From Sacred Grove to Disney World: The Search for Garden Meaning

Abstract

The garden is an expression of only one of many possible relationships between people and the natural world. It is distinguished by its attempt to establish meaning by giving form to nature. The garden has carried many meanings throughout history, but certain themes recur and contribute to the power of the garden as art form and symbol. The importance of the garden as a locus for cultural meaning declined in the twentieth century for many reasons, some of which were specific to North America, others of which came from broad changes in Western society and particular design responses by the pioneers of the modern architectural movement. The current preoccupation with restoring meaning to the garden faces a number of problems, several of which are discussed. The author proposes a framework for garden scholarship, research, and design, analyzes some significant contemporary approaches, and concludes with some highly personal rules and cautions.