Tsukubai Water Fountains
TRANQUILITY INSPIRED BY TRADITION
A tsukubai creates a serene atmosphere with its gentle flow of water and natural elements, inviting visitors to pause and appreciate the beauty of nature. Inspired by Japanese gardening traditions, the tsukubai is a water feature composed of a stone water basin often fed with a trickle of water, traditionally from a bamboo spout with a set of stepping stones and boulders in functional supporting roles.
If you are thinking of adding the delightful splash and play of water to your garden plan, contact us. A tsukubai may be the perfect addition to an outdoor room next to your home.
BORROWED FROM TRADITION
Tsukubai were originally used in Japanese tea gardens as places for washing prior to entering tea houses for traditional tea ceremonies. The word tsukubai means “crouching bowl” or “stooping basin” and was said to have been designed to encourage humility and purity of body and mind. This hospitable gesture also signified a washing away of the cares of the world before participating in close fellowship over a simple cup of tea.
MULTI-PURPOSE FOR MODERN GARDENS
Although a tsukubai still alludes to Japanese traditions, in the modern garden it can serve a number of other delightful purposes simply as a source for the refreshing chatter of moving water in a peaceful garden nook, or as a splash park for feathered garden visitors. Butterflies, bees, and pollinating insects also love the constantly refreshed but gently moving water.
HAND-CRAFTED FOR ENDURING BEAUTY
Our craftsmen carve out the tsukubai basin from boulders selected to fit the size and scope of the garden in which the water feature will be placed. We have found this trickle of water combined with rugged stone features to be an often-appreciated garden element for all of its historical meaning, as well as the delight that comes from encountering the tsukubai as part of the beauty of the garden.
Our Garden Design Process
Explore
Share your goals, ideas, and project budget and we will begin to survey and plan your garden
Design
We will consider all your primary view perspectives, both inside and out as we design your garden
Build
Your garden dream will begin to take shape at the hands of our highly skilled craftsmen and landscapers
Enjoy
Every project ends with the reward of experiencing the joyful stewardship of your little piece of creation
Testimonials
What surprised us most was how much more we love our home since Hanselman Landscape began working here! In addition to the beautiful new backyard oasis they created, they are here regularly to care for our plants, turning existing shrubs that we thought were worthless into beautiful, valuable specimens.
Our needs were to have as much privacy as possible from neighboring homes. Everything was done to perfection. This was the first time in a while (even with building a new home) that we gave the job to someone and never, ever had to go over again and again what was to be done.
Words do not serve well to express the sense of serenity and pleasure which your fine work evokes. I would liken the feeling to that of walking alone through a great museum.
I can’t even put into words how much I love my new yard. Hanselman Landscape did an outstanding job–changing an ugly piece of land into a serene and beautiful garden. The workmanship of Hanselman Landscape’s employees is of the highest quality.
Hanselman Landscape has helped us re-landscape our property over the past 3 years. James has a way of guiding you through your own garden, taking in the vantage points, and uncovering your vision (even though you didn’t know you had one)!
We liked the way James (Hanselman) explained and introduced the suggested plantings, actually showing us leaf samples. We needed and appreciated his guidance. Thanks for adding to our enjoyment of our home with your creative landscaping.
The Gardener’s Journal
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EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENCE OF HANSELMAN LANDSCAPE AND GARDENS
Founded in 1985, Hanselman Landscape & Gardens designs, builds, and nurtures a wide variety of gardens in both private and corporate settings. From our headquarters in Manheim, Pennsylvania, we serve clients throughout the region, including Philadelphia’s Main Line—and as far away as Cambridge, Massachusetts. We also cultivate unique specimen plants, which we make available to discriminating gardeners and architects.