Fence Extension and Moon Window

"The thief left it behind - the moon at the window."

The first project for summer 2011 was to extend the garden fence by three panels. The first of the three was designed to incorporate a Moon Window, a traditional element of most Chinese Scholar gardens and also found in Japanese architecture as well. Below are some images of inspirational Moon Gates that I saw while visiting China in 2007.

The first new panel, near the patio/fire pit area, would be the Moon Window. I also thought a Moon Window might incorporate some aspects of feng shui into the garden - as an outlet for negative chi.

Extending the fence design wasn’t difficult, since I had learned much the previous year when I constructed the bulk of the fence. It did take me a while to plan out and build the Moon Window. I simply built the panel with cedar boards, found the center mark and made a circle with string and a pencil. From there, I removed the boards, cut them out with a jig saw, and then reassembled the pieces as a big circle in the garage.

Creating the frame pieces for the Moon Window was a bit tougher. I took the cut-out pieces from the circle I had reassembled in the garage and then placed card-stock paper around the edges and traced out the circle. Using the same center board with pencil and string still attached, I drew another circle 3/4 of an inch larger. I removed the boards, and drew an additional circle 3/4 smaller onto the card-stock. I then cut out the pieces of paper as a template for six pieces. Using the cut-out circle pieces that were now scrap, I was able to trace the template onto the wood and then cut them out with a jig saw. Once sanded, they were attached to the panel boards with clamps, and drilled and screwed into place.

I then had to disassemble the entire panel and bring each piece into the garage where I spent the next couple of days staining each piece with two coats of stain. Once dry, I could then take the pieces back to the panel and reassemble them. Since everything was pre-drilled, it was a relatively easy task that took about 35 min. (you can watch a high-speed video of me building the panel below).

Dancing in the Moonlight

The soundtrack I used for this video was Axi Dancing in the Moonlight performed by the China Broadcast National Orchestra. The Axi (阿细) people are a subgroup of the Yi ethnic group (彝族) in Yunnan province. They are famous for the folk traditions, including music.

The panel looks good, but I do have two regrets: the stain I used looks a bit orange compared to the clear coat with which I covered the bamboo panels. Hopefully, it will fade to a more yellow over time. Also, the circle is not directly centered with the walkway between the house and garage.

Originally, when I laid out the fence, I divided the panels based on 7 ft. sections. If I had chosen 8 ft., the circle would have been centered. At the time, I had no intention of extending the fence past the edge of the garden into the patio area, and 7 ft. sections worked. However, once I made the decision to extend across the patio area, it was important that I maintain continuity with the overall fence design - three 7 ft. panels that match the existing design.

I could have created a 10 ft. panel consisting of four posts, but that would have left me with room for only 1.5 panels past the Moon Window panel up to the edge of the patio area, the end point of the fence that I did not want to pass.

Although the Moon Window would have been centered with the walkway, I did not like the 1/2 panel at the end. So, I decided to live with a slightly off center panel.

Hopefully, the feng shui practitioners out there will forgive my lack of perfect balance.

Once the panel was complete, I then transplanted one of my clumping bamboo plants (Fargesia ‘rufa’) from the edge of the gazebo to just behind the Moon Window.

In time, the bamboo should fill in nicely and perhaps with a couple of potted plants, there will be some more balance and harmony in the garden.

S-Shaped Bench

I was able to purchase an S-shaped bench for the garden. I placed it at the end of the main walkway - I thought it might fit in well with the Feng Shui as well as be a good place to sit and view the garden.

Blooming Rock Cress

Early spring, but the Rock Cress (Arabis caucasica) is blooming like crazy.

I had some trouble at first identifying the plant because I did not initially record the name when I planted them, but with some help from friends, I was able to figure it out, especially after the bloom. he white flowers add some variation to the overwhelming green that populates the garden. Hopefully, this is a start to a good season for the garden.

The Great Wave

"Water, Water Everywhere...."

Although the sump pump system had been installed from the start of the garden project, the first full winter (2009-2010) resulted in little precipitation. As a result, in the spring of 2010 I didn’t need to pump any water out of the basement. The winter of 2010-2011 proved different. We had record amounts of snow fall, and so in the spring the pumps kicked in to full action by March 19. Although I would prefer not to have water, I was interested in seeing how the garden would hold up. After all, the design was intended to accommodate the need for employing the sump pumps. The size of the garden appeared to be accommodating the volume of water being pumped, and the rocks surround the edges holding up well. Of course, as expected, the water is draining back into the ground and water table, only to end up back in the basement sump pump pits.

The Great Wave at Kanagawa

My wave of water is not as impressive as Katsushika Hokusai’s The Great Wave at Kanagawa (shown above - from the 36 Views of Mount Fuji series of wood-block prints). Nevertheless, it has proved to be equally soothing to behold.

The Great Wave at My Zen Garden - Looking East

This view of the garden shows the direction in which the water flows down to the lowest point of elevation on the property. With the ground still somewhat frozen, water is pooling up at the far end.

Unfortunately, we we received so much rain in the spring that the garden could no longer keep up with the flow of water. By Early June I had to divert one of the pumps back out into the wood lot as the primary discharge for sump pump water. One pump remains connected to the garden, but is only being used occasionally or as a back up.

Explosion of Color

The Viridis Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum dissectum'Virdis') is really taking off with bright color this fall:

Plants - Phase IV (2010)

During the Fall of 2010 I added many new plantings to the garden. I also started to plant in the north-east section of the garden behind the gravel driveway along the side of the garage. Eventually, I hope to close off this part of the garden with a fence/gate. Until then, I have started to place planting on either side and along the fence and edge of the water basin. Below are images of the new additions and changes.

Little Buddha

Had a little friend stop by to visit the garden:

Plants - Phase III (2010)

During the summer of 2010 I spent most of my time building the garden fence. However, I did add some new plants, move others around, and removed some as well. Below are images of the new additions and changes.

Dharma Cowbell Chime

Picked up an Asian Style cowbell chime while vacationing in Lake Placid.

As soon as I saw it, I knew it would work well in the Zen garden, especially because of the sound. It has a nice deep tone, sort of like a gong, but not the kind you slam with a drum stick - this one is very mellow and needs significant wind to make it ring, not too loud, not too dim, just right. It also looks great.

Here is what is sounds like: Click to Listen

Here is a link to Amazon.com where you can purchase the same chime: Woodstock Dharma Cowbell

The Fence

"The grass is always greener on the other side."

Shortly after starting the Zen Garden in the summer of 2009 I began thinking that a fence was needed to enclose the garden. I wanted the fence to have a Japanese style and spent much of the winter months that followed reading about traditional Japanese styles of architecture and fence construction. However the most influential source came from a website (and subsequent book) I discovered by Kieran Egan entitled: Building My Zen Garden

Mr. Egan included an illustration in his website that became the model for the fence I built.

I modified the design to work with existing lumber dimensions and I opted to use rolled split-bamboo instead of cedar boards. Doing so helped keep the costs manageable and created an excellent Asian esthetic to the fence. 

Keep in mind, I know nothing about fence building, so I spent most of January to May learning what I could at the public library.

In the end, the finished fence looks great, is straight, and should last many years. During the summer of 2011 I extended the fence by three panels to the end of the gazebo area and added a Moon Window in one of the panels (see Moon Window link in the blog menu).