Prime Themes for Japanese Zen Style Landscaping

Pick One or Develop Your Own Theme

The list below is non exhaustive, and only serves the purpose of suggesting a few types of gardens and landscapes that our clients could order. Ishidoro Zen Gardens firmly believes there is beauty in austerity. We consciously choose to follow the principles of the craft while making the necessary adjustments to suit the climate and ecology of our region. Our work is a labor of love, with a deep appreciation of the Japanese aesthetics and the cultural values of simplicity and harmony with nature.

1. Canadian Forest Vistas: An ecosystem characterized by a dense and extensive tree cover per Canada's Plant Hardiness Zones.
2. Tropical Forest Vistas: An ecosystem dominated by broad leaved trees that form a dense upper canopy.
3. Mystical Forest Vistas: They have a spiritual meaning or reality that is not apparent to the senses.
4. Bamboo Forest Vistas: Bamboo is a tall tropical plant with hard, hollow stems that grow close together.
5. Secret Mountain Vistas: They are fascinating, magical meeting places for peoples, cultures, mind, and soul.
6. Vibrant Prairie Vistas: They are wide areas of flat land covered with bright tall grass, shrubs and few trees.
7. Restful Lakeside Vistas: They usually include charming water views, wraparound decks, and patios.
8. Flowing River Vistas: They usually are ribbon like bodies of freshwater flowing freely on a surface downhill.
9. Breezy Ocean Vistas: They are sceneries characterized by undulating flows of gentle wind from the sea to the land.
10. Serene Ocean Vistas: They are marked by utter calmness and unruffled repose or quietude for the mind and soul.
11. Rushing Waterfall Vistas: They are bodies of water cascading over a rocky ledge into a plunge pool below.
12. Stony Beach Vistas: They are rough grounds containing stones, rocks, and gravel against a body of water.
13. Sandy Beach Vistas: They are narrow, gently sloping strips of land along the edge of an ocean, lake, or river.
14. Swaying Trees Vistas: They are sceneries where the wind causes trees to move with a sweeping motion.
15. Heavenly Shrubs Vistas: They are sceneries where evergreen shrubs display vibrant and colorful foliage and clusters.
16. Purifying Moss Vistas: These small nonvascular spore bearing land plants are commonly found in moist shady locations.
17. Undulating Grassy Vistas: They are sceneries where the tall grass sways effortlessly in the wind, reminiscent of ocean waves.
18. Peaceful Turtle Vistas: The spirit turtle is an endemic motif at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples in Japan.
19. Loving Crane Vistas: The crane is a symbol of long life and good fortune, and is often depicted in art and literature.
20. Colorful Flower Vistas: Ikebana, or flower arranging, is one of the three classical Japanese arts of refinement.
21. Pure Light Park Vistas: They enhance and create more dynamic and visually interesting spaces.
22. Lone Pine Tree Vistas: As a symbol, they represent the place where the Buddha finally attained enlightenment.
23. Classic Bonsai Vistas: This is the ancient art form of growing small trees to mimic their full shape, character and scale.
24. Minimalistic Zen Dry Gardens: A dry landscape with natural elements of rock, gravel, sand, wood, few plants and no water.
25. Vivid Japanese Style Gardens: Japanese gardens emulate the natural world, lending a sense of peace in stylized landscape scenes.
26. Exuberant Gardens and Landscapes: They display flowering shrubs, roses, perennials, annuals, and spring bulbs in colorful gardens.
27. Limited-Space Gardens and Landscapes: They add greenery and colour to small spaces, as a miniature view of nature.
28. Tailor-Made Gardens and Landscapes: They incorporate well known Japanese and Zen landscaping features and trends.