First and foremost, a en garden should be placed where you can create a boundary or a wall around the perimeter, Parker says. This can be done with wooden or bamboo fencing, a planted hedge, or as a masonry wall.

“If you want a subtle mix of green

Opposite page: A Zen sculpture adds a sense of calm to a garden designed by Janice Parker. This page: Striking water features and curated sculptures make for peaceful places to re ect in gardens by Edmund Hollander. plants, moss, and ferns, place this garden in a northern orientation, so it won’t get the hot morning or late evening sun, and there will be natural shade,” Parker says.

“If you have an area that is stubborn to grow in, I’d suggest placing sculptures in those tricky spots–it’s an easy distraction for the eye,” Trilling says.

Think about how much time you spend in the garden, says Edmund Hollander, president of Hollander Design Landscape Architects, with offices in New ork and Chicago. Is this a place to sit and contemplate, or is this is undoubtedly personal, but Trilling suggests picking pieces that reflect your interiors.

“ ou want the experience of walking out of your home and into the garden to feel like a seamless transition in both energy and style,” she says.

Trilling recommends looking for pieces made out of stone (natural or polished) that will hold up to the elements, or metals like copper and bronze that patina naturally over time.

PERFECT THE PLANTINGS Parker recommends small dwarf deciduous and evergreens, which stay in scale over time. And “you can never go wrong with a Japanese maple, the maple family is filled with wonderful variety and they are very user-friendly,” Parker says.

She also loves Acer palmatum “Sango-Kaku,” a coral bark maple, which is small. “The bark is green in the spring and then slowly starts to redden up. After the first frost the bark is iridescent crimson, a phenomenal look in the dead of winter. The leaves start out in the spring as apricot and turn to chartreuse tinged with red edges, and the fall brings on another color show of orange and red,” Parker says.

For the garden surface, stick to gravel, stone, and moss, as well as ground cover plants and ferns.

“Planting around a sculpture is an opportunity to bring even more life to the piece, adding additional layers of color, texture, and seasonal joy,” Trilling says.

more of an interactive piece of art that invites one to walk around? “Try and think of the space, the materials, the light, and the sculpture as elements of a single composition,” Hollander says.

Trilling loves to have at least one bench in a en garden—for comfort and reflection. “I am a huge fan of McKinnon and Harris for outdoor furniture: They are adaptable to any space, elegant, and built to last hundreds of years.”

SELECTING SCULPTURES The process of selecting a sculpture

CONSIDER A WATER FEATURE Adding a water feature is like infusing instant calm. “Not all en gardens have a water feature, but if you are fortunate enough to put in a small pond, it is a wonderful place to add water lilies or Lotus plants,” Parker says.

A small waterfall made with rocks and slab stone can be a beautiful addition. Remember that you do not want to be overly showy in a en garden, so your water feature should not be so prominent that it takes over the space.