Fine Gardening

Gardening in and of itself is an art form. And the art of fine gardening is just that, an art.

Fine gardening may mean many things to many people, but to me fine gardening means more than just a garden. It is how the Gardener creates and cares for the garden to bring together their dreams and create something either very pleasing on the eye or productive.

My enjoyment of gardening comes not only from the finished garden but from the endless hours that I spend designing and planning the actual garden. From the first flash of inspiration which plants the seed into my head of what I want to create until the last flower has been planted into the dream, I enjoy it all.

All I want should show through when first a person steps into the garden I've created. A place of peace and calm where a person can meditate on the finer things in life. Or of hell-raising fury when the children enter and do their upmost to trash all my hard work!

Aiming for a tranquil garden, to me, means a water feature, ideally one that will make a continuously soothing gurgle, with a small waterfall. Slabs of flat rock with a hint of moss growing on it. A nice water lily or lotus to give off a contrasting color, and perhaps a fish or two. I do like my fish!

A few ferns and leafy rain-forest type plants placed around the pond, and I’m finished with this stage of my fine gardening. The water feature doesn't need to be the centrepiece either. Sometimes the feature tucked away in the background can provide a more serene experience and highlight other qualities in a nice garden.

Ideally I would love a big tree to stand in a corner of the garden, with a luscious velvety dark brown trunk that I can just about span with my arms, overflowing with vibrant green leaves spilling onto the ground in heedless abandon.

It'll take time though so I'll have to settle for a few saplings in the beginning.

Since green is my target for the moment, I’d also see about laying a lovely shady lawn that you can sink your bare feet into when taking a turn about your garden.

I love the idea of a Zen garden, but prefer colors and lots of plants, so I would incorporate this feature into my fine gardening efforts by placing a path, naturally made out of rough hewn stone, zigzagging in a leisurely course through the garden.

And to finish it all off I’d have a little alcove, unseen from afar hidden from the view of the world but allowing a wide-angled view of the whole garden, with a sun shade, surrounded by a profusion of welcoming flowers.

In the distance I would set about placing a few boulders, pleasing in stature and color to the eye, surrounded perhaps by a few flowers.

And amidst all this fine splendor I would walk amongst my heartfelt efforts of fine gardening and sigh in satisfaction and peace. For what more is there to gardening, than the art of fine gardening.

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