Fan's Space

I titled this picture "Fan's Space" for a very simple reason. My "character" Fan saw this garden and said "MINE".

That was pretty much the end of the argument.

As I have said before, Japanese gardens in every way are designed to make you feel completely at peace with yourself. They are not messy, or busy to the eye. The sun does not beat down harshly on the back of your neck as you walk through, making you wish that you were inside. There is ample shade where you can be cool from the mid-day sun. Less is more to the Japanese, there are many small open spaces. The ground is covered completely in moss, grass does not look good around the base of trees, but moss grows up perfectly, leaving no dirt uncovered. Small undulations in the little mounds throughout the garden give it a living, flowing shape that perfectly complements the turqouise water in the center. Small stepping stones convey you through the shade and around the central pond, always in the shade. Koi (small, and sometimes very large fish) stare up at you from the brilliantly colored water as though wondering why you ventured into their beautiful home without so much as a by or leave. It is completely peaceful.