Stylesofgarden

Dr.R.
Arulmozhiyan
Different styles of garden
In India gardening is believed that it is as old as culture. During Harappan

civilization (2000-1750 BC) people worshipped trees like mango, papal and banyan. The
importance of trees was mentioned in the Rigveda (3000-2000 BC), Ramayana (1200-
1000 BC), Kalidasa (57 BC), Ashvaghosa (AD 100) and also in Mahabharata. Kalidasa a
play writer also highlighted the art of gardening. It includes Saraca indica, Ficus
bengalensis, Ficus religiosa, Michelia champaca, Shorea robusta, Anthocephalus
indicus, Terminalia arjuna, Mimusops elengi, Nyctanthes arbortristis, Butea
monosperma and Jasminum species. The lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) and water lily
(Nymphea spp.) were grown as aquatic flowers in the traditional gardens. The Buddhist
monk who traveled to China and Japan, developed informal Japanese garden based on the
spiritual philosophy. The close association of man with nature is the main concept of
Japanese garden.
The formal styles of gardening in an enclosed space was introduced by Mogul
kings during the 16th and 17th centuries AD. It was on the styles of Persian and central
Asian Gardens. The components of Moghul garden include terraces, water columns,
fountains and pavilions, which symbolize paradise on earth. The gardens of Agra, Delhi,
Pinjore, Srinagar and Kashmir are the few examples of mogul gardens. During mogul
period many flowers viz. roses, carnation, tuberoses, narcissus, daffodils, tulip, lilies, iris
were introduced along with some ornamental plants like Platanus oruntalis (Chinar) and
Salix babylonica (Weeping willow).
Later during the British period, the style of gardening changed with the
introduction of herbaceous annuals and perennials, shrubs, climbers and ornamental trees.
It was followed by combination of mogul and British style in the Indian Gardening. Ex.
Rastrapathi Garden, Delhi and Brindavan Garden, Mysore. The English people and the
Portuguese people introduced exotic plants to the Indian gardening that led to the
evolution of botanic gardens.
Some of the important botanic gardens are
1. The Indian Botanic Garden – Kolkatta
2. Lloyd Botanic Garden – Darjeeling
-1-
Dr.R.Arulmozhiyan
3. Gardens of Agri. –Horti. Soc. of India, Kolkatta

