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Normally to travel from the Netherlands to Japan , you ’d have to cover a distance of more than 5,700 miles . But for Netherlander Ramon Smit , a trip to Japan is as well-heeled as stepping out into his own backyard . While the distance is light , it take Smit over eight years to complete his journey .
East satisfy west in this quaint Japanese - trend garden turn up in the Netherland urban center of Gouda ( yes , the same town famous for its high mallow ) .
“ We buy our 1920s red - brick home in Gouda because of the price and the size of the garden behind it . Even before we signed the declaration , I already had in thinker that it must be a Japanese - way garden , ” says Smit .
One of Smit ’s favorite hobbies , and the stirring behind his garden , is develop Bonsai tree . Here , he use the art on a large scale .
Inspired by one of his other hobbies — growing Bonsai trees — Smit had the ultimate finish of make a Nipponese garden true to Nipponese standards . He venture on his ambitious project , knead with a low budget , short gardening experience , and a little supporter from his friend .
Hand - lay John Rock formations produce a small pool and waterfall . A Japanese - style lantern and Nipponese maple add oriental flair .
The sizing of the garden is about 215 satisfying foot , with nearly every satisfying inch cover by weave stone pathway , Japanese - themed statuary , and closely 20 unlike metal money of works and tree . Over 10 lots of rock were used to carve out ponds , a flow , and minor waterfalls . Smit hauled all the cloth into the garden himself , by hand and wheelbarrow .
plant life that grow well in Gouda ’s clime and befit a Nipponese idea include yew , cedar , spruce trees , box , azaleas , ferns , and astilbe . Natural moss ontogenesis prosper in the funny areas of the garden , add soft yin to the yang of the heavy stone .
Because the weather in Gouda can be quite utmost , with below - zero temperature and heavy snowfall in the winter and temperatures as high as 96 degree in the summertime , Smit was limited in the type of plant he could use . “ Because of our climate , I did not expend tropical or Mediterranean plants . I do have a 100 - year - honest-to-goodness olive tree in the small garden right beside the house , but it did not do well over the wintertime and lost a few branches , ” he says .
Specimens he ’s had smashing success with and that complement his Japanese idea include various types of yews , cedars , spruce Tree , boxwoods , Ginkgo biloba tree , azaleas , fern , astilbes , andJapanese maples . “ I also had somehostas , but the snails got the better of them , so I got rid of those , ” he says .
A pleasing combining of round granite abuse stones and desert opprobrious flagstones cut up meandering nerve pathway throughout the garden .
Smit acquire most of his unique Nipponese lantern locally at various garden centers and outside market place , using them as focal points throughout the garden . The granite bridge and stepping stones come from a born - gem wholesale society . “ For pave , I used granite stepping stone and desert black flag , selecting them for the colour and shape . In Nipponese gardens , straight lines combine with more natural forms for dividing line , ” he says .
Smit ’s future design include construct a Japanese - style tea parlour to replace his shed . “ When the temperature is good , I can sit outside and eat , or but enjoy pick up the garden mature with the years , ” he says .
Garden designer and possessor , Ramon Smit . See morephotos of Ramon ’s gardenon Facebook .
See another garden featuring bonsai trees : Maple Garden in Ohio .
