Portfolios Archive - The Japanese Garden Centre

Japanese border, Surrey

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Dimensions: 25m²
Build time: 1 weeks

Closest to the house, the bed begins with a cloud-pruned tree set in a corten steel planter. Behind, two irregularly shaped stepping stones lead the eye towards a traditional water basin arrangement beside a silver grey curved bench. A tall Japanese Acer, a 60 cm Narabe Yukimi lantern, and a bamboo four-eye fence panel work together to create a natural visual pause within the garden.

From here, the planting transitions into a cluster of Nandina domestica—evergreen shrubs that bear red berries in autumn. Next comes a carefully composed grouping of evergreen domes and silver-grey granite spheres, partially nestled into a bed of silver-grey Zen gravel. One sphere rests in a patch of slate mulch softened by Soleirolia soleirolii (commonly called ‘Mind-your-own-business’). Adding height and presence, three elegant Tenshi standing stones rise from the bed, the tallest reaching around 170 cm. Framing this arrangement, another red-leaf Japanese maple offers a final flourish of colour and texture.

Client

Private garden, Surrey

Project Date

July 2025

Category

Private Japanese Gardens

Japanese Garden, Kent

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Dimensions: 70m²
Build time: 4 weeks

Behind the garage, our clients had a strip of land running alongside the house leading to the back garden, of which they wanted to create a Japanese inspired garden. Our concept was to create a stroll garden using a meandering pathway.

From the main garden, steps lead you down into the Japanese garden and onto a floating path made from composite decking. To the right of the path is a raised planting bed that is retained by silver grey palisades. Within the bed are feature blue grey granite rockery stone, an informal stone seat and a variety of evergreen planting. Planting includes ground cover soleirolia soleirolii, ophiopogon minor, ophiopogon kokuryu and pieris japonica. A hydrangea switch Ophelia provides colour interest as it’s delicate flowers change through shades of white to pink from spring to autumn. Finally the bed is top dressed with 8-16mm Scottish cobbles.

To the left of the pathway the bed is set lower creating the floating path effect. Mirroring the other bed, it is top dressed with small Scottish cobbles. Yew evergreen domes are planted at the narrowest part of the bed, and it widens to incorporate a water feature arrangement. A 60cm tetsu bachi is fed by a horizontal bamboo spout which is positioned over a blue grey granite feature stone. Traditional kneeling stones are placed around the basin, with larger Scottish Cobbles surrounding the feature. Behind the bamboo spout are evergreen Nandina domestica and a tall red Japanese Acer. Further along the bed is a Nozuro-doro lantern made from natural pieces of blue grey granite rockery. We had initially created this nozuro-doro for the client’s relatives in 2003, which has now been relocated and gifted to our client. Along the back of this bed we created a Japanese fence with cedar shingle roof detailing, to provide an attractive backdrop to the garden. Part of this fencing juts out into the garden, providing a physical division between different elements in the garden. It features a large cut out window with shoji lattice detailing, providing a small glimpse of the garden behind, creating interest, enticing you to continue your journey through the garden to discover more.

As you pass the wall panel the floating path ends and silver grey irregular stepping stones lead you through an area of silver grey 14mm zen gravel. Directly ahead is a small red weeping Japanese Acer, with the stepping stones leading to two blue grey granite steps up to a raised patio finished with composite decking. To the right of the pathway the raised bed continues and features a set of 3 Tenshi standing stones, with a four eye fence detail behind and evergreen acuba japonica planting.

The left hand side of the path features more feature blue grey granite stones, a tall red Japanese acer, clump forming bamboo fargesia and evergreen euonymus green spider. The garden finishes with a small patio of dark grey granite paving, ending round the back of the garage.

Client

Private Garden, Kent

Project Date

June 2025

Category

Private Japanese Gardens

Japanese Waiting Arbour, East Sussex

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Dimensions: 82 m²
Build time: 3 weeks

A meandering stepping stone path from the house splits in two directions. The stepping stones are set in 14mm silver-grey zen gravel. Following the path round to the left you are led towards Japanese waiting arbour. We build the waiting arbour in our workshops and then reassemble on site. The frame is made from treated soft wood timber stained dark brown. Panels are set between timber posts, and stained beige. One of the front corner posts is a tree trunk which adds character to the arbour. Interally, there is an attractive timber bench along the rear wall. The floor frame and flooring boards are made from pressure treated timber.

