The Art Of Fine Gardening
Gardening in and of itself is an art form. And the art of fine gardening is just that, an art. Fine gardening may mean many things to many people, but to me fine gardening means more than just a garden. It encompasses all that’s good and graceful in gardening and combines them to make one garden that is the epitome of all your dreams.
My enjoyment of fine gardening comes not only from the finished garden but from the endless hours that I spend designing and planning the actual garden, from the moment I first have the germ of an idea, to the moment I place the last sapling, and plant the last flower. All I want, all that I can be, should show through when first a person steps into this land of fine gardening, a place of peace and calm where a person can meditate on the finer things in life.
A water feature - something that produces a soothing sound continuously - is a must for me. A nice lotus or water lily for some color, and maybe even a few fish. Some ferns and leafy plants around the pond, and this oasis is complete.
Under ideal circumstances a big tree sits in the corner of the garden, with a nice dark brown trunk just a little to big to get my arms all the way around. The green leaves and branches spill down to the ground with a satisfyingly controlled chaos. But a few saplings may have to do, with the knowledge they will one day be the trees I want.
Green is the target color, so a luscious lawn surrounds the garden itself.
Lots of varieties of plants, and as many colors, are my favorite so I’d add a meandering pathway through the garden to enjoy them all.
And to finish it all off I’d have a little alcove, unseen from afar, that afforded the curious visitor a wide-angled view of the whole garden, with a sun shade, and a low-lying bench with a few plump cushions strewn carelessly about, and all of it surrounded by a profusion of welcoming flowers.
In the distance I would set about placing a few boulders, pleasing in stature and color to the eye, surrounded perhaps by a few flowers.
In the midst of all this natural splendor I’ll walk through the garden, feeling the satisfaction and peace that comes from a job well done.
