How to make a Zen Garden

Web guys aren't noted for their hectic social lives, but this invitation included a Zen garden party--which piqued my interest. So I dug out some fern and moss and vinca from various shady parts of the yard as my contribution to the "potluck." After the ceremonial, meditative and gustatory portions of the event were concluded, everyone else fled, leaving the host and me to manage the garden part. The site, it turned out, had lately been half of a garage, sawed down the middle and demolished, leaving the standing half for a kiln shelter. Somewhere, Tom Sawyer was smiling...

First, smash the pavement;
then dig out the cinder blocks.
Water well with sweat.