I had not heard of Japanese Wabi-Sabi Gardening, so I read this article with interest. What I like is that wabi-sabi techniques can be used in any type of garden.
Ilana begins by explaining what wabi-sabi is:
“Wabi sabi can be defined as “beauty in imperfection” and can incorporate asymmetry, incompleteness, impermanence, and simplicity. In addition to gardens, wabi sabi influences many other aspects of Japanese art and culture, such as the tea ceremony and pottery making, and it is also seen as a way of life.
A garden based around wabi sabi incorporates natural and manmade elements in a way that allows visitors to appreciate their humble and imperfect forms. This typically involves using not only plants but also stones and weathered manmade objects as design elements.”
She then explains some ways to implement this gardening technique is your garden. Here are a few:
- Choose plants and objects that will transform as the seasons change and the elements go to work on them.
- Adding plants that provide natural textures in different seasons
Click on the What Is Japanese Wabi-Sabi Gardening link below to read Ilana’s complete post. It’s very interesting and well-written.