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Zen garden is a spiritual space that is designed to evoke and celebrate nature. Landscape architect Shweta Agrawal Suhane lists simple tips for a budget-friendly zen garden.
- Size is an important factor. Scaling down the size will help you decrease the cost of your zen garden.
- Stay away from complicated construction. You can install a statute of Buddha as a reminder of simplicity. Make it a place where simple, natural elements are valued.
- Leave some space for visitors to enjoy the simplicity of quiet meditation. Select a space that would be easy to screen off with a few shrubs or can naturally be hidden away from the other activities of the garden.
- Select one element to be the financial focus of your zen garden. For example, if you possess a beautiful bonsai plant that uses up most of your budget for its upkeep, ensure that you save money in other ways. Using palm-sized rocks collected at the river is one simple option. Restrain from showing off because it negates the point of a zen garden. Keep your garden very simple and avoid crowding it with too many elements. For a harmonious design, asymmetry is important. Use one big size boulder instead of three to save money and create a harmonious garden.
- Fill your zen garden with pebbles unless you want to create wave patterns with a rake for a traditional water element. The advantage of using pebbles is that they require little maintenance and offer an attractive surface that is quick to install.
- Take time to create a zen garden. This will save you lot of money. All the objects in your personal zen garden should have a direct personal relationship or meaning to one’s self which will lead your thoughts to a quiet, peaceful place. Patiently wait for the right objects and materials to come your way. In other words, practice being zen.