

My mini coast would be inside, a place not suited for many outdoor plants, in particular that signature of the Maine profile: the stately evergreen. See below for a list of materials and step-by-step instructions:Ībove: After I had my concept, I faced another challenge: The Maine seashore is outside. N.B.: Is Maine not your particular Zen-scape? This general idea can be adapted to any mini garden, provided you consider a few basic principles. Where is this place for me? After I asked myself this question, the answer was clear: the coast of Maine. From there the project was easy as I set about to create my own miniature, desktop Down East. More broadly speaking, it is a place of tranquility, where one is in harmony with nature: a place not just of contemplation, but also one that encourages a thoughtful interaction and exchange with the natural world. Specifically, it is a small-scale landscape–most often with rocks, sand, and minimal plantings–designed to conjure the elements of a grander vista. Then I thought about what a Zen garden really is.

(Plus those gardens don’t have any plants.) I needed a different approach. (Do these qualify as the “cheesy” kind?) But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that the reason that these versions didn’t resonate with me was because they were someone else’s idea of Zen. Of course, my first thought when I read “desktop Zen garden” was of those tiny, sand-filled trays, with stones and little rakes. Talk about Mission Impossible. But I’ve always said that extreme challenges often lead to the most innovative solutions, so I chose to accept this, ahem, task. Like when you open an email from your editor inquiring if you might be willing to create a desktop Zen garden of the “non-tacky, non-cheesy” variety. Sometimes working in a creative field can feel like living in a Tom Cruise spy film. Icon - Check Mark A check mark for checkbox buttons. Icon - Twitter Twitters brand mark for use in social sharing icons. Icon - Pinterest Pinterests brand mark for use in social sharing icons. flipboard Icon - Instagram Instagrams brand mark for use in social sharing icons. Icon - Facebook Facebooks brand mark for use in social sharing icons. Icon - Email Used to indicate an emai action. Icon - Search Used to indicate a search action. Icon - Zoom In Used to indicate a zoom in action on a map. Icon - Zoom Out Used to indicate a zoom out action on a map. Icon - Location Pin Used to showcase a location on a map.

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