Ski Landscape
  • Welcome
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs & Application
  • Ski Landscape Products
    • Ski Landscape Mulch
    • Brush Dumping
    • Stone
    • Soil
  • Commercial Services
  • Ski Landscape Blog
  • Ski Landscape Photo Gallery
  • The Mulch Trailer
  • The Tree Pincher
  • Landscape Industry News
  • For Sale
  • Sitemap
  • Welcome
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs & Application
  • Ski Landscape Products
    • Ski Landscape Mulch
    • Brush Dumping
    • Stone
    • Soil
  • Commercial Services
  • Ski Landscape Blog
  • Ski Landscape Photo Gallery
  • The Mulch Trailer
  • The Tree Pincher
  • Landscape Industry News
  • For Sale
  • Sitemap
Search

Gardens reflect a history of diverse cultures

4/12/2012

0 Comments

 
Circa 1998
From the ancient Egyptians' irrigation systems to modern suburban grassy lawns, gardens offer a historical timeline of cultures throughout the world spanning many centuries. 
The earliest written evidence of gardening is found in Egyptian tomb paintings from 2000 B.C. These pictures showed threes planted in straight rows along irrigation canals that fed small enclosed pools. Walled gardens existed throughout the Nile delta fed by canals that were joined to an irrigation system that encouraged farming.  
Egyptian cave drawing
The ancient Persians of 1000 B.C are credited with the thought that the garden is the model of heaven. Their private paradises ( the word paradise comes from the Persian word pairidaeza meaning garden ) contained flowers, lush fruit trees, running water, and cool shade. It was during this time that King Nebuchadnezzar II built the Hanging Gardens of Babylon for his wife, Amytis. The gardens covered three acres of above ground terraces in downtown Babylon. Hollow pillars filled with soil supported tall trees, and water from the Euphrates was brought in by a sophisticated hydraulic system. This spectacular garden was named one of the Seven Wonders of the World.  
Hanging Gardens of Babylon
California outdoor living has its roots in the Roman Empire. The Romans built their villas on the hills and spent much of life in outdoor rooms. As accomplished engineers, the Romans created intricate water systems: fountains, cascades, aqueducts, spas, and heated swimming pools. They collected exotic plantings from the countries they conquered. Roses, lilies, herbs, grapes for wine, olives, and fruit trees were common in the Roman countryside. 

The Romans were the first to trim hedges into fanciful shapes. Topiary is a Roman invention: in Latin the word topiarius means gardener.  
Topiary
On the other side of the world, the garden became a religious and mythical symbol. The Chinese landscape, with lush diversity of vegetation and its inspiring mountains and chasms, encouraged a more irregular, naturalistic style. 

Chinese gardening dates back to about 2000 B.C. and Emperor Wu's desire to recreate the mythical Chinese eden, in the North China Sea. Chinese gardens contained landscape elements valued as much for their symbolic meaning as for their beauty. 

Under Kublai Khan the Chinese landscape gained its greatest triumphs. When Marco Polo returned to Italy from China around 1300, he raved about the park-like settings with trees and meadows but Europeans still remained inside walls.  
Chinese gardens
n 607 A.D. the first Japanese envoys arrived in China and discovered the lavish gardens. The Japanese refined Chinese concepts paying more attention to size and scale. They created landscapes of moss, raked sand, and boulders. Some of these rocks were so valued they they were traded like stock and, sometimes, fought over.  
Japanese Garden
Have fun mixing different elements and discovering your own garden masterpiece. 
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Authors

    Current and former staff members have contributed to our newsletter over the years. Now the articles are available to view here on our blog

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    December 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    1994
    1995
    1996
    1997
    1998
    1999
    2000
    2001
    2002
    2007
    Ann
    Edible Plants
    Evergreens
    Feature Foliage
    From The President
    Gardening Tips
    Garden Pests
    John
    Mark Reynold
    Phil
    Ski Notes
    Trees
    Vicki Tennant

© 2023 Ski Landscape Corporation - Website by Day Design
  • Welcome
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs & Application
  • Ski Landscape Products
    • Ski Landscape Mulch
    • Brush Dumping
    • Stone
    • Soil
  • Commercial Services
  • Ski Landscape Blog
  • Ski Landscape Photo Gallery
  • The Mulch Trailer
  • The Tree Pincher
  • Landscape Industry News
  • For Sale
  • Sitemap