Garden Fountain Design

I was asked to design a small garden, mainly influenced by the Zen gardens. The site is triangular, and there is bamboo on one corner. However, owners do not want sand or gravel because they have dogs, and the site does not seem fit for a Zen garden (there is a fountain of Mexico and a cross), so I thought to use a large rock, large ferns (similar to Lady ferns), santolina and salvia. Santolina especially to resemble the color of gravel, and salvia because I love the smell and the purple flowers look a bit like Japanese cherry blossoms. Do you have other recommendations? Thank you for the advice.

What a small waterfall? Exactly the kind that bubbles over in a small pond. I would add some Koi fish but dogs + = bloody pulp.
I think it would be really cool to add some tea plants. Put them in a little corner, surrounded by rocks. How cool to have access to your own tea!
Maybe some Japanese-style solar lights: http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i64/Le ...

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i64/Le ...

Get rocks that have engraved Japanese symbols, or jade colored rocks.

A bonsai tree: http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i64/Le ...

or a fresh wind chimes: http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i64/Le ...

What a platform with landscapes of the effect?

your idea sounds great! they could add Asian pottery and bamboo plant, or a dwarf maple, and maybe get a new fountain that is simplistic (or perhaps if you can a koi pond)

stepping stones .... ...... Sand can be a fountain