Using the principles of feng shui, a 15'-wide backyard in Boise, Idaho was finely crafted into an ornate Zen garden with a live stream and waterfall, a dry stream, a raking garden and meditation areas. Rough boulders were selected to represent the craggy cliffs where the ancestors live, and smooth boulders to encourage meditation.

The waterfall and stream were built???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+with a Firestone liner, two 6800 GPH pumps, a vault, a large catch basin, and 2" flex plumbing. There is also an inline 15-watt UV light from Pond Pro to inhibit algae growth. Instead of a manufactured spillway, the landscape team created their own invisible spring.

After painstaking placement of the boulders to ensure a natural look, the ones in the water feature were numbered and photographed, removed so the liner could be installed, and then returned to their established places. The final step was covering the streambed with river rock. A New Holland compact skid-steer and a Bobcat compact excavator assisted in this process.

Gravel and rubble make up the base of the dry streambed. The large bridge across it is made from three slabs of sandstone supported from underneath and joined with Gator polymer sand. The boulders in this bed symbolize secondary homes for the family's ancestors.

Though the terms feng shui and Zen are commonly used in the Western world today, and their Far Eastern origins are typically recognized, accurate meanings may be hard for most to pin down.

Literally translated in English as wind water, both of which are said to be associated with good health in the Chinese culture, feng shui is the practice of choosing or configuring a structure or a site, and the objects within, so as to harmonize with the spiritual forces that inhabit it, thereby bringing wellbeing and fortune to the people that inhabit it.

Zen has been translated at times as absorption or meditative state. Traced to the 6th century, it is a school of Buddhism that emphasizes personal insight through meditation and the expression of that insight in daily life.

Feng Shui was reportedly developed over 3,000 years ago. It is conversely described as an art, a science, and a complex body of knowledge, and for Terry Sims, a landscape designer and contractor, it was the foundation for a Zen garden that she was contracted to build for a family from China now living in Boise, Idaho.

That's where Sims' award-winning company, The Garden Artist Inc., has been in business for 10 years specializing in high-end outdoor living areas; finding projects through referrals, their website, and various social media outlets.

Referring to this project, Sims says, "My customers wanted to achieve a landscape reminiscent of their native China and designed around the fundamentals of feng shui. In addition, a family gathering area and raised vegetable garden beds were important to the overall functionality of the landscape."

The plan was for Sims to create the design and then oversee the build from start to finish. Under a business agreement, her team included project managers Dave Wells and Curt Gallegos from Cougar Mountain Landscape, and Tim Cobb from Treasure Valley Landscape, and their crews.

So relying on the principles of feng shui and the symbolism of a Zen garden, Sims got to work. Using a "Bagua energy map" she arranged the physical objects, both the hardscape and softscape improvements, on the design plan.

"A Bagua map is used to coordinate the energy of the environment to the fundamental aspects of human life, such as family, prosperity, career, relationships, love, money, health, creativity, and spiritual growth," reveals Sims. "I use the classic form of feng shui in most of my Asian landscapes. My knowledge of the ancient art is derived from self-education."

To control the rhizomes of the bamboo located behind the waterfall, the crew planted it in water troughs that are usually used for livestock, which were then buried with only two inches showing above ground. That exposed surface was painted brown to blend in. To the left of the bamboo is a weeping white pine. Framing the bottom of the photo is a Japanese red maple.

As is typical with Zen gardens, the view corridors were calculated to be tightly controlled, and meditation areas were established.

A New Holland compact skid-steer and a Bobcat compact excavator prepared the yard. Multiquip plate compactors compacted decomposed lava fines in the utility areas.

Hand-selected sandstone boulders were harvested from Weiser, Idaho. ???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+Some boulders were chosen for their rough texture to represent the craggy cliffs where the ancestors live. Other boulders were picked out for their smooth texture to encourage meditation.

The landscape team built a live stream and waterfall and a dry stream by arranging and rearranging some of the boulders until the features looked extremely natural. Then they numbered the boulders in the live water feature, photographed their placement, removed them to install the liner, returned them to their established locations, and then added the boulders surrounding the stream and the river rock on the streambed.

The skid-steer and the excavator helped with this effort. For some boulders, a chain was wrapped around them and hoisted by the machines. Hanging in the air, the boulders could be viewed from all sides by the team to help them decide which sides should be visible and which boulders were the most appropriate to create the planned water route.

"I am fortunate that Dave and Curt are masters in creating natural looking water features so I don't have to supervise every boulder that is placed," Sims admits.

Suggesting another source of water, rubble and gravel line the bottom of the dry creek, which is bridged by three large sandstone slabs. Boulders placed in the dry creek represent secondary homes for the ancestors.

Small 1/4" chip rock was used to create a "raking garden," a traditional part of a Zen garden that is meant to give people opportunities to calm their minds as they rake patterns in the material. Water is circulated through the live waterfall and stream by two Aquascape pumps and plumbing products but the landscape team created their own invisible spring instead of using a manufactured spillway.

The landscape is simplistic in nature with strategically placed plant materials, including evergreens, bamboo, and Japanese maples. The existing irrigation controller was deemed to be usable but a new drip system – Rainbird Xeribug emitters, 1/4" and 1/2" lines – and micro overhead spray heads were installed.

At the entrance to the garden is a landing platform for visitors to stop and take in the views. The raised vegetable garden and a small patio area are out of context with the theme, but both are screened with plant material to keep the integrity of the Zen garden intact.

In the future, accent lights from Vista Professional Outdoor Lighting will be installed. Cougar Mountain Landscape built out the hardscape and Treasure Valley Landscape???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+was responsible for completion of the softscape. In total it took eight workers three weeks to complete the project.

Sims reports that the biggest challenge was containing the rhizomes of the bamboo. To solve the problem, the crew planted the bamboo in water troughs that are usually used for livestock. The troughs were then buried with only two inches showing above ground. That exposed surface was painted brown to disguise the metal.

Other difficulties included the limited size of the yards. Access to the backyard was through a 5'-wide side yard so careful attention had to be paid to prevent damage to the fence and side of the house. The backyard itself was only 15' wide, which tested the landscape team's ability to make it appear wider.

And what materialized in that small and non-descript yard, thanks to their work, was a picturesque, serene, yet intricate landscape that demonstrates the Zen tradition of rediscovery, and the Feng Shui principles of harmony.