Historical Development of Gardens Part 1

Gardens in History

Gardens were initially used primarily for agricultural purposes. Later, however, due to the need for pleasant surroundings, people began planting flowers and trees in their gardens.

Ancient Times

The first garden in ancient Egypt dates back to 4,000 BC. In ancient times, gardens were considered a sign of luxury and prosperity. The garden was divided into regular sections and parts, and included an irrigation system that supplied the plants with fresh water.

Egyptian gardens typically featured a pond placed in the center, whose size depended on the owner's wealth. Other essential elements included tree-lined avenues that provided shelter from the sun, fountains, and a large wall that surrounded the entire garden.

Ancient Romans and Greeks then began building parks and gardens that were accessible to all social classes. Roman gardens included an atrium.

Syrian and Babylonian Gardens

According to legends, the mythical Garden of Eden was located here. Its fame was perhaps surpassed only by the Hanging Gardens of Semiramis (Babylonian), which came into existence around 600 BC.

As plants began to be imported from occupied lands, the first arboretums and botanical gardens were established here.

Persian Gardens - Lost Paradise

In these gardens, we find mainly poplars and cypresses. The gardens were also enlivened by birds - for example, doves, swans, ducks, and pheasants. In the ponds, which were also an essential feature, colorful fish swam peacefully.

Ancient India boasted not only gardens but also orchards, which featured an elongated pool used for rituals and purification. There were also pavilions and shelters where people gathered and spent their leisure time.

China

The famous concept of yin and yang appears here, and the harmony of these two elements is fundamental to Chinese gardens, which are conceived as a noble art. In the 15th century, huts and studies were built in gardens.

The Chinese have always revered the naturalness of nature.

They began cultivating miniature plants, so-called dwarfs, which later spread to Japan and from there to the entire world.

Japan

The beginning of Japanese gardens dates back to the 6th century, when elaborate water palaces were created. The 15th century was influenced by the Buddhist Zen sect, which returned to nature. Colourfulness was restricted, giving way to restraint and elegance. In addition to shaping miniature trees, Japanese gardens focus on stones, which represent mountains.

Various types of gardens were created in Japan:

• Tea gardens - for this type of garden, the basis is a tea house separated from the outside world. It must include a stone lantern, a small water feature and a paved path, which is the axis of the entire garden.

• Dry gardens - created for meditation purposes, the main elements are boulders as rocks and sand as water.

• Meditation gardens - located at monastery complexes and form part of them

• Park gardens - created at the end of the 16th century, featuring various sceneries, spread over a relatively large area

• Residential gardens - these gardens are connected to the house, which they are meant to protect from bad influences. They are created in a triangular shape, symbolising heaven, earth and man. Their three main elements are water, plants and stones. Residential gardens can have the following concepts:
  
  • hiraniwa - here the garden is designed as a flat plane
  • tsukiyama - here we find artificial hills and undulating terrain, effectively using small spaces

The current trend in garden design corresponds exactly to the appearance of Japanese gardens.

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