Courtyard Garden---Tsubo Niwa

Courtyard gardens or Tsubo-Niwa, are popular in Japan and often found in temples, restaurants and in traditional merchant homes from the Edo period.  This garden was inspired by those, and of course adapted to fit this Mt. Pleasant home.

  

The view from the screen porch....the Japanese maple is intentionally leaning. We built berms in three of the corners and covered them with dwarf mondo grass (Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nana'). 

Before & after view from the porch

Fernleaf bamboo, torulosa juniper and giant ligularia are the main specimen plants in a garden that focuses on foliar and textural contrast.  

during construction

The view from the porch during construction.