Sowing the Moon Roji

This garden is part of Sowing the Moon teahouse, the center for teaching and practicing the Way of Tea at San Francisco Zen Center’s Green Gulch Farm.
Roji (literally dewy ground, sometimes called tea gardens) are directly associated with teahouses, and are a key part of tea practice. In roji design, there are many conventions that dictate the layout of paths, the selection of plants, and the inclusion and placement of key items like lanterns, gates and water basins. Although these conventions are widely understood, they are only loosely defined, and the ultimate goal of the roji is to create a space where guests can shed the dust of the world, and prepare to share tea with the host.