While Zen gardens in Japan are typically very open, I find them to be a great solution to those difficult to plant, heavily shaded areas of the landscape.  In fact, many of the plants utilized in karesansui gardens, such as azaleas, mondo, and ferns require shade in Ok...

Perhaps the most recognizable Japanese garden style to Westerners is the dry landscape garden or karesansui, what we commonly call a Zen garden.  The religious association is accurate, as this garden style arose during the Medieval Period between the 12th and 15th Cen...