Elements of Japanese Gardens: Part 2, Bamboo structures.

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During my recent trip to the Portland Japanese Garden, I focused on observing how bamboo is used in traditional structures—tall screens, medium-height fences, low borders, and, of course, bamboo spouts for water features. Some designs use whole bamboo canes, others feature split pieces, and many combine bamboo with other natural materials.









What struck me most was the exceptional attention to detail and tradition. Nowhere did I see plastic weed barriers, for example. The garden is a celebration of high-quality natural materials, exactly as it should be. Even the bamboo panels are tied with natural fiber twine. Under the close examination, it was clear that hardware is used to make the panels, but then it is concealed with the twine, often tied in artful knots. 

 


Inevitably, both the bamboo and the twine age and deteriorate, requiring constant renewal—but that’s part of the philosophy. The garden is meant to show the passage of time, to embrace aging and change as part of its beauty.


My goal during this visit was to study a range of these structures, understand their purposes, and consider how similar elements might be incorporated into a small, contemporary, Japanese-inspired suburban garden. I am including the snapshots I took of the uses of bamboo in the garden, and of technical details of construction. 











A couple of external links: 

How to build your own bamboo fences: https://www.gardeners.com/blogs/garden-structures-articles/diy-bamboo-fences-and-trellises-5162

How to make things out of bamboo: http://www.youtube.com/@CountryWhatnotGardens 

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