Our own garden: this longing has been with us humans ever since we settled down. We dedicate this article to the exciting story of how our gardens, which are used for relaxation and decoration, emerged from purely functional horticulture.

In Persia, gardens were a symbol of power and wealth

The ancient high cultures

Strictly geometrically arranged and demarcated with hedges or stones, the ancient Egyptians defied nature's valuable land. Primarily fruit trees and vines were planted in these gardens. In Greece, the plots that were also fenced in were smaller. But the repertoire of cultivated plants is more diverse: in addition to apples, figs, wine and olives, vegetables are also grown. In the vicinity of a holy spring there were often groves of trees, which served as the first pleasure gardens for recreation.

The gardens of ancient Rome combined the elements of ornamentation and nourishment. Among other things, medicinal herbs were cultivated in them for personal use. Roman gardens with their lush greenery benefited from the reliable water supply, which was unparalleled at the time.

The legendary Persian gardens

The Persian king and general Cyrus II the Great had a garden paradise built in each of his numerous palaces as a private place of rest, but also as a symbol of his power. In them, the play of light and shadow in connection with water, colorful seas of flowers, carefully designed hedges and palm trees has been perfected.

The garden under Charlemagne

When Charlemagne had the "Capitulare de villis" set up, he used it to put the agricultural use of the gardens back in the foreground. As a result, hitherto unknown types of fruit and vegetables are cultivated in the medieval monastery gardens. The intensive occupation with the medicinal plants and aromatic herbs also cultivated here brings *Healers like the nun Hildegard von Bingen* whose findings are still valid today.

Stroll through the Renaissance and Baroque gardens

In the 15th century, the garden became the entrance to the house, passing through

  • stairs,
  • away axes
  • blooming discounts

invites you to stroll. This well thought-out form of investment increased even further in the Baroque period. A famous example is the Gardens of Versailles, which in their size and beauty are a symbol of the power and wealth of the absolutist ruler.

The followers of the Enlightenment want to free the garden from the strict regimentation of humans. Characteristic of the English-style facilities are elevations, free-growing trees and spacious lawns, which are criss-crossed by watercourses.

The Modern Age

In the 19th century, the gardens become an overall concept that includes not only ecological but also agricultural and forestry aspects. In Leipzig, the first allotment gardens are created, which enable the citizens to escape from the cramped apartments. At the same time, the small plots serve self-sufficiency with fresh fruit and vegetables.

tips

Germany is the land of allotment gardeners. Almost 950,000 hobby gardeners devote themselves to growing fruit and vegetables in their leased clod. It is an open space that has high biological value and offers a home to numerous animal species. Urban pollution and pollutants are filtered through the foliage and greenery that thrive here.

Category:

Garden design