THE ZEN OF JAPANESE GARDEN DESIGN

aristocrats-built gardens as places of retreat and contemplation, often surrounding themselves with serene ponds, meticulously pruned trees, and symbolic features.

The Edo period (1603-1868) witnessed the development of several distinct styles of Japanese gardens. Tea gardens (chaniwa) became popular, emphasising simplicity and rustic beauty.

Prominent tea masters like Sen no Rikyū played a signifcant role in shaping these tranquil retreats. Another infuential style is the stroll garden (kaiyūshiki teien), which offers carefully curated views and pathways to encourage meditation and refection.

Key Elements of Japanese Garden Design

Balance and Symmetry: Japanese gardens often follow a principle of balance and symmetry, creating a sense of harmony and order. Elements like rocks, lanterns, and plants are strategically placed to maintain equilibrium.

Water Features: Water is a fundamental element in Japanese gardens, representing purity and tranquillity. Ponds, streams, and waterfalls are common, and koi fsh often inhabit these aquatic landscapes.

Rocks and Stones: Rocks hold great symbolism in Japanese culture, representing mountains or islands. They are meticulously arranged to create natural-looking formations that evoke a sense of rugged beauty.

Bridges: Arched or fat bridges serve both practical and aesthetic purposes. They connect different areas of the garden and add a sense of mystery and journey.

Plants and Trees: Japanese gardens feature carefully chosen plants and trees, often with an emphasis on evergreens, moss, and cherry blossoms. Pruning and shaping are essential to maintain their beauty.

Tea Houses and Lanterns: Tea houses (chashitsu) and stone lanterns (tōrō) are common elements in Japanese gardens, offering spaces for meditation and tea ceremonies.

Bamboo Fencing: Bamboo fencing and screens provide privacy and a sense of enclosure, enhancing the feeling of a secluded oasis. Incorporating Japanese Garden Principles

While you may not have acres of land to recreate a sprawling traditional Japanese garden, you can certainly incorporate its principles into your own outdoor space, whether it’s a small backyard or a balcony.

Simplicity: Simplify your design by removing clutter and excess decorations. Embrace minimalism, focusing on a few key elements that hold personal signifcance.

Natural Materials: Use natural materials like wood, stone, and bamboo in your garden design. Opt for unobtrusive, earthy colours to create a serene atmosphere.

Balance and Harmony: Strive for balance and harmony in your layout. Arrange plants and decorative elements in a way that feels visually pleasing and calming.

Water Features: If space allows, consider adding a small pond, birdbath, or a tabletop fountain to introduce the calming infuence of water.

Zen Aesthetics: Incorporate Zen aesthetics by using gravel or sand to create a Zen garden (karesansui).

Rake patterns into the gravel to simulate the fow of water or waves.

Pruning and Maintenance: Regularly prune and shape your plants to maintain their beauty and promote a sense of order. A well-maintained garden is essential for capturing the essence of Japanese garden design.

Japanese garden design is a timeless art form that celebrates the connection between humans and the natural world. Its principles of balance, simplicity, and harmony can be applied to gardens of all sizes, allowing you to create a serene and contemplative outdoor space in your own home. Whether you’re inspired by the meditative qualities of a koi pond or the elegance of a well-placed stone lantern, the essence of a Japanese garden can bring a sense of tranquillity and beauty to your life. So, take a cue from this ancient tradition and start designing your own slice of paradise, where nature and human spirit can fnd peace together.

Funeral Notice

GLENYS CROKER (neé MacINTOSH)

22.03.1941 – 21.09.2023

Passed away unexpectedly on ursday, the 21st of September 2023 Aged 82 years.

Late of Ballina, formerly of Pymble NSW. Dearly loved wife of Graham (dec). Loved mother of Peter (dec) and Geo rey. Stepmother to Simon and Michael and their families. Beloved sister to Gail & Murray and family.

