A Hot Tub and a Garden in Limited Spaces
In odd shaped backyard lots, or in yards that are small, creating a backyard garden sanctuary may seem impossible. In Arizona, swimming pools are a popular amenity in many homes, however, again if working with limited space, a swimming pool is out of the question. But with a Japanese garden design, and a hot tub one will be able to enjoy the water and the scenery of their beautiful yard, no matter how small. Japanese gardens are based on some principles of design which lend themselves to small spaces, such as balance, enclosure and gardens that are reduced in scale. In Japan, there is limited space, so the adaptation that has allowed many to enjoy gardens and nature, is to create the miniature versions. This is most evident in the small Bonsai trees, now available throughout the United States, so common that they are found at the check out registers at any Target store nursery. This is a “garden” perfect for those with no yards at all. One can tend the small trees in the smallest of apartment dwellings. Other objects that symbolize items that would be too large have also been placed in these tiny potted gardens.
In the back yard Japanese style garden, the focus is on the reproduction of nature, which is random, in contrast to the symmetry of Western gardens. When working with limited space this opens up opportunities for arrangement of the plants one chooses to surround their hot tub. Water in the Japanese garden symbolizes softness, and gravel symbolizes water. So the hot tub surrounded by gravel, a great option in the desert landscape of the Southwest, will create that balance so intrinsic in the style of these gardens. By taking into account the angles and the balance of view, one’s own personal items of symbolic meaning, the lesser number of plants and trees, one is able to create their own world, one that is not only pleasing and beautiful, but one that also serves to reduce the need for extensive watering and over-usage of water, making this the perfect option for those living in environments that are prone to drought conditions.