RE: Re. Evolution of a Gardener

---

Hi Trevor

 

I am not sure that it’s possible to think of a garden style that isn’t  to some extent dependent upon the artificial manipulation of water. No doubt someone will accuse me of aesthetic philistinism  when I say that I don’t count those Japanese gardens of  raked gravel with a rock  stuck in the middle but gardens without plants leave me cold. All plants, even xerophytes, need to get water from somewhere though  it sometimes involves unconventional techniques such as  sucking it out of sea mist or catching dew.

So for a “great civilization” I would nominate that of Abdr-Rhaman IIIrd of Andalusia (912 – 961) whose  irrigated lands were said to have fed thirty million people as opposed to six million under the previous hydraulically-challenged Christan administration. The celebrated gardens of Medinet-al-Zhara, named after his favourite mistress,  were a by-product  of his engineers’ skills

 

Anthony

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-medit-plants@ucdavis.edu [mailto:owner-medit-plants@ucdavis.edu] On Behalf Of margn@internode.on.net
Sent: 11 January 2010 08:17
To: medit plants forum; Ben Wiswall
Subject: Re: Re. Evolution of a Gardener

 

In the meantime I ask: which great civilization has developed a major garden/ landscape style dependent on technology - apart from the shadoof, screw pump, sluice gate and spade? (not counting slaves, conscripts, stood down armies)

cheers


trevor