Family and friends are warmly invited to attend Glenys’s Memorial Service, to be held at e Richmond Chapel, Parkview Funeral Home Ballina on Friday 6th October commencing at 10.30am.

Forecast

Warnings

See www.bom.gov.au/australia/warnings

Northern Rivers District:

Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers near the Queensland border, slight chance elsewhere. Winds northerly 25 to 40 km/h. Thursday. Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers. The chance of a storm. Winds northerly 15 to 25 km/h turning west to northwesterly during the morning.

Northern Tablelands District:

Mostly sunny morning. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the evening. The chance of a storm on and west of the ranges in the afternoon and evening. Winds northerly 25 to 40 km/h.

Thursday. Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower, most likely in the morning. Winds north to northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h turning westerly 25 to 40 km/h during the morning then decreasing to 15 to 20 km/h during the evening.

TIDES, SUN & MOON Ballina

New South Wales:

Showers tending to periods of rain across the inland with a shower or two reaching eastern parts later. Storms possible, more likely over the plains, with some possibly becoming severe. Daytime temperatures above average in the east, grading to well below average in the west. Fresh to strong and gusty northeast to northwesterly winds turning cool, west to southwesterly in the west.

Thursday. Showers in the east, contracting to the southern ranges and adjacent western slopes during the day. The chance of a storm in the far northeast. Snow falling on the Alps above 1400 metres. Dry and sunny in the northwest. Daytime temperatures well below average, especially in the west. West to southwesterly winds, fresh to strong and gusty in the east.

Byron Coast:

Winds: Northerly 20 to 30 knots. Seas: 2 to 3 metres. Swell: Northeasterly around 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy.

Coffs Coast:

Winds: Northerly 25 to 35 knots increasing to 30 to 40 knots during the evening. Seas: 2.5 to 3 metres, increasing to 3 to 4 metres during the afternoon or evening. Swell: Southerly below 1 metre. Weather: Mostly sunny.

Gold Coast Waters:

Winds: Northeasterly 15 to 20 knots increasing to 20 to 25 knots in the early morning then turning northerly 25 to 30 knots during the afternoon. Seas: 1.5 to 2.5 metres. Swell: Northeasterly around 1 metre inshore, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres offshore. Weather: Partly cloudy.

BALLINA MAHJONG 29th

September 2023

1. Val Heinritz, 2. Vanessa Reynolds, 3. Pauline

Bolte, 4. Shirley Coleman, 5. Janena Bird, 6. Pauline

Kearney, 7. Susan Allan, 8. Shirley Atkinson, 9. Lorna Simpson, 10. Susan

Scott, Jan Rhodes, 12. Jan

Small, 13. Yvonne Weddup, Barbara Ellan, 15. Ronda

Taylor, 16. Diana Auret, 17. Lynda Lovett, 18. Eve Chapman, June Chapman, 20. Lisa Wong, 21. Jeanette

McGuiness, 22. Janene

Jarvis, Ann Hewitt, 24. Kath

Hubbard, 25. Joy Lowien, 26. Sally Lowry, 27. Coral

Lavelle, 28. Lesley Richie, 29. Jane Fenech, 30. Jenny

Lang, 31. Jan Boardman, 32. Valda McLerie, 33. Sarah

Bull, 34. Shirley Henry, 35. Cindy Smith, 36. Kathy Pickles.

Cherry Street Croquet Club Sports

Results

Tournaments :

GCTR Ricochet

Championships :

Div 2 : L.Parker 1,G.Purcell

2, M.Campbell 3.

Div 4 : D.Turner 1, C.Parker

2, J.Manning 3, P.Singh 4, M.Barrett 5.

Sutherland Intercept Adv Golf Singles : Cherry Street team players : Block A Peter Sinclair 1st, Roberta Flint 2nd, Ron Johnstone 3rd. Block B Helen Young 2nd, Jim Hannigan 3rd, Joan Doust

8th.

Block C Wendy Gilmore 2nd, Christine Edlund 7th, Rosalie Offey 8th.

