#7_Gardening in Recent Years

One Example of Rooftop Gardening

              Today, urban greening is actively carried out. One of a popular thing is rooftop gardening. It is easy to understand, making a garden on the rooftop of building. More and more roofs of buildings or structures are greened. Then, why do we need plant on structures? Concrete, asphalt or steel doesn’t release the heat well. On the other hand, plants can decrease the temperature with evaporating water. Urban heat island is famous influence of global warming and rooftop greening is said lessen that effect. Moreover, leaves can absorb CO2 or NOx, produced mainly from cars, factories and so on. It is, of course, rooftop gardening has a purpose of beautification. On the other hand, build and maintenance cost is higher than normal garden. In many ways, rooftop greening is great gardening style.

              Gardens in many cultures, it is begun by the rich. So, it is important to have some knowledge of what does it seems or express when you visit classical garden. But many gardens today do not have these vague meanings. Gardens become only a way to represent something. On the other hand, it can be said that gardening becomes more popular than previous days. More and more species of flowers or trees are produced, so choices of decollating one’s garden are expanded. It is good, however, there is problem. Hybrid and new species of plants are usually stronger than original ones. So, these new species can make other originals extinct.

              A guerrilla gardening is an interesting activitie. Guerrilla gardeners plant some flowers or trees on the land that is not permitted to do that; planting without admission of that land’s owner. Today, it is held chiefly in Europe and North America. That ground is usually neglected or rough. At night, guerilla gardeners begin to plant or sow. When it is over, they break up soon. The conditions of species usually used for guerrilla gardening are; it is good for surviving and not introduced species. However, colorful flowers are also good for guerrilla gardening to coloring landscapes. But never forget that it is illegal activity in general view and excess guerrilla gardening can break landscapes. It is remarkable that plant grows on polluted land, that plant may get polluted. Then, if a dog eats that leaves, it is dangerous. When you try guerrilla gardening, a lot of tiny care is required. You can visit the official website of guerrilla gardening; guerrilla gardening.org.

An Instance of Guerrilla Gardening

Photos and references

http://powerlife2.exblog.jp/tags/%E5%B1%8B%E4%B8%8A%E5%BA%AD%E5%9C%92/

http://kenzai.shikoku.co.jp/house_hint/exnavi/green_shade/why/index.html

http://www.mlit.go.jp/crd/park/joho/database/toshiryokuchi/

http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%B1%8B%E4%B8%8A%E5%BA%AD%E5%9C%92

http://www.h6.dion.ne.jp/~chusan55/hatena12/51hatena5.htm

http://www.guerrillagardening.org/

http://greenz.jp/2008/04/10/guerrilla_gardening/

Nelson Mandela: Breaking News

     Nelson Mandela, born in Transki, South Africa in 1918, was passed away at 20:50 (GMT +2) December 5, his age at death is 95 years old. His true name is “Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela”, that language is Xhosa, one of the official languages of Republic of South Africa. During his lifetime, he acted as a member of anti-apartheid movement, lawer, commander of the military organization, and President of South Africa. Moreover, the first black President after the age of whites had ruled.

    

     Apartheid was severe racism policy mainly enforced in South Africa. “Apartheid” is Afrikaans word that means “separation” or “isolation”. Almost everything in daily life was separated for blacks and whites. Works, living areas, educations, marriages and many institutions (restaurants, hotels, buses etc.) ware all subject of the law.

Battle Flag of Umkhonto we Sizwe

     He is famous as an anti-apartheid revolutionary. He had been opposing apartheid from his college student days to apartheid had been avolished. After he graduated from university, in August 1952, he founded a low firm. Then, in November 1961, a militant “Umkhonto we Sizwe” (seems "Spear of the Nation") was co-founded by him. But in August 1962, he got arrested and life imprisonment of treason in 1964. Finally, he was released in February 1990. He conferred with the then President, Frederic Willem de Klerk, who was a man who played very important role in the abolition of the apartheid on the law, in December 1989. In 1991, he became the chairman of ANC (African Nation Congress) and made a declaration of apartheid abolition. Later, in 1993, he got Nobel Peace Prize with Klerk. In April 1994, the first election that opened up to all races was held and Mandela became the President. As a president, Mandela removed all laws of apartheid completely. Before that, some of the laws are still remained despite declaration in 1991.

    He was a president by 1999 and retired the political world this year. After retired, there are many struggles against his disease. Actually, he got respiratory disease while he is in prison and he got ill of lung infection in his later years. He hospitalized twice and finally, he breathed his last at his home. During his lifetime, he got married three times.

