Bonsai is the art of growing trees in miniature.  This organic artform was developed in China nearly 2000 years ago, and was then introduced to Japan in the 1000's by Buddhist monks.  Bonsai (pronounced bone-sigh) is not any specific specie of tree, but can be any kind of tree found in nature.  It is a long and delicate process of pruning, root- and leaf- training, and is a lesson in patience.  Because of their nature and small size, like any other trees, Bonsai can live for hundreds of years with the right care.  There are many different types as far as shape goes, and it is a truly unique experience growing these wonderful plants. 

Zen Buddhism originated in China and is a form of Buddhism that concentrates on higher awareness.  It uses meditation and balanced form in nature to help one reach a higher state and balance. 

 

Zen gardening uses the philosophies and forms of Zen Buddhism to create and maintain balance in natural surroundings.  I'm sure most of you have seen those "desktop Zen gardens" which are long, shallow trays filled with sand in which sets of parallel lines are drawn with a small rake to form furrows in curves, spirals, and circles.  Stones can be added, usually grouped to symbolize larger, natural things like mountains or islands, among the sand.  Zen gardens can be enormous: acres and acres long!  Trees, plants, moss, rocks, and sometimes even water, can be incorporated into these gardens.  They are formed to give pleasure to the onlooker, to soothe and help in meditation, and to create aesthetic and balanced beauty in nature. 

 

You can create your own mini Zen garden!  All you need are:

 

 - a shallow dish or wooden tray with no holes in the bottom.  (keep in mind, you will be filling this with sand, so wicker or basket trays will NOT work well and will probably cause a mess.)

 

- sand (fine grain or course, it doesn't matter which)

 

- a small rake (if you cannot find one, and I know they are virtually impossible to find, use an old fork or even a broken hair comb.  These should not have more than five prongs.)

 

- stones or rocks

 

- moss, plants, little pagoda, a fountain, or wood (These are completely optional!)

 

Pour the sand into the tray until the entire bottom is covered with sand about an inch deep.  Slowly and gently shake the tray from side to side to get the sand even and flat, being careful not to spill much.  Then, using your rake, fork, or other pronged utensil, draw parallel strait lines horizontally or vertically.  To make a traditional zen garden, your sand should look much like a sown field when you are done.  The aim of this is to make your lines as geometrically straight and parallel as possible, which is not an easy thing to do!  This teaches patience and balance.  Next, add your stones in any design or pattern you wish.  If you are trying for the traditional garden, try to group your rocks like natural things, keeping islands and mountains in mind.  When you are done placing all of your stones, you may wish to draw circles around them with your utensil.  This is done the same way that the furrows were placed the first time, except now you are carefully making the furrows around the stones.  Make the circles as perfectly round as you can!  Remember, no layout is permanent, and you may go back through as many times as you want and whenever you want to redesign your garden.

 

Around the tray, you can add decorations!  This is the fun part.  :oD  Around my Zen garden, I have a little pagoda that I bought in the craft section at Walmart, with stones placed like stairs around it.  I bought some Air Ferns and trimmed them into cirular shaped bushes and placed them around the back of the tray.  Then, I put my fountain next to it with my bamboo plants.  Last but not least, as a backdrop, I bought a big ceramic floor tile and painted bamboo shoots on it and placed it against the wall behind my garden.  You may do whatever you want with yours!  If you make one or already have one made, and would like to send me a picture so I can put it up here on my website, just send it to ballads_of_peace@hotmail.com and put "Zen Gardening" in the subject box so that I know what it's for!  I'd love to see what you do!!  :oD

Bamboo grows in China and throughout the Orient, and is the foodstuff for Pandas!  Long thought to bring good luck, one can find it in almost any Oriental restaurant.  These have become extremely popular in recent years with Americans because they are so easy to care for.  You can find them almost anywhere: I know Walmart and Lowes stores sell them, and I've seen litte Chinese stands sporting htem for sale as well.  You can aask for them at almost any gardening store.  They are unmistakeable on sight, and are known for their sometimes twisting stalks.  They are also very affordable, at usually less than ten dollars for small ones like mine.  (I believe I paid $8.99 plus tax for mine at Lowes hardware and garden center store)  If you buy one, be careful not to water it too much!  Some can live just off of water, but many come in potted soil, and these can be watered too much very easily.  The directions that came with mine said to always keep them damp, so I was watering them everyday.  Well, they both started to die and I went from four stalks in each dish down to two.  Now, I water them about once every two weeks and they seem to be doing tons better.  If you get a dish with more then two stalks, you might want to water them a little bit more.  They grow in both sun and shade, and are really nice decorations.  :o)