I've read that the first thing to do is to decide the location of the stones in the garden. The books all talk about the importance of placing stones in groups of 3 or 5, in triangular arrangements. Obviously this is very important where the stones are highly visible, for example if they are in a Zen-style garden, set in gravel.

My question is: should the same rules apply in a garden that is going for a more natural feel, where the stones are partly obscured by the plants? (I want a garden that is similar in style to a tea-garden, with the feel of a path leading through wild countryside.)

Thanks for your help.
Clare

For your purposes, you can simplify to a few basic rules that apply to ALL rock placement, including "arrangements":
Select stone that is all the same type, ideally well-weathered granite complete with lichens and/or moss. The patina of weathered stone, the dark color, the 'hardness' of granite softened by the growth of lichens and moss all encourage good wabi-sabi. Using all the same type of stone assures that its use is not jarring to the senses; all fits well and makes a convincing statement. In addition, the seams and cracks in the stones should all run in the same idrection so as to suggest that they are all connected underground and have experienced the passage of time together. The stone should be turned so that its most interesting face is presented though, if it has lichens, it should be turned so that the lichens are facing the same sun exposure as they previously experienced so that they don't die off. It should be buried to its 'spread line' which is its widest point. This assures that it looks stable and seems to have been there forever. So many stones are perched unnaturally on top of the ground and look as if they were eggs laid by dinosaurs! Do not place stones of the same size or shape next to each other. Use the largest stones that you can handle, or combine several smaller ones into a lump that looks as if it were a single stone split by the elements. The use of too-small stones will make your garden look unconvincing and cheapen the effect. Do not obscure the stone with plants but strive to make them weep over the tops or around the sides. Avoid the use of bright colors and too many ornaments .... less is always more in this type of garden!