Creating a Japanese Garden with a Koi Pond

Male: Both Gene and Diap Agress have an eye for detail and an appreciation of beauty. Together they run a world renowned Japanese inspired binding furniture studio. They’ve already started a minimalist Japanese garden at the back yard.

Gene Agress: I often hear from people, “When I step into your backyard, I’m stepping out of the city into a very private space.”

Male: Now they’re looking to take it further. And they have some various specific ideas.

They wanted to add a Japanese style water feature. I’ve enlisted master Japanese gardener, Egi Nakamura, he started designing gardens in Japan 30 years ago. Now he’s in high demand in his country and he’s created gardens for many famous homes. When we started, this backyard already had a simple Japanese garden, designed by a master. But Gene and Deap really wanted to expand it and include a Koi pod and a waterfall.

We created a refuge in the middle of an industrial neighborhood.

Greg Agress: One of the things that I really wanted was the sound of water and Egi has created some water flow that come down over the big rock and through these pebbles back into the pond.

Male: Egi Nakamura brought some innovative design ideas and integrated them seamlessly with existing garden. The centerpiece, a serene Koi pod.

Gary Gragg: Egi really brought this garden to a whole new level. It’s in an urban setting. There’s lots of kiosk outside the walls of this garden. By adding water to this garden, Egi has created the ultimate restful retreat.

Male: The sound of water horning from an existing boulder not only brings peace to the garden but really high lights the designed principle that worked here. Nature has imitated a miniature. The stones are mountains, the water flows like a stream and feels a clear mountain lake. Bonsai techniques bring all the plants in the scale. Through our careful integration of plants, stones and water, areas of serene and quite beauty emerged.

Gary Gragg: Cool thing about Egi’s design is that he’s taking all these mastered stones and worked it into an existing stone garden that a very famous Japanese gardener had previously put in and blended these new stones in to take advantage of the rocks that are already there and really respecting the previous design.

Male: While many of our plants are indigenous to Japan, they can be grown as far north as Minnesota since the regions aren’t similar climate zone. Most of green light juniper but some like a maple and azalea provides seasonal burst of color. The addition of Koi fish completes the tranquil picture.

Greg Gragg: Mr. Gene here, how does my man Egi did for you?

Gene Agress: He created a virtual paradise. It’s a place that I can see myself coming in years and years and years and just enjoying myself felling like I’m on vacation.