The History of Landscape Design in 100 Gardens

The History of Landscape Design in 100 Gardens (Timber Press, Portland, Oregon 2018) is by Linda A. Chisholm with photographs by Michael D. Garber. Chisholm chose 100 of the world's great gardens, which illustrate the history and principles of landscape design, and endeavors to answer the question why a particular style became dominant at a specific time and place in history. The book focuses on developments from around the world, especially those that influenced gardens in North America and the United Kingdom.

The Preface and Introduction provide the context and background to the work. Chisholm was inspired by one of her professors, Joan Kennedy (Kinnaird), who noted that landscape design reflects a culture, and that by studying the prevailing styles of landscape and garden design we can learn what a culture thinks and values, especially about nature. Landscape design, as with other art forms, borrows from the past, sometimes replicating it, and often adapting it to a new purpose. For Chisholm, understanding the past is essential to understanding the present and to shaping the future.

The bulk of the work is devoted to descriptions and beautiful photographs of  the 100 gardens, which are organized into 17 historical categories with names like "A World of Wonders", "Place-Making", and "Less is More". The back matter includes an extensive reading list, bibliography, credits, and index. I was pleased to discover that my husband and I have visited quite a few of the gardens listed either individually or together (see the list of "Several Favorite Gardens" below). I was interested to learn more about the gardens, and what the author felt the gardens indicated about the culture and the impact the gardens made to the culture. This is a great reference for some of the most interesting gardens from around the world, with an interesting point of view.

Several Favorite Gardens
Palace of Versailles. Located in Versailles France. La Notre, Le Vau, and Le Brun. A tribute to the control and hierarchy of a king, with views to infinity. Chapter 3, "Brink of Infinity", pages 84-87.
Taj Mahal. Located in Agra, India. Fifth Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. The mausoleum and garden honors his dead wife, and reflects Muslim, Persian, and Indian design and traditions. When viewed from the ground, the lacy tomb seems to float in the air. Chapter 7, "Gaiety and "Gloomth", pages 196-197.
Mount Vernon. Located at Mount Vernon, Virginia. George Washington. Embodies utilitarian purpose that is set within an aesthetically pleasing plan. Combines old traditions and new ideas, traits of Washington the new republic. Chapter 8, "Three Men, Two Nations, One Passion", pages 220-224.
San Carlos Borromeo (Carmel Mission). Located at Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. Father Junipero Serra, Manuel Ruiz. Combines older monastic traditions, Moorish details, and local resources. Chapter 8, pages 225-227.
Central Park. Located at New York City, New York. Frederick Law Olmstead and Calvert Vaux. Inspired by Andrew Jackson Downing who wanted to provide a large park where the poor and working class could reconnect with nature. Represented populist and democratic beliefs, and inspired the creation of public parks everywhere. Chapter 9, "Designing for Democracy", pages 254-261.
Filoli. Located at Woodside, California. Bruce Porter and plantswoman Isabella Worn. Reminiscent of an English Renaissance country estate, but adapted to the California  environment. Chapter 13, "Bringing Home "Abroad"", pages 361-363.
Sea Ranch. Located in Sonoma County, California. Lawrence Halprin. Vacation homes that fit into the natural landscape, rather than change it. Chapter 16, "This Fragile Earth, Our Island Home", pages 436-438.

Spring

Spring is just around the corner, and I've been busy looking for signs that it's coming! I fully enjoy each season throughout the calendar year, as well as the transition from one season to the next. Here are a few glimpses of spring here in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Cherry blossoms	Christmas cactus (in late February)
Hellebore lenten	Camellia
Tulip-flower bud	Indoor pleasures
Crabapple blossoms	Unidentified five-petal flower
Textures of spring	Canopy of wisteria

Savor the last few days of winter, and prepare for the beauty of spring wherever you are!

Chinese Garden at The Huntington

The second garden I visited at The Huntington was the Garden of Flowing Fragrance. Chinese gardens are a combination of elements including buildings, water, rocks, plants, and the arts. Calligraphy and poetry appear throughout the garden, evoking beautiful imagery and stirring the imagination. The garden at The Huntington was developed in collaboration with architects and artisans from Suzhou in Southern China. The garden is patterned after the scholar style, with space for study, contemplation, and the arts.

