Answers
I would like to create a japanese garden on a shoe string budget in a small area of my garden.I also want a water feature in it with hopefully a bridge.Big wish list .I work well with pictures which i can relate to.
Hope the links below help you create the Japanese garden with a bridge!
http://www.aboutjapanesegardens.org/
http://www.mojg.org/
http://www.jgarden.org/
http://www.tokyo-gardens.com/
http://images.google.com/images?q=japane se+garden&hl=en&lr=&rls=GGLR ,GGLR:2005-43,GGLR:en&sa=X&oi=im ages&ct=title
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_ga rden
bit.ly Heres what you will find ✔How your garden can look like an authentic Zen garden in just a couple of hours! ✔Discover the 5 essential types ...
What are some good internet references or books that I can refer to ?
Thank You.
Japanese gardening is a philosophy and art. Less is more. Even a stone can be an important element in a Japanese garden.
Look at lots of pictures and see what kind you like. Then determine what you can grow in yor zone and narrow your plant list down.The first link is excellent nad has design plans.
I live in Orange County, CA
You can search the internet "japanese gardens". There is a company I found recently when i did that search that had some beautiful designs. Or search healing gardens.
I know there's a wide range, but please give me your best guess. Please include choices of styles and effect on cost as well. It's for my university garden club's project, and we'd like an idea of expenses as we begin our design process!
Depends. Range between $ 1000.00 to $ 50 000.00
I was asked to design a small garden, mostly influenced by zen gardens. The site is shaped like a triangle, and there's bamboo on one of the corners. However, the owners don't want sand or gravel because they have dogs, and the site doesn't seem to be apt for a zen garden (there's a Mexican fountain and a cross), so I thought about using some big rocks, tall ferns (similar to lady ferns), santolina and salvia. Santolina mostly to resemble the color of gravel, and salvia because I like the scent and the purple flowers somewhat resemble Japanese cherry blossoms. Do you have any other recommendations? Thanks for the advice.
How about a small waterfall? Just the kind that bubbles over into a small pond. I would say add some Koi, but dogs+fish=bloody mess.
I think it would be really cool to add a few Tea plants. Set them off in a little corner, encircled by rocks. How cool to have access to your own tea!
Maybe some japanese-style solar lights: http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i64/Le ap2live/bghghgh.jpg
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i64/Le ap2live/gfhgh.jpg
Get some rocks which have Japanese symbols ingraved, or jade colored rocks.
A bonsai tree: http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i64/Le ap2live/bon2a.jpg
or some cool wind chimes: http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i64/Le ap2live/485-045.jpg
News
Expert visits Japanese garden in FargoIn-Forum - Aug 29, 2009
The Northern Plains Botanic Garden Society hopes to hire Uchiyama, one of America#39;s premier experts on Japanese garden design, as a consultant for its ownPhiladelphia Inquirer - Aug 28, 2009
A rare look at a garden as hummingbirds gatherDiOrio#39;s holding off on a formal garden design until he can afford some greenhouses; he wants to do some propagating and more collecting from Brazil and theExaminer.com - Aug 27, 2009
A lawn, it is true, fits this model perfectly, but so do other forms of garden design, many of them more varied and attractive than a patch of short grass. and morenbsp;raquo;
Memphis Commercial Appeal - Aug 28, 2009
Cost $30 ($20 botanic garden members). Fee includes lunch. Learn about this ancient Japanese art of floral design. Pre-registration recommended. and morenbsp;raquo;OregonLive.com - Aug 27, 2009
Makeovers turn neglected side yards into star attractionsAcross the street, a neighbor was working with garden designer Paul Taylor. Mills liked what she saw and decided Taylor could help her, too.Urbana/Champaign News-Gazette - Aug 28, 2009
New Garden Gateway at DACC pleasing to donor#39;s eyesIt#39;s surrounded by a small garden of rose bushes, ornamental grass, a Japanese maple tree and two holly trees. The structure was designed by Walton and morenbsp;raquo;Malaysia Star - Feb 07, 1940
A life-size painting propped up against the wall, sections of print-stencilled concrete and stylishly littered 60s-inspired design touches. That#39;s not all.
Japanese Garden Design by Marc P. Keane (1996, Book,...
A Practical Guide to Japanese Gardening: From Design Op
Japanese Gardens Encyclopedia of Plants Landscape Designs Water Features
1958 JAPANESE GARDEN DESIGN planting footbridge gates western style water +more 
3-PG 1932 ARTICLE ON THE DESIGN OF JAPANESE GARDENS