The Chinese did it, the Japanese did it and followers of the art of Zen Buddhism still make it part of their daily lives. Rock gardens have been around for years but it is only within the past few decades that the western world has come to appreciate their true beauty, and the spirit of the earth that lies within.

The purpose of a rock garden is to combine the earthen elements of rock, flora and fauna to recreate on a smaller scale the grandeur of a mountainside. When selecting rocks for a rock garden it is essential to combine a multitude of sizes, shapes and colors. While rock gardens are intending to be soothing they are not intended to be monotonous, and should be visually stimulating while relaxing the soul. Combining rocks such as red sandstone with those of a plain grey or brown color can help create a pleasing contrast that draws the eye of the viewer.

The selection and placement of plants is every bit as essential as the rocks selected when considering the garden’s desired appearance. The rock garden is meant to convey the impression of a mass of rocks with plants growing randomly around them. In order to create the proper mix of texture and color it is often necessary to very carefully plan this random arrangement, mixing flowering plants with weeds and working very hard to prevent the appearance of man-made order to the arrangement. Flowering plants of white, pink, yellow and purple create a striking contrast against the solid colors of the rocks, with plenty of green mixed in.

Once the “foundation” has been arranged and all of the plant life planted it may be necessary to go through and arrange additional small to mid-size stones in the garden, as an excess of  rocks at the onset may interfere with the planting process.
 The arrangement of stones in a rock garden is intended to be soothing to the mind and spirit of all who walk through it, and with today’s busy lifestyle a bit of peace of mind is precisely what the inhabitants of the western world need.