File:American homes and gardens (1912) (17533717174).jpg

Title: American homes and gardens
Identifier: americanhomesgar91912newy (find matches)
Year: 1905 (1900s)
Authors:
Subjects: Architecture, Domestic; Landscape gardening
Publisher: New York : Munn and Co
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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In Japan the home garden maker utilizes small space to good advantage, as may be seen by the arrangement here illustrated as upon a small one. But here it should be noted that whereas we have only attempted landscape gardening on a large scale, the Japanese have adopted it to every garden, irrespective of size. And the practical question is whether the owners of small gardens could not profit by practising this art. Imagine what could be done upon a rectangle say twenty feet by twelve. Upon this space one could create a real landscape; a range of the Sierras might rise; and from the windows one might look down into "still waters between walls of shadowy granite in a gleaming pass." Again, a study of the art of the Japanese gardener cer- tainly emphasizes the fact that it is not necessary to accept flatness in a garden. A hill can be made by the very simple device of digging out the ground; and a lake or sunken garden is manufactured simultaneously by the same cut. After all, this landscape idea is common to all nations, and here the Japanese teach us that a landscape, with a true perspective of its own, can be created anywhere on any scale. Water is often one of the cardinal beauties of the Japanese garden, though it is not essential. It can be dispensed with, but it is very much easier than most people imagine to provide water on a small scale. I know a tiny garden in the heart of a great city which has two ponds, (Continued on page 336)
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One of the most perfect examples of Japanese gardening in all its native glory. This lovely garden is not far from Tokio

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