ISHS Acta Horticulturae 642: XXVI International Horticultural Congress: Horticulture, Art and Science for Life - The Colloquia Presentations
THE MEANING OF THE GARDEN IN HUMAN LIFE |
| Author: | J.M. Messervy |
| Keywords: | the inward garden, garden concepts and design, archetypal garden vantage points, the garden ¿journey¿, the Toronto Music Garden |
| Abstract:
Gardens have long been used to express the interests, talents and values of notable personages and many historical gardens continue to instruct and inspire. People garden for many reasons. They garden to see things grow, to interact with nature, to play in, to find sanctuary, to heal, to honor the earth, or to leave a mark. Through gardening we can feel whole as we make our personal work of art upon the land. Garden design can be thought of as creating a pleasing environment that serves our innermost needs with respect to place and space and our primal feelings toward the earth. Healthy human development from infancy to adulthood evolves from initial strong needs for sanctuary and protection to increasingly adventurous contemplations of and encounters with our natural environment. These needs or longings can be served or satisfied with garden design features using the seven archetypal vantage points described herein. The Toronto Music Garden, based on Bach’s First Cello Suite, is used to illustrate the ‘big idea’ and the ‘garden journey’ components of every successful garden. | |
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