Sink and Trough, Window-box, Dish Variety
Types of Japanese Miniature Garden
There are three types of Japanese miniature gardens:
• Sink and Trough
• Window-box
• Dishes, pans and bowls
Sink and Trough Japanese Gardens:
Sink and trough containers vary in shapes and sizes, from a few inches to that of a horse trough. You can create an alpine garden in an old stone sink and raise it on a 12-20 inch high pedestal. Avoid using glazed sinks for making a Japanese miniature garden. Sinks have always been popular containers but due to the shortage of stone sinks, troughs and containers of varied shapes, sizes and materials are now available. Concrete is most popular since it is lighter than stone. The use of sink and trough Japanese gardens can be extended according to your creativity and style. You can keep the trough on a pedestal and place it like a centerpiece on the lawn, on the terrace, in a sink garden, court or path junction. A series of short and long troughs can be set along the front of your cottage. These trough and sink gardens are like unit gardens that can be built one piece at a time.
Window-box Japanese Gardens:
Window-box Japanese gardens are a variation of trough miniature gardens. They are designed to fit a particular sill or window. Not every window-box is necessarily a miniature garden. Very few miniature gardens are in the form of window-boxes and there are many differences between the two. The window-box Japanese garden is unique in its appearance from the following view:
• The outside
• Normal eye level, from inside the room
• Decoration piece
Aesthetically, window-box gardens are very attractive in form and color. They should be uniform and in harmony with the surroundings. They compliment the indoor décor of a home, as well as the outdoors, whether an apartment or a self-contained premises. The fascia needs to be weather proof and very attractive.
Indoor Japanese Gardens Using Dishes, Pans or Bowls:
Indoor miniature gardens are always associated with Japanese dish gardens. Some people refer to dish gardens as “Japanese gardens.” These gardens vary in size. They can be as small as eggcups or much bigger. The most popular indoor miniature gardens are made in dishes, bowls, pans and trays 8-12 inches in width. They can be kept on a stand, on an absorbent mat or within a decorative container. Glazed bowls are frequently used for making miniature gardens but it severely limits the garden's life. The time taken to design and put together the actual Japanese garden is along the same lines as the regular outdoor gardens, although the former involve finer details because they are made on a smaller scale, using platforms that can be accommodated indoors.