Sun The Garden Enjoys at www.japanese-home-gardens.com

How THE site is positioned in relation to the sun and shade is the next consideration. The aspect determines how much sun the garden enjoys and at what time of the day certain parts of the area are in sun or shade. In some cases—coastal districts and very exposed inland areas in particular—aspect determines what spots in the garden are exposed to strong winds and so need to be screened. Ideally, a backyard should have a sunny aspect and receive the maximum amount of sun during the day: if the garden is not over-shadowed, the sun will shine on it from early or mid-morning until evening. The principal drawback to such an aspect is that in some neighborhoods it may be exposed to strong winds, although these are usually relatively warm. The worst aspects for a garden are when the amount of sun that shines directly on the garden is restricted or where shade prevails during the afternoon. Accompanying winds are often strong and biting, and if the site is in a particularly open position, this could have a damaging effect on plants. Gardens that receive sun during at least the afternoon are much more favorable to plants, as they tend to benefit from a certain amount of warmth, shade and moisture.

The terms "civil liberties" and "civil rights" have no fixed and uniform definition. Often they are used broadly and interchangeably. One way of distinguishing the two phrases is to say that a person enjoys a civil "liberty" when he is protected against some government action, but enjoys a civil "right" when the law confers upon him a positive power to do something. Thus the right to speak freely would be a civil liberty; the right to use public facilities on an equal basis would be a civil right.

The inclusion of an arresting object within a small garden is an excellent way of detracting the eye from adjacent buildings and into the garden itself. The focal point in this garden is an ornate wrought-iron seat, which leads the eye down the garden. The rather austere rectangular lawn is surrounded by a mass of pretty, shrubby little plants, which together help to soften the overall look of the garden.