Enhancing Your Outdoor Area
Garden Ornaments, Features and Figures
Adding several features can enhance the look of a Japanese miniature garden; however, it should not be overdone. Every addition should be in perfect harmony and proportion to the size of the garden. Most of the additional features can be bought and adapted while many can be made from different kinds of easily available material and various odds and ends. Different innovative features can be incorporated to give the garden the desired look. The shape and style of features should suit the garden style and theme. Some of the designer features can be bought from several dedicated shops that specialize in ornament gardens. The prices are often high and the investment may turn into an expensive proposition. Some features can be made from hard setting. Modeling material such as Barbola, Crysola or Plastone are painted in bright colors. However, for a large sized model, the plastic modeling paste can be used instead of the rough blocks of wood, avoiding the use of expensive material. The features of a Japanese miniature garden need to be waterproof or polished and coated with substances that would make them waterproof. Besides, a suitable method of getting them into the desired shapes should be considered.
There are several features like stonework, flags, paving stones, stepping stones, steps, archways, moon gates, different types of bridges, plinths for statuettes, columns, pools of all kinds, bases or brick piers for pergolas and walls that can be made with cement or a proprietary modeling material similar to Pyruma. They can be cut from odd pieces of wood and then layered with cement or similar material. In order to look like stones or bricks or any other paving, the surface of the material can be modeled. Pergolas can be erected on the cement or brick piers by arranging pieces of wood and crossbars cut to size. Use single, double line or even in a circular forms to enclose a court or a sunk-garden. Wood pieces can be cut and fitted to give a rustic look to the pergolas of less formal pattern. Even pieces of wire can be used to make simple arches and arbors. Tiny wood pieces properly cut and suitably painted and glued together can be used as trellises, fences, gates and gateways. Generally, white colors look good in formal gardens with the evergreen conifers. Most occidental gardens flaunt bridges with classical stone designs, parapets and balustrades of wood. Some even have lanterns in the center. This can be constructed with small pieces of wood and twigs.