GARDENS - History of Gardening, Ancient Gardens, Modern Day Gardens, Paradise Gardens

History of Gardening

After the 4^th century, the art of gardening grew in Byzantium and Moorish Spain and soon a new type of miniature gardening centering around ponds soon developed in China and later Japan.

In the 13^th century, France was at the forefront of garden design, but it wasn’t until the Italian Renaissance that a boom in vase natural gardens occurred. England’s upper class was equally enthused about gardening, but preferred a more enclosed private garden.

The infamous hedge mazes and knot designs were in full force in England by the 1600s and by the end of the century England looked to Italian and French garden designs with their geometrical patterns and statuaries. In stark contrast, geometric gardens would soon make way for sprawling lawns and winding paths that flowed through natural looking landscapes.

By the 19^th century, the oh-so-natural and romantic cottage garden was a popular look and in the 20^th century city gardens were starting to grow. Today, the trend is gardening is container gardens for renters and gardens with an environmental influence for homeowners.

With busy schedules that conflict with a growing desire for gardens, many homeowners opt for low maintenance drought-tolerant plants, with rocks and natural grasses to accent a variety of popular designs including cottage gardens. Another trend is gardening is plants with a purpose, whether it be to attract butterflies or to create a rain garden to soak up excess water in trouble spots in the property.

Food gardens have been around since the beginning of time, but it wasn’t until 1500 BC, according to Wikpedia, that gardening for sheer decoration was depicted in Egyptian tomb paintings as decorative ponds surrounded by palm trees. Also among the earliest gardens are the Persian paradise gardens, a design of raised land overlooking a rectangular water garden that many future gardens would mimic. These private garden designs were cherished by Greek and Roman scholars who used them as an area to teach and work. Modern day gardens are similar to paradise gardens in the sense that the garden is meant to be a peaceful place to escape stresses of life and just relax.

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