Hello, I'm N8thanH, presenting myself to you in a freshly-armored, and appropriate form of a Magma Slime Samurai (sorry for the run-on sentence (I know this apology isn't helping)), and *pant pant* welcome back to Across the Map. (Phew!)



So, here is the story: If you remember from quite a while ago, I built a this traditional-style Japanese house, as seen behind me, along with a garden in the back. (That was actually the second most (if not most) popular post on my blog!)



Now, after visiting an authentic Japanese Forest Garden, studying Japan some more, and even reading a magazine article that coincidentally happened to be a thing, I was inspired to renovate parts of my forest home, Nirikon Forest into my own style of Japanese garden!

For the most part, I will be (trying to) build the garden the way it would have been traditionally, but with accommodations for the needs of a Minecraft base. Without further adieu stalling, relax your mind, and follow my steps through this mini-series, if you wish to build a Japanese garden too.  

Here are some screenshots of the forest so far, just so we are closer to being on the same page. I would show you guys some older photos, but the only ones I could find were so old, they were basically irrelevant. They had to be at least a year and a half old!

Day




Night



Okay. Now that that is over with, allow me to begin!

Step 1: Picking your Color Scheme and Garden Theme

Japanese gardens are created as smaller, ideal slices of nature. Before we choose the plants, we need to figure out what our garden will represent. This one is really up to you! Like usual, just be creative, and come up with something new.

Personally, I decided to choose a forest after rainfall, with clean-looking rocks, mushrooms growing in theoretically damp places, trees that look sort of weighed-down, small plants planted as if they decided to pop up over night, and small pools.  

The second part of this step is more or less self-explanatory. In Japanese gardens, all the plants usually follow one color scheme. So, right now, we need to consider the natural colors that are/will be around us, and choose colors that can go with them. Here is my example:
           Color:       -      In the area:       -      Therefore:

• Gray/White: birch wood, mushroom stems; gravel + rock in Zen Gardens, gray rocks, azure bluets
• Red: red mushrooms, poppies; red stones, poppies (Rock Gardens)
• Brown: woods, soil; brown stones, cocoa beans
• Blue: water, nearby swamp; blue orchids

Also, I think I will plant ferns and add vines because there is also a jungle nearby, and I like the idea of using local plants!

For that reason, I also plan on using local trees; various Birch Trees, and a few Jungle and Spruce Trees. (Before 1.7 added more, I actually had every tree type in existence in a biome adjacent to my forest.) Note that when planning tree types, irregularly shaped trees are generally best, as asymmetry is a goal in these gardens.

So, in conclusion, we will have Ferns, Blue Orchids, Mushrooms, Azure Bluets, and Poppies for plants, and red, brown, and cream for the occasional colored rocks, but I have used other rocks in the rock gardens.


Step 2: The Central Path (Bases Only)

No, I do realize that this is probably not when you build a path in normal garden development. But, in my case, this forest is not just a forest, it's also my base, and where I call home, for the most part. Therefore, the forest still has to continue to do its job of supporting me as a player (and maybe wrecking one of my friends' day ;) (not like anyone really comes on anymore (but I can wish! (This is getting ridiculous :p (no, I know, not helping the casuse once again. (Okay, okay. I'll just be quiet now.)))) :(   )).

Unnecessary ramblings aside, that is why I chose to make the path first; so they would be at their most convenience; going directly to the buildings, and I will know what to build the garden around.

But, before you go building your path, you'll want to come up with the blocks you use for it. So here are some questions that I came up with for you to ask yourself.

1. What blocks  have you been building with in your base?
2. What colors do you plan on using for the garden? (See above paragraph)
After making a color sample:
3. Choose which one will be the border, and which one will be on the inside of it. For the sake of not having your base visitors get lost, the border should be noticeable, but not too outstanding.

Step 3: Rocks and Rock Patches

Rocks in Japanese gardens represent permanence, and are placed to look like they were always there.
But, they are also chosen the same way a sculpture or statue would be in a western garden.

Lucky patterns are another common goal; opposites meeting, (Yin and Yang; they are opposites, but complement and complete each other) and anything you believe seems lucky is most likely a good idea to incorporate!

So, you can place your rocks as you choose; placing them wherever and in whatever shape they feel lucky/right. Just don't add too many, but however many that is is sort of situational.

In the rock gardens, rocks take on a somewhat different role: representing islands in the sea (as represented by sand or gravel). I admit to not knowing what I was doing, so I came up with the idea of making various small rock "patches," which I arranged to hold different ideas.




I didn't think anyone would get the messages, so I added signs by the rock gardens, with their respective messages. Meh, it makes me seem all the wiser. :p

You guys just go to town, but first, here is how to build a garden, in a few quick steps:

1. Make a bed of sand or gravel (whichever you favor for all your gardens)
2. Place the rocks
3.Pick a block that looks similar to your sand/gravel. Draw patterns with it.

Well, that's all I have to show and teach for today. As always, feedback is appreciated, and thanks for stopping by my blog! I'll see you all next post. Until then!