The arch of fragrant cherry blossoms softens the fierce lion sentries

Round portal in the Wall of the Colorful Clouds leads to the Plantain Court

The Pavilion for Washing Away Thoughts provides a small shelter between the Japanese and Chinese gardens at The Huntington. Here you can cleanse your mind from the rush of daily life, while protected from the elements in a beautiful natural location. The pavilion was recently re-thatched using traditional Chinese methods.

The Pavillion for Washing Away Thoughts

Detailed view of the new thatched roof

The Garden of Flowing Fragrance is one of the largest classical-style Chinese gardens outside of China, combining the southern Chinese garden style with the Huntington's love of plants. The garden was started in 1999 with a generous donor gift, and opened to the public in 2008. See the map for a tour of the garden.

The Plantain Court

Unique window with a view beyond the wall

The garden has undergone an expansion, adding a restaurant, scholar study, library, art gallery, and star gazing tower on the hill. The expansion increases the garden footprint from 3.5 to 12 acres. The grand opening is on track for May 2020.

Pond of Reflected Greenery

The Jade Ribbon Bridge

The Waveless Boat

I was so glad for my whirlwind tour of the Chinese garden, and a chance to experience more examples of the classical style. Next time I hope to linger longer, and explore the new additions.

Pavilion with a rock from Lake Tai in China

We've visited several Chinese gardens over the years including:

• Seattle Chinese Garden (Seattle, WA)
• Lan Su Chinese Garden (Portland, OR)
• Overfelt Chinese Cultural Garden (San Jose, CA)

To learn more see Garden History – Chinese Gardens, and Elements of the Chinese Garden.

Japanese Garden at The Huntington

On our whirlwind tour of The Huntington in January, I selected the Japanese Garden as one of my stops. The nine-acre garden was started in 1911 by Henry E. Huntington and opened to the public in 1928, at a time that Americans were discovering the beauty and culture of the exotic Far East. The garden has been renovated periodically over the years, including recently in 2011.

View of the Japanese garden from the Wisteria arbor

I paused at the Wisteria arbor, to get a big-picture view of the garden, which spans a small canyon and includes a water feature running through it. The arbor was denuded of leaves and flowers, but still full of winter beauty.

The Moon Bridge with the Wisteria arbor beyond

The Japanese garden has been a site for several motion pictures, including Mame (1974), and Memoirs of a Geisha (2005). If you watch the trailer for the latter, you'll catch a glimpse of the garden and the Moon Bridge that arches over the water around marker 1:56-1:57. The bridge and its reflection provide a popular photo opportunity for real life visitors as well.

Japanese house

Structures are an important part of the Japanese garden. Moving partitions enable you to reconfigure the living space – to open up rooms into bigger spaces and to the garden outside, or to close them for privacy.

Ceremonial Tea House

The ceremonial tea house shows the setting for a tea ceremony, where the simple task of brewing a cup of tea is elevated to an art form. Tea utensils are set out, as well as a beautiful kimono. The original tea house was built in Kyoto in the 1960s and shipped to The Huntington, and was recently restored by a descendent of its original creator. 

Path through an allée of green bamboo

Conversation under a cherry tree

The layers of green-on-green plants are lovely and restful, as is the bamboo grove. At the time we visited, the cherry trees and camelias were blooming. In contrast, the raked Zen garden is bare of any foliage or flowers, but provides a serene place for meditation and contemplation.

Japanese lanterns

Lanterns, paths, water features, and koi are important elements in the Japanese garden, and provide focal points throughout the garden.

Water features in the Japanese garden

I enjoyed my short time in the Japanese garden with its streams and ponds, big and little bonsai, bamboo forests, and tranquil settings. I felt the peace and beauty provided by the traditional Japanese garden. Other Japanese gardens we have visited over the years include:

• Japanese Tea Garden (San Francisco, CA)
• The Gardens at Lake Merritt (Oakland, CA)
• Hayward Japanese Garden (Hayward, CA)
• Nishinomiya Japanese Garden (Spokane, WA)

To learn more about Japanese gardens, see Garden History – Japanese Gardens, Elements of the Japanese Garden, and Japanese Garden Highlights.