I'm not particularly green fingered. In fact I will go a step further and admit that I don't enjoy digging around in the muck at all. Don't get me wrong, I do love gardens, I enjoy the smell of the grass and the perfume of the trees, the different shades of green as the clouds move and the sun goes down. I think gardens are for enjoyment and contemplation, I therefore find myself quite drawn to the idea of a Zen garden. Even maintaining (raking) the garden sounds so lonely and romantic it really appeals to my hermit side.

• Rocks are one of the most important aspects of the garden and are sometimes handed down from generation to generation. Their proper placement promotes positive flow of energy as they are believed to possess geomantic (divinatory) power. Depending on their shape, size and appearance they can symbolise almost anything, from mountains, islands, the sky and even a frog in one of the examples I came across.
  
  
• Gravel, sand or small pebbles cover the largest area of the Zen garden. They represent water - and are raked to emulate rippling or rushing water. The patterns created in the gravel also bring energy to the garden. It is usually in shades of white, light cream, grey or tan, although white is generally avoided in areas where the sunlight can be too bright.
  
  
• Water can also be incorporated into the garden in the form of ponds or bamboo water features. The sound of the water may mask any external sounds and create an atmosphere more conducive to meditation.
  
  
• Trees, plants or moss may also be used sparingly to convey the emotions of the image being created. Pine trees are most often used by the Japanese as they are symbolic of longevity, they also differentiate between the black and red pine trees. The black pine is used for ocean scenes (they grow along the Japanese coast) and represents the masculine sex while the red pine is used for mountain scenes and represents the feminine sex.
  
  
• Lanterns are included to evoke a desired mood. As with all other elements of the garden these should be made of wood or stone (not concrete or metal).
  
  
• Bridges and paths are carefully designed to provide different views of the garden. Bearing in mind that these gardens are widely used in Buddhist practice these features are not purely for aesthetics but to give the viewer a different perspective and view of reality.
  

• You don't need a huge area for a Zen garden - the Japanese have very limited space and quite successfully create these little pockets of serenity.
  
  
• Decide what your inspiration for your garden is to be. This might be a particular plant, a rock that you are drawn to a poem or picture.
  
  
• Designing and creating a Zen garden is not accomplished in a day. You need to give a great deal of thought to what you want to evoke in your garden and take care in selecting all the elements you will be using. Choose items that resonate with you. When selecting trees for example, choose local species suitable to our climate and that are symbolic to you.
  
  
• When putting all the elements together in your garden no one item or group of items should overpower any other item. Each item should be able to draw and hold your attention. The Japanese accomplish this by making sure that no item is in the direct line of vision, at the end of a pathway or any predominant position.
  
  
• Avoid symmetry as this looks unnatural. The Japanese often place items in a triangle as the number three represents the Buddhist trinity.
  
  
• When using rocks bury a third of it into the ground for a more natural appearance.
  
  
• As with other Japanese disciplines, apply restraint. This is not a stage for your collection of garden gnomes or other ornaments. Less is more.