The garden style that most directly resonates with me is the English Landscape garden because it reminds me somewhat of my home state of Maine.

Maine's two most defining features are the fresh seafood, specifically lobster, and the beautiful natural environment. There are vast forests of pine trees, crisp flowing rivers, and mountains such as Mount Katahdin and Sugarloaf Mountain, the latter of which is a popular skiing destination. The beautiful nature in Maine allows for quiet retreats away from city life, as well as the opportunity for pushing your body to its limits by biking or hiking through the nature.

The English landscape garden is supposed to represent an idealized view of nature by removing itself from the formal and symmetrical garden designs that were popular in the 17th century. English landscape gardens typically contains some sort of lake, expansive lawns, winding pathways, as well as the dotting of trees so as to create a picturesque view. English landscape gardens are supposed to represent nature, but to also out-do them in the sense that they are supposed to appear more beautiful than nature because they are a creation of mankind's art. Also, the English landscape gardens use plants and trees to show the beauty of color in Autumn tints.

The English landscape garden resonates with me personally because I enjoy the realistic ways the artistry looks, as well as the way that the artistry involved is almost hidden in the sense that it is trying to look natural. This style reminds of Maine because like I stated, they share many of the same features and also there is an appreciation of natural beauty even while trying to improve upon it. My love of Maine as a whole and it’s nature is why the English landscape garden resonates with me because they share striking similarities.

here is a relatable link to what I have written that describes some the history and features of an English landscape garden: http://www.historyextra.com/feature/english-landscape-garden

source:

http://www.individuallandscapes.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/English-Landscape-Garden.jpg 

Photo depicting an English landscape garden.

 Source: http://www.nolansoft.com/mainepics/MaineCottageSFP.jpg

photo depicted the changing of the color of the leaves in Maine's autumn. Directly relatable to the English landscape gardens use of color.

source: https://europeangardenartspring2015.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/rousham.jpg

photo depicting an English landscape garden and the use of trees as well as a pond.

Blog Post 4 - Copenhagen Green Spaces

5 Copenhagen Green Spaces That Promote Well-Being

The different green spaces we visited during the field study for Garden Art in European Culture all seemed to revolve around a similar purpose of promoting well-being for the population that occupied them. However, each one targeted and achieved this goal in different ways. The first area we visited, Mimersparken, was easily accessible for the residential area occupied by 16,000 residents. It's football pitch, hockey rink, basketball court, and playground provide areas where residents can exercise and enjoy sports, which help promote individuals well-being. Furthermore, the expansiveness of it allows for community gatherings to enhance social interactions and a sense of belonging among the community members.

The second area we visited, Superkilen, used similar techniques as Mimersparken to promote well-being, but also differentiated itself. The park uses objects such as benches, trash bins, trees, and playground toys from different parts of the world to celebrate the diversity of its residents. It creates a sense of world and cultural inclusiveness inside one park in Copenhagen. This sense of belonging is imperative to well-being. The park also features areas where children can play and older residents can sit and talk.

The third place we visited was the Assistens Kirkegaard, which is the cemetery where numerous notable Danish citizens lay to rest. The cemetery honors and remembers the deceased by keeping the area full of trees and flowers and keeping the pathways well kept. This area seems to target and promote well-being because it goes beyond just remembrance of the past and the finality of death as it allows individuals to take a walk through a beautiful and serene area and avoid the busy and noisy streets.

The Botanisk Have provided a calming and pleasant escape from urban life as it was essentially a scene from nature plopped down in the middle of the city. All kinds of animals, such as turtles, birds, and ducks were on display for people to view from just a short distance away. In a sense, the Botanisk Have felt like an area that could provide a modern day otium because of the ability to relax and engage in activities outside those of everyday life.

The last place we visited was the Østre Anlæg which was a park by the National Art Museum and Østerport station. This park allowed for individuals to learn about art and then to lay in the lush grass and enjoy the sun. Hidden farther into the park was a play area for kids, which was well thought out as it was deep enough away that the noises from the park were drowned out, but also gave an area for families to gather and enjoy themselves.

This link provides insight into Copenhagens "pocket parks"
http://www.dac.dk/en/dac-cities/sustainable-cities/all-cases/green-city/copenhagen---pocket-parks-a-drop-of-urban-green/

photos:
source of photos: all taken by me

Blog Post 3 Garden Art in European Culture

How did the Italian renaissance garden differ from previous gardens and revolutionize new garden artistry around Europe?

Previous garden form of medieval times was inwardly focused, and self-contained as the structures surrounding the gardens were very defensive. However, the renaissance altered this design. Alberti’s De Re Aedificatoria argued that the villa should be looked at and a place to look from. In other words, the house should be above the garden. This led to a new garden form that were laid out in a geometric divisions joined by a common axis with axial unity around the villas.

Furthermore, the renaissance sparked this concept of a third nature, as gardens become an expression of human art and the divinely created natural world.

One excellent example of an Italian Renaissance Garden is Villa d’este. Villa d’este combines elements of axial alignment, water features and terraces as an excellent show of power.

The Italian Renaissance had a pan-European influence. When the King of France Charles VIII invaded the Kingdom of Naples, he returned to France along with artists, artists, philosophers, and others. This movement of Renaissance inspired thinkers helped start the Northern Renaissance. In France, the gardens were still inward looking and defensive fortresses, however, they began to incorporate Italian renaissance ideas, such as axial symmetry and trellises, and even develop their own ideas. The French developed the potager, which is an ornamental vegetable garden. One example of a French renaissance garden is the Chateau de Blois, which includes trellises, knot gardens, and axial symmetry.