     Do you know “Nelson Mandela Day”? It is an international day enacted by UN in 2009. The sumarry of it is, in his birthday, July 18, spend 67minutes for someone’s hapiness; the number 67 seems the length of years Mandela had fought for apartheid. While he was died, we can treat others with 67minutes.

references

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20131206/k10013619521000.html

http://zatsuneta.com/archives/107182.html

pictures

http://nehandaradio.com/2013/12/05/nelson-mandela-in-pictures-a-tribute/

http://www.handresearch.com/thumbs/hands-nelson-mandela-thumbs-handprint.htm

#6 Gardening in Other Cultures

     Gardening in other cultures is also interesting. Three traditional gardens are introduced below but there are more great garden styles in the world not referred here.

A Chinese Garden

     First, Chinese gardens have long history; more than 3000 years. They look similar to Japanese ones, though history of each gardens are different. A typical Chinese garden today has pounds and halls and pavilion. Visitors walk through winding paths and enjoy change of scenery. In contrast with Japanese ones, there are more stones and buildings than Japanese. Moreover, Chinese gardens have main composition and all of the other elements of garden are rely on it. On the other hand, Japanese one does not have such formation but each part of the garden are independent from each other. As an another difference, Chinese gardens are larger than Japanese ones. Maybe, people don’t live in these countries feel difficult to distinguish Chinese garden from Japanese one.

A Tropical Garden

     Second, Tropical gardens are also beautiful. This kind of garden contains many species of characteristic tropical plants. They have large green leaves or bright flower petals. There are some tropical gardens in cold climate areas. Actually, some species of tropical plants can live in colder climate; on the condition that careful consideration of placing plants and flowers to get appropriate sunlight. Even so, tropical plants and flowers are good in warm climate. And more, generally, in tropical garden, there are more foliage plants than flower plants. Frangipani is one kind of a popular tropical plant with cute flower, especially seen in Hawaii. Hibiscus is also famous tropical flower known with red elegant petals. Ferns or papaya tees are popular plants of trppical garden too.

Flowers of Frangipani

Eram Garden

     Third, Persian gardens, typified in the Taj Mahal or Eram Garden, place importance on structures. This kind of garden influence many other gardens west from Spain, east to India. Persian garden has so long history back to 4000B.C.E. Original Persian gardens imitate “The Garden of Eden”, that seems four livers and four quadrants represent the world. As these words represents, Persian garden has four rivers and a castle in the center of the garden. In 2011, nine Persian gardens in Iran are registered as the World Heritage Site; they are Pasargad Persian Garden, Chehel Sotoun, Fin Garden, Eram Garden, Shazdeh Garden, Dolatabad Garden, Abbasabad Garden, Akbarieh Garden and Pahlevanpour Garden. By the way, Taj Mahal is in India but called the largest ‘Persian garden’. Buildings are Indian style but composition of garden is the very Persian garden.

Taj Mahal

A structure of Persian garden

references:
wikioedia

http://www.kagiken.co.jp/new/kojimachi/hana-plumeria_large.html

http://lang-8.com/84180/journals/1192274

photos from: 

http://gardening.about.com/od/yourgardenphotos/ig/Winter-Interest-in-the-Garden/Tabart-Garden1.htm

http://www.gardenvisit.com/garden/sun_yat-sen_classical_chinese_garden

http://hukumusume.com/366/world/isan/itaran/017.htm

#5 Japanese Garden

     Japanese garden is far different from European ones. European gardens take the view of the nature itself frankly or show beauties of symmetrical visions, but Japanese gardens idealize natural landscapes and remake them the best form for Japanese. It sounds abstract and hard to imagine but to see a photo, it is clear. There are obvious unnatural curves everywhere; however, panoramic views of the gardens are not so unnatural. That is what Japanese pursued. Basically, Japanese gardens have a pound (carps are often swimming in it) then to around it, trees, shrubs, moss, stones and water flow are arranged.

Karesausui

In Japanese garden, you may see the ground filled with sands and stones and surface of it looks wavy. It is one style called “karesansui”. Karesansui is the way to represent water flow without waters. Then, there is a reason not to use water itself. At first, yard with white sand in Zen temple was one place for ritual. But gradually, rituals became not placed in there. Instead of this, that yard changed to the place for zen meditation. Karesansui is a view suitable for meditation for zen priest.

Three Great Japanese Gardens are “Kairakuen”, “Kourakuen” and “Kenrokuen”. Kairakuen was opened at Mito, Ibaraki, Japan in 1842. It is said famous place of plum trees. “Kourakuen” is placed at Okayama. It started construction in1687 and completed in1700. By the way, around 1700 B.C., there were still samurai in Japan. “Kenrokuen” is placed in Kanazawa, Ishikawa. At that time, Kanazawa was said very rich city, so Kenrokuen have great landscapes. Don’t forget there are so many other beautiful gardens in Japan.