Interstate Shield Golf Croquet Singles & Doubles

Championships : David Scott member NSW Team.

New South Wales1,Western Australia 2, Queensland 3,

Victoria 4, South Australia 5, Tasmania 6.

Cherry Street Croquet Club

Team

Successful at Sutherland

Intercept.

R.Offey, H Young, J.Hannigan, C.Edlund, J.Doust, W.Gilmore

M. Gibson, K. Hickey, B. Montague.

Ladies Social Day- 2709-23 - Winners - Triples

- K. Townsend, A. Eyles, P. Freeman/S. Downs.

Runners/up - Fours - C. Hammond, P. Fuller, G. Marczan, K. Hickey.

RESULTS FROM CASINO

RSM WOMENS BOWLS CLUB

Wednesday 27/9

Today some of the ladies played their frst round games for the club Major singles championship & the result was:

H. Lavelle def J. Cooke

J. Carthew def T. Maxwell

The winner of the other social game was:

C. Doyle, B. Reid, C. Haynes & K. Jonsson def C. Doyle, J. Creighton, D. Skinner & M. Hellyar.

Evans Head Womens

BOWLS

Ladies Social Day- 20-09-23

- Highest Margin - Winners

- V. Forshaw, B. Parkes, G. Marczan, V. Hart. Runners/up - B. Hancock,

Good luck ladies in your next game.

There were 2 social games & the results were: Winners for the day were K. McKay, D. Grice & I. Watson def L. James, N. Moran & M. Mead

2023 club champions for the club selected open pairs.

L. James & N. Moran Congratulations ladies.

Results Saturday, September 30, 2023.

Grafton

Micro Sprints. Heat 1: Harley Roberts 1, John Lawson 2, Matt King

3. Heat 2: Matt King 1, Josh Baker 2, Michael

Shearer 3. Heat 3: Michael Shearer 1, Josh Baker 2, Matt King 3.

Feature: Harley Roberts

1, John Lawson 2, Josh Baker 3.

SSA Production

Sedans. Heat 1: Dale Corbett 1, Geoff Hayes

2, Brenden Hayes 3. Heat 2: Brenden Hayes

1, Geoff Hayes 2, Dale Corbett 3. Heat 3: Dale Corbett 1, Geoff Hayes

2, Brenden Hayes 3.

Feature: Dale Corbett 1, Sam Mooney 2, Peter

Chiplin 3.

RSA Street Stockers.

Heat 1: Greg Dickinson

1, Connor Reeves 2, Adrian Williams 3. Heat

2: Connor Reeves 1, Kaleb Daly 2, Adrian Williams 3. Heat 3: Connor Reeves 1, Kaleb Daly 2, Greg Dickinson 3. Feature: Connor Reeves 1, Greg

Dickinson 2, Kaleb Daly 3.

AMCA Nationals.

Heat 1: Tony Blanch 1, Graham Holland 2, Paul Reeves 3. Heat 2: Paul Reeves 1, Troy

Price 2, Tony Blanch 3. Heat 3: Tony Blanch 1, Andy Wilcox 2, Brett Robotham 3. Feature: Tony Blanch 1, Paul

Reeves 2, Mark Taylor 3, Brett Robotham 4, Andy Wilcox 5, Aida Miller

6, Graham Holland 7, Bianca Herne 8, Gary Stacey 9, Brody Faulds 10.

Toowoomba

V8 Dirt Modifeds

Dirt Classic. Heat 1: Kevin Britten 1, Mark

Robinson 2, Ray Klarich

3. Heat 2: David Clark

1, Andrew Firth 2, Scott

Cannon 3. Heat 3: Zac

McDonald 1, Mitchell

Randall 2, Blake

Everleigh 3. Heat 4: Chris Corbett 1, Seiton Young 2, Ray Klarich 3.

Feature: Kevin Britten 1, Chris Corbett 2, Mitchell Randall 3.