In England, the northern renaissance had a profound impact upon their gardening, especially as Henry VIII introduced power gardening. The English really enhanced their gardens with new features, such as railed beds, grass plats, kings beasts, knot gardens, and mounts. Mounts served an extremely important purpose as they were a mound of earth that one could walk to the top of and properly observe the rest of the garden from above – and eat their dessert. An example of an English renaissance garden is Hampton Court Palace.

Overall, the Italian renaissance led to more expensive, outward looking, and powerful gardens that incorporated new and stunning features.

A link that incorporates these ideas well is: http://www.poderesantapia.com/gardens/italianrenaissancegarden.htm

photos:

Hampton Court Palace

source: http://www.palacehalf.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/2506964_e0eb5b3f.jpg

Chateau de Blois

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gardens_of_the_French_Renaissance

Villa d'este

source: http://www.italia.it/en/travel-ideas/unesco-world-heritage-sites/villa-deste-a-triumph-of-the-baroque.html

The Italian Renaissance was defined by a radical change in thinking which altered almost every aspect of Italian culture including the arts, literature, music, education, and religion. The Italian Renaissance started with Francesco Petrarch and his rediscovery of old Latin manuscripts (Lang, 2006). This led to the rediscovery of humanist thinking based off these old manuscripts. During the Renaissance, humanist thinking referred to an individual who read the ancients in order to have a greater depth of understanding about human experiences and the mind of God (Lang, 2006). Man was now thought of as a rational and sentient being, with enough autonomy to think and make decisions for himself. This fact led to a reevaluation of man’s relationship with God and nature, and ultimately had an extreme effect on Italian Renaissance gardens.

                      The new gardens of the Italian Renaissance began taking a more expansive and outwardly looking view, instead of being more inwardly focused and contained. This new garden form relied on geometric divisions connected by one common axis and joined by axial unity with the villas that they shaped. Beyond the general formation of Italian Renaissance gardens, they served the function of providing leisure, entertainment, and the display of wealth and power (Italian Renaissance Villas and Gardens, 2016). Water features were extremely important to the grandiosity of the gardens. Furthermore, sculptures played a pivotal role in decorating and displaying the power of the garden and the owner.

                      The change in style of the Italian Renaissance gardens is directly attributable to the rediscovery of humanist thinking as the gardens reflected man’s ability to display their wealth and power through nature, while also maintaining an important relationship with God.

This link relates well to the Italian Renaissance gardens as it has pictures of above views of Renaissance gardens as well as also pictures of water features and sculptures that were pivotal to the prestige of the garden. http://www.gardenvisit.com/history_theory/library_online_ebooks/ml_gothein_history_garden_art_design/early_baroque_gardens_italy

1.  
this photo shows the division of geometric shapes within the garden as well as the central water feature.

2. 

this photo of an Italian Renaissance garden also shows the use of geometric figures. Furthermore, it really captures the outwardly looking view. Also, shows the axial unity of the garden.

3. 




This image of the Chateau Villandry captures the expansiveness and ouwardly view of the garden. It also shows the garden maze. A true display of wealth and power.

sources for photos:

1. http://perryfoundation.org.nz/hamilton-gardens-windows-to-the-past/

2. http://www.ctrlzak.com/archive/SP_Topiaria.html

3. https://loirechateau.wikispaces.com/Chateau+de+Villandry

                     

References:

Lang, Sean. European History for Dummies: Part IV New Ideas, New Worlds. Chichester, England: John Wiley, 2006. Print.

"Italian Renaissance Villas and Gardens." Victoria and Albert Museum: The World's Leading Museum of Art and Design. Web. 25 Feb. 2016.

The Meaning of the Term Garden to Me

what does the term 'garden' mean to you?

The first thought invoked by the word garden is of my grandfather. The reasoning for this is that I previously formed an association between him and gardening because that was his passion after he retired from the military. I did not know my grandfather on a very personal level, but I believe gardening offered him a sense of tranquility and serenity after he had served in the American Navy during World War II. I remember walking through his garden after he passed away and being in awe of the intertwining paths throughout the garden and also the neatness and elegance in which the flowers and plants were arranged. The garden presented a clear image of plants that were closely tended and cared for. Beyond tranquility, his garden had a practical sense as he often brought in fresh vegetables for dinner. Overall, the word garden in itself does not hold much meaning for me, but the associations it has with my grandfather reveal its significance in the fact that it is a way for me to connect with someone I really did not know. My grandfathers garden served as a defining feature of his hobbies and personality, as the organized, methodical, serene, and calm aspects of his garden are representative of what I heard about his personality.

I also see the impact my grandfather’s gardening had on my father, as my father often grows plants within our house. I think this factor is interesting as it shows how gardening in some cases can be an inherited feature, which may be something that I inherit from my father.

Within myself, the word garden invokes words such as serenity and peacefulness. However, it also invokes words such as tiresome and maintenance. I think this factor is imperative because to reach the a serene and peaceful garden it requires non-stop effort, constant attention, and reflection, which are  similar to the methods necessary to reach contentment and peace within oneself.

http://www.thesimpledollar.com/lessons-from-my-grandfather-in-the-garden/

This link is to a relevant blog post by Trent Hamm in which he lists off the five things he learned due to his grandfather’s garden, which I think relates quite well to the things that the word garden inspires in me.

photos of relevent gardens:

The first photo reminds me of the pathway in my grandfather’s garden. The second photo reminds me of some of the water features in my grandfather’s garden. The third photo reminds me of some of the vegetation spotted in my grandfather’s garden.
1.  2.  3.





sources:
1. http://hubpages.com/entertainment/Small-Paths-in-Gardens-Gallery-Take-a-Stroll-with-Me
2. http://epoke-conseil.com/PoisonousEvergreen/evergreens-new-england
3. http://onbotanicalphotography.blogspot.dk/2011/04/visit-to-parc-tenbosch-brussels.html