Kairakuen with plum trees

Kourakuen

Kenrokuen

Shakkei

There is some popular equipment of Japanese garden. First, shishiodoshi is very popular facility in Japan. It is for threaten wild harmful animals and prevent them from walking up to the garden with making sound. It works by water power. Second, tourou is a kind of lantern made by stone. Actually, in the garden, tourou acts as decoration rather than light spot. Then, a technique to show the garden better called “shakkei” is great. Shakkei seems “borrow a scene” in English. As its name suggests, shakkei is an art of the garden and landscapes of nature. There is a photo of one example of shakkei. The garden in the front of the picture is real garden and the mountain in the back is not in the garden’s premises. It borrows the mountain’s scenery and makes more extent. 

Shishiodoshi

Tourou

references

http://www.geocities.jp/sankyo_niwaishi/zen_gardens.html

http://torapi.fc2web.com/teien.htm

http://www.geocities.jp/sankyo_niwaishi/design1.htm

http://www.koen.pref.ibaraki.jp/park/kairakuen01.html

http://www.okayama-korakuen.jp/

http://www.pref.ishikawa.jp/siro-niwa/kenrokuen/index.html

photos from

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/99/Shishiodoshi.gif

http://www.sftokiwakai.ac.jp/wds/

http://www.office-augusta.com/araki/blog/

http://wadaphoto.jp/sakura/

http://www.ngene.jp/n-gene/report/2008/10/10.php

http://photozou.jp/
http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%80%9F%E6%99%AF

#4 Gardening in Europe

A view of an English garden

     The most popular style of gardens in Europe is, as long as I investigated about it, the English gardens. They appeared in the early 18^th century and spread across Europe. Actually, it is said that English gardens took inspiration from some paintings of landscapes, and surprisingly, from classic Chinese gardens. It is the peculiarity of the English gardens that they usually have a lake and recreations of classical temples. Later, it spread throughout Europe.

 There are three great creator of the English landscape garden. William Kent (1685-1748) is at once a painter and interested in architecture, but not a gardener. He made a garden with extremely natural landscape. Next, Lancelot Brown (1716-1783), famous as Capability Brown, has a gift for gardener; he could tell what to remove from a garden, where to put an accent and which to root the plants at once. He is enthusiastic particularly about creating a lake, and then, he plant trees around it. In addition, his garden is said that it is too natural to identify whether it is the natural one or not. Humphrey Repton, the last of the three, was good at painting watercolor. He renovated some gardens and established “The Red Book”; he drew watercolor of the before and after of the gardens he renovated and the book became popular. His gardening style followed Brown’s one.

     Roman gardens are influenced by Egyptian, Persian and Greek gardens. The Roman garden is made up by three parts; the terrace, the ambulation, and the gestation. The terrace is used as a drawing room. The ambulation is a space for recreation or conversation. The gestation is avenue and usually it encircles the ambulation. Then, today’s Italian gardens are influenced from Renaissance. There are a lot of sculptures made of stones.

Conimbriga Roman Garden,

An Italian garden

     The beginnings of the French formal gardens are back to the era of the Renaissance. Some Italian landscape architects brought gardening plans into France and it spread throughout the country. They are symmetric gardens. The views of them are like that shrubs and lawns are spread regularly through the large area and it makes passages. In addition, French formal gardens usually have castles. By the way, France is the birthplace of rose gardens.

French garden

     Another garden birth in Europe is winter garden. Winter garden is the way to glow plants indoors through winter which are not good at cold climate. Many part of the roof is made of glass. The first winter garden was built in London.

Winter grden

references

http://www.pcc-gardendesign.net/lesson-F-history/F-garden-history.htm

Wikipedia (English landscape garden, Gardens of the French Renaissance, French landscape garden, Italian Renaissance garden, Rose garden, Winter garden)

pictures from

http://www.wallcoo.net/nature/garden_house/html/wallpaper3.html

http://www.gardenvisit.com/garden/conimbriga_roman_garden

http://www.flowers-gardens.net/italian-garden.html

http://www.french-gardens.com/

#3 The History of Gardening

A vision of forest gardening

              Gardening began as “forest gardening” in monsoon areas in prehistoric times. It is a food production system and way to preserve some useful plant for later. As time was passed, some wealthy people in Egypt began to make beautiful gardens. By the way, the modern words of “garden” or “yard” came from old English word “geard”, which means fence or enclosure.

     In Egyptian tombs from 1500 BCE, there are paintings of symmetrical trees. It is said the evidence of gardening's being existed in ancient times. One of the most famous gardens in ancient times is “the Hanging Gardens of Babylon”. Then, there are some literatures about it but no firm evidences of its existence. So, it is said one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Gardens became more popular status for high classes of ancient Egyptians as larger garden he or she has, bigger wealth he or she has.

