She continued: "In a Western garden you go, 'Oh, pretty!'

The Japanese types have been in Western gardens for at least 150 years.

In Western gardens it may range 30 feet in all directions, making it unsuitable for all but the largest spaces.

Western gardens are almost universally based on plants, with garden often signifying a shortened form of botanical garden.

"Western gardens are typically optimised for visual appeal while Japanese gardens are modelled with spiritual and philosophical ideas in mind."

Japanese gardens, however, differ from common Western gardens that obsess over flowers and plants.

When asked if he were ever similarly inspired by a Western garden, he cited an experience at the Alhambra in Granada, Spain.

There have been great Western gardens since the Renaissance.

"Western gardens are usually designed to embrace a view as a whole," Mr. Collins wrote.

Unlike Western gardens, designed for amusement, Japanese gardens are created as a place to contemplate, reflect and become one with nature.