4. National Botanical Res. Instt., Lucknow
5. Lal Baugh Botanic Garden, Bangalore
6. Botanic Garden, Coonoor
7. Ooty Botanic Garden, Ootacamund
8. Botanic Gardens, Coimbatore
During the post independence period several parks and gardens were created to
protect the environment and for the preservation of and protection of flora through mass
planting in the Urban and rural areas. It led to establishment of several plant sanctuaries.
Many agrotechniques came out as a result of R &D of several state Agricultural
Universities and ICAR Institutions.
Like new introductions to India, several Indian species were taken away by
English plant collectors viz. Frank Kingdom –ward and Ludlow and sheriff and also from
Europe, USA and Japan. They were orchids, alliums, lilium, clematis, viburnum,
rhododendron, primula, campanula, aster, begonias, aconitum, anemone, aquilegia,
corydalis, delphinium, erigeron, saxifrage, frittalaria, sorbus, blue poppy, balsam,
begonia, gloriosa and musk rose are the few examples.
Garden styles
Chinese are the frontiers in the development of gardens. Next to China is
Babylon, Persia, Egypt and Greece associated in gardening. The hanging gardens of
Babylon are one of the Seven Wonders of the World. In the early days of flowers were
destroyed, but in 11th century the interest was revised. During 11th century, the English
gardens came out with herbals and fruit trees and flowers were raised only for decoration
of churches and for wreaths. Flowers dominated in 16-17th century in Italy and European
countries. The European gardens were strengthened through the collections made from
China, Japan, South Africa, India, South America and USA by plant explorers /
collectors. Like Bartram, Commerson, Banks, Kerr, Douglass, Tradescant, Francis
Masson, John Frazer, Menzies and others.
Various factors viz. environmental factors, country have organic, and vegetation
material of construction and purpose of people influenced the styles of gardening.
Initially Greeks and Romans designed the formal gardens. Later on the beauty of nature
-2-
Dr.R.Arulmozhiyan
was expressed in informal way. It is based on two principles viz. space and form. In the
formal gardens the flowerbeds and pools are in geometrical shapes. The other features
like fountains, status, hedges, edges and topiary all remains in a balance. In the
informal, it coincides with nature.
Later it led to the evolution of public parks and botanic gardens. Some of the
popular botanic gardens are padua (Italy) in 1543, oxford C (1621), Edinburgh (1670),
Cambridge (1762), Kew (1759) and leyden (1840). Further it led to evolution of different
styles.
1. Spanish style
It is otherwise called Moorish style having Persian design influenced by Arabs.
Buildings surround the garden. The components includes water pools, fountains,
channels, fruit trees and colourful and fragrant.
2. Italian style
It is a formal romantic garden, influenced by Persian. The flowerbeds and hedges
are the components. The components include fountains, sculptures, water canals, topiary,
hedges, arbour, trellis and buildings. The most common plants grown are cypresses glex
trees and roses.
3. French style
Initially Italian designs influenced French styles. They coincide with nature with
simplicity and spaciousness. The several components slinked through the woods. It is
called as style of Le Notre, at Versailles.
4. English style
Initially the gardens were made around monasteries. During the 10th century
monks developed herbal and kitchen gardens along with grapes, roses, carnations, holly
hocks, violets and lilies. In the 14th century formal walled gardens with fountains arbour
and trellis were initiated. In 16th century, flowerbeds, topiary, terraces, hedges, turfs,
trees and low shrubs were introduced. In the 18th century Romatic styles close with
nature were introduced. Later on beautiful exotic flowers were introduced.
-3-
Dr.R.Arulmozhiyan
5. Japanese style
Buddhist monks introduced the style. It is an informal garden linking nature and
plants. These gardens are simple and have a balance for space. The size may be small or
large artificial hills, running water and stores are the main features in the earlier period.
Later on bridges, stepping-stones, lakes and sand were the dominating elements. The
sand represents water and stones the hillocks or mountains. Lotus in water pond is an
added feature.
The Japanese garden includes various styles viz. Hill garden, flat garden, tea
garden, passage garden and fancy garden. The hill garden includes features like hill,
water bodies and is lands. Hills of different heights are formed. About 10 rocks or stones
are used. The various types of stones are status stones, low vertical stones, arching stones,
flat stones, recumbent ox stones. The paths are covered with foot size stones called
stepping-stones. The flat gardens represent a mountain, a valley and river. Tea garden is a
feature of a teahouse where tea ceremony is common.
In front of the tearoom or buildings, the passage consists of stepping-stones,
walks, low fence, gravel surface, stones shrubs and flowering trees. The gardens for
guests are called fancy gardens. This garden consists of elevated wooden passage for
easy viewing.
The major elements of Japanese gardens are garden stones, garden enclosures,
garden lanterns, stepping-stones, ornamental water sources, bridges, herbaceous flowers,
bonsai etc.
Mogul garden
Mogul gardens initially formed out of Persian styles in the year 1525 AD by
Babar, who was the first Mogul king of India. The Persian style was four squares with a
central water pool at centre where the water is collected from all the four sides. Cypress,
pine, popular and weeping willow are the trees in the Persian style. The king bahar
incorporated certain modification like more number of terraces, water falls, fountains,
architectural buildings with water channels lined with blue tiles. E.g., garden of fidelity
(Bagi-I- wafa), Large garden (Bagh-I-kalan) and Ram Bagh at Agra. Later on king
Jahangir developed gardens at Srinagar, Kashmir, Agra, Shalimar, Taj Mahal and Red
Fort.
-4-
Dr.R.Arulmozhiyan
The Moghul gardens were basically either palace gardens or tomb gardens. They
were square or rectangular in shape, with high walls all around with nailed wooden gate
at entry point, more terraces, running water, a canopied pavilions with 12 doors, three on
each of the 4 sides, terminal building and flower beds. The fruit trees were located on the
sides of the garden.
-5-

Stylesofgarden

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Stylesofgarden

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Stylesofgarden

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Dr.R.

Different styles of garden

In India gardening is believed that it is as old as culture. During Harappan

3. Gardens of Agri. –Horti. Soc. of India, Kolkatta

You might also like