To the side, and viewed whilst sat in the waiting arbour is a 45cm Tetsu bachi water basin which is fed by an upright bamboo spout. Traditional kneeling stones are positioned around the water feature arrangement, surrounded by mixed cobbles. Planting includes ground cover pachysandra, a tall Nadina domesica and Japanese Maple. Behind the arrangement is a 1m decorative four-eye fence. Beyond, within the gravel is positioned a tall Kasuga granite style lantern with low ophiopogon evergreen planting.

Turning right from the house on the stepping stone pathway leads towards a new garden gate. Either side of the path are planting beds top dressed with bark mulch. On your left are 3 tenshi standing stones set in the zen gravel with evergreen under planting and a Japanese maple behind. Further along the path are feature blue grey granite rocks with bloombux and pittosporum planting. In the center is a tall ilex cloud tree.

On the other side of the path are more blue grey granite feature rocks, Japanese maple and evergreen planting surrounding an existing tree.

Client

Private Garden, East Sussex

Project Date

March 2020

Category

Private Japanese Gardens

Japanese Stream, Buckinghamshire

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Dimensions: 65 m²
Build time: 6 weeks

Curved composite decking meets the garden and in front of the patio doors a ‘floating’ path leads towards the rear garden gate. The path is made up of dark grey granite with two flat silver-grey granite bridges to span the gravel. As it winds through the garden it varies in width to add interest.

The main focal point in the garden is a natural stream that starts in one corner of the garden. Low waterfalls cascade down through silver grey cobbles into a hidden water reservoir in the ground. Cobbles and silver-grey zen granite resemble overflowing water that forms a sea.

Within the sea are large blue-grey granite feature rocks, and a Misaki granite lantern placed on a flat rock. The sea flows beneath the pathway towards another feature rock and a large specimen cloud tree. Ripple-like patterns are raked into the gravel to portray water movements around the stones.

Behind the stream tall evergreen shrubs create a soft visual barrier between the stream and back wall. Being evergreen they will give all year round structure and interest to the garden. Another evergreen shrub, Nandina domestica was planted alongside the stream as well as evergreen sedum ground cover.

Two large Japanese Acers were planted in the lawn either side of the stream, which will have stunning foliage from spring to autumn.

Silver grey granite guide lights light the meandering path, with Bloombux planting near the base of one stone. Bloombux is an evergreen dwarf rhododendron that has been genetically modified to grow in most soil types. They can be clipped to maintain their shape and in June bear small delicate pink flowers, they are a great alternative to common box planting.

Closer to the house we created bonsai stands out of silver-grey granite for our client to display their bonsai collection.

Client

Private Garden, Buckinghamshire

Project Date

November, 2024

Category

Private Japanese Gardens

Drilled rock garden, Berkshire

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Dimensions: 18 m²
Build time: 1 week

The client had a pre-existing bed that they wanted to remodel, keeping the large specimen Japanese Acer and two drilled rock water feature.

We moved the water feature more central to the area and added two Tenshi standing stones to the side. Dwarf rhododendrons Bloombux were planted around the bases of the Tenshi stones. Bloombux are evergreen and have been genetically modified so that they grow in almost any soil. For two weeks in June they bear small pink flowers, which are really popular amongst bees and other wildlife. On the other side of the water feature we planted two Naninda domestica, again evergreen, they provide interest all year round and produce attractive red berries in Autumn.

Towards the back of the planting bed is an attractive Oribe lantern. Carved in Japan from sandstone, this lantern took a skillful artisan carver 3 weeks to intricately hand carved to the highest detail. Around the lantern we planted evergreen Ferns and leptinella squalida ‘platts black’ which will provide low ground cover.

Behind the lantern is a decorative bamboo four-eye fence, creating a visual barrier between the planting bed and the rest of the lawned garden. To finish the area is top dressed with small scottish cobbles.

Client

Private Garden, Berkshire

Project Date

December 2024

Category

Private Japanese Gardens

Small front courtyard, London

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Dimensions: 5 m²
Build time: 2 days

The client wanted to transform their small courtyard into a pocket of Japanese tranquillity. We removed the cobbles and introduced a panel wall, behind which paving was laid to allow for hidden storage area for communal bins. In front of the wall we positioned 3 Tenshi standing stones with ground cover planting and a tall Red leaf Japanese Acer in a corten planter. The garden was top dressed with silver grey zen gravel and rectangular palisades as edging.

