Sorry, domain name changed into www.zen-garden.org Here is a link that might be useful: Video clips references

OK--for the river-like feature, what about a DRY river feature? My friend has her front garden done with a couple different heights, using soil, then dry river formations all along the front of the garden. It's very lovely and she gets many compliments on it. All that was done is to put down weed block fabric. then use small river rock for the "river" and enhance it with some larger stones along some of the edges with a few scattered in the center. Don't make it all uniform.It should look like a little backwater of the river that dries out after hard rains. She's had this garden for many years. She keeps the rocks clean of leaves and twigs,etc, by using a leaf blower. She has dwarf trees in it such as Japanese Hanoki, dwarf white pine, weeping hemlock,etc. Some hostas sprinkled in and creeping juniper.

You might post on the Landscape Design or on Japanese Gardening forum. Best luck!

I hope you don’t mind me playing around with the image (I’m not a pro) ... I added river rock, stacked boulders, decorative pot (for a sculptural look), ornamental grasses, Lantana, and an idea for a low ground cover (front corner). I don’t know what plants do best in your area, a good nursery will. This isn’t an idea set in stone (heh), just to give a visual idea of a minimal look. I personally think a tree there would be too much. I like how your house is framed by mature and lush plantings — it’s attractive and provides nice borders with neighbors. I think a simple, Xeri/zen area just in the front there would compliment your house well and be a nice contrast with everything else. (The bed between the driveway and walk seems overgrown, are you wanting to change it, too? I think low growing plants would be better there.)