Re: Garden Show impressions
- Subject: Re: Garden Show impressions
- From: m* l*
- Date: Fri, 29 Mar 2002 16:59:33
Sean,
Like some of the others who have responded, it has been a number of years
since I attended the San Fran show, at least four, maybe five.
The U.C. Davis arboretum people run a bus down from Davis, Ca. every year
for anyone with the fortitude to indulge.
As I recall, the reasons I decided to stop going were very similar to those
you have expressed so well in your posting. What stands out in my memory
was walking along one of the vast galleries of the cow palace and suddenly
being struck by a feeling of unease. The sense, if you will, that this was
the garden show that P.T. Barnum would have put together and then labeled
"the greatest show on earth".
Now don't get me wrong, because as a kid I really loved the circus.
It's just not what I want in my back yard. But if you think about it
the S.F. garden and landscape exposition (is that what they still call it?),
is just a logical extension of the country and social milieau in which we
live. For better or worse we have chosen merchandising as the way to select
the artifacts that will prevail.
I have been meaning for some time to share with you the following long
quotation from history. Now seems as good a time as any:
ON GARDENS AND THE WAY
By Muso Soseki
>From ancient times until now there have been many who have delighted in
raising up mounds of earth, making arrangements of stones, planting trees,
and hollowing out watercourses. We call what they make "mountains and
streams." Though all seem to share a common liking for this art of
gardening, they are often guided by very different impulses.
There are those who practice the art of gardening out of vanity and a
passion for display, with no interest whatever in their own true natures.
They are concerned only with having their gardens attract the admiration of
others.
And some, indulging their passion fo aq
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