Client

Private Garden, London

Project Date

September 2024

Category

Private Japanese Gardens

Stroll Garden, Kent

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Dimensions: 1,100 m²
Build time: 20 weeks

The garden wraps around the house, offering several viewpoints. To ensure it worked from multiple angles, we had to be creative in our design. The path through the garden is divided into sections of dark grey granite paving and composite decking.

At the front of the house, on either side of the meandering path, are planting beds topped with small Scottish cobbles. These beds feature groupings of blue-grey granite rocks, accompanied by a variety of plants, including evergreen ground cover, shrubs, and Japanese maples in raised corten planters. Stone guide lights along the path provide low ambient lighting.

As the path curves around to the side of the house, the planting bed widens to include low-level plants such as ophiopogon, and shrubs like Bloombux rhododendrons, Pieris, and Nandina. Tall bamboos and Japanese maples stand out against the retaining wall behind them. This section concludes with a 60 cm diameter Kodai Maru Yukimi lantern and a water feature arrangement.

A curving path of dark grey paving leads into the back garden, featuring a small zen garden with blue-grey granite in silver-grey zen gravel. The lawn includes additional blue-grey granite feature rocks and a large red Japanese maple. A large stream begins in one corner of the garden, ‘overflowing’ into the space with a sea of small cobbles. Within this sea stands a Misaki lantern positioned on a rock. A large specimen Carsten’s Wintergold cloud tree, dwarf purple rhododendrons, and pink azaleas are planted on the land islands around the water.

The path continues to the other side of the house, where tiered planting beds emerge. These beds are formed and retained using silver-grey palisades and rendered walls, matching the rest of the garden. Natural rock steps lead down to a lower level, which is relatively open, featuring a few mature trees and granite feature rocks.

Client

Private Garden, Kent

Project Date

June, 2024

Category

Private Japanese Gardens

Indoor Garden, RAI Restaurant London

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Dimensions: 15m²
Build time: 1 week

We completed two indoor gardens in RAI, a Japanese restaurant in London. In an intimate setting, the owners wanted guests to be immersed in nature during their meal.

The first garden features a 40cm Sumo san lantern with bespoke light diffusers and tall Tenshi standing stones. In front of the window, we installed a traditional water feature arrangement with an elegant Oribe lantern.

On the other side of the entrance, the second garden featured 5 blue-grey granite standing stones with underplanting. The gardens were top dressed with 6mm silver-grey zen gravel and Kuro basalt cobbles.

The restaurant has two planters outside where we created a standing stone feature using square palisades. Either side we planted a combination of bamboo and pieris. The planters were dressed with 14mm silver-grey zen gravel.

All indoor artificial plants were supplied by Interior Landscaping products.

www.rairestaurant.com/

Client

RAI Restaurant, London

Project Date

January, 2024

Category

Corporate Japanese Gardens & Garden Shows

Tea House Garden, London

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Dimensions: 20m²
Build time: 4 weeks

This project consisted of a fully insulated Japanese tea house with a flat roof and decking. Within the decking is a small garden consisting of an evergreen pittosporum, Oribe lantern, and a decorative shoji window. In another area of the garden, we installed a circular water feature and curved granite bench in a bed of silver-grey zen gravel.

Client

Private garden, London

Project Date

May, 2022

Category

Private Japanese Gardens

Japanese Garden, Surrey

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Dimensions: 429m²
Build time: 6 weeks

A meandering pathway takes you on a journey through a tiered garden. As you enter the first level of the garden to the right of the path are 3 vertical palisades with evergreen underplanting in a bed of 6mm silver grey Zen gravel. Ahead is a shallow water basin arrangement and 60cm Kodai Maru Yukimi snow lantern. Kuro basalt cobbles lay around the base of the water basin, with kneeling stones and evergreen planting beside. The rest of the bed consists of 6mm silver-grey zen gravel, feature rocks, bamboo four eye fencing and ground cover planting. A stepping stone pathway through the gravel leads to a beige granite curved bench.

Stepping down to the next tier we designed and constructed a Japanese summerhouse with a shoji door and shoji window for added interest. The summerhouse overlooks an area of grass with a Kasuga lantern and panoramic views.

Carrying on along the path down to the next tier, the path leads around a ‘Fishermans net’ with silver-grey granite palisades, Zen gravel and a variety of evergreen planting such as Pieris, Bloombux rhododendron and Nandina domestica. Further down the path is a palisade monolith arrangement and evergreen planting.