A painting of the ancient tomb

   
     As into Middle Ages, gardening spread into west, Greeks, Spain, Britain, etc. In addition, aesthetic theme of gardens, which was a main purposes of gardening in ancient times, were declined. Instead of it, European started on growing useful plant, medical herbs or plants for decorating church. By the 13^th century, the rich of European began to make gardens for make vegetables and medical herbs. Gardens in the 14th and 15^th century are closer to modern gardens; they work on planting lawns and making flowerbed. In the 16^th and next century, there appeared symmetric gardens. It seems trees in the garden are formed by humans or gardens are divided into blocks by hedge. Even today, the opposition of ‘symmetrical’ and ‘asymmetrical’ gardens is continued; The Garden of Cosmic Speculation, that is I showed before, is ‘symmetric’ garden and most of tropical gardens are ‘asymmetric’ ones. Then, in 18^th century, asymmetric gardens; gardens without walls, sometimes with lakes (English gardens generally have lakes), or small livers.
     Lastly, I’ll show you some styles of traditional gardens in brief. Japanese gardens are intended to remind natural landscapes. Most of them are intended to see from insides of houses (Japanese traditional houses are so opened to see around). Mesopotamian gardens have so long histories but there’re many mysteries. The Hanging Garden of Babylon and Garden of Eden are some example of them. To say European gardens, they are very different among each era. But in modern times, I said before, ‘symmetric’ and ’asymmetric’ are great theme of them. 

The history of the European gardens

Above: a symmetrical garden. Below: an asymmetrical garden

references

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_gardening

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gardening

http://www.pcc-gardendesign.net/lesson-F-history/F-garden-history.htm  and related pages

photos from:

http://www.earth-ways.co.uk/resources/what-is-forest-gardening/#.UnEYavmpWRY

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_gardening

http://www.luxurytraveler.com/gardens_of_gothenburg.htm

http://designawards.wordpress.com/2006/10/

#2 The Styles

     There’re many styles of gardens, for instance, gardens for individuals, for public, vegetable garden etc.

      First, I’ll talk about personal gardens. To say gardening, most of people may imagine it. The activity of it is to plant some flowers or trees in your garden and to take care of them. Indoor gardening and wall gardening are one of the styles of gardening for houses without gardens. Indoor gardening is, as its name suggests, glowing houseplants indoors. It can color your room and it is said that these plants have an effect to clear the air of these rooms. Wall gardening is to glow plants with hanging baskets on the outer wall of the house, fence and so on. This needs light soil not to these baskets fallen. In addition, vegetable gardens are very helpful in getting reliable vegetables cheaper. It is possible to cultivate vegetables without chemicals.

     Second, public gardens are far different from personal one as I said in the last week. Then, “garden” and “botanical garden” are quite different from others. “Garden” is an institution for ordinary people only to enjoy landscapes of flowers and trees. “Botanical garden” seems it is a part of facilities for research, and then some part of the foundation is opened to the public. It is said the first modern botanical garden is “Orto botanico di Pisa” (Italy, 1543). Some of these gardens place importance on education and put scientific library.

       Scoops are one of the most important tools, needless to say, without them, we can’t plant flowers. Watering cans are another key implement for gardening. To use watering cans in smaller gardens and hoses in larger gardens is efficient. It may good to use sprayer indoors. When you buy scissors or shears, check the power of springs and shape of grips. It can lighten your tiredness with work on gardening that tools suit for you.

      Final, I’ll show you some types of plants. Foliage plants are mainly put indoors. But they can be seen in tropical gardens. Lawns are not so outstanding but very effective to make the garden more beautiful. It is good to exhibit flowers that taller plants are back and shorter plants are front. Shrubs and tall trees can make levels and give gardens some accents. If the walls look bare, baskets or ivy is good to decorate them. Herbs look good and are useful. They can grow in the same soils to flowers. 

references

http://allabout.co.jp/gm/gc/31892/ (and related pages) 

mypedia (a Japanese encyclopedia)

wikipedia

a photo from

http://www.vizimac.com/how-to-make-beautiful-hanging-basket-plants/

#1 What Gardening Is

              Gardening is an activity of working in a garden. Little more detailed, growing some flowers or trees, cutting a lawn and raising vegetables are activities of it. In other words, gardening is to enjoy caring garden. Actually, gardening began as “forest gardening” in prehistoric times; I’ll give you further information about it in the third article. Then, why do people enjoy making their garden? The answer is depends on individuals. But many of those who enjoy gardening think flowers and trees are beautiful, maybe others cultivate their own vegetables only for eating. The most interesting point is there are no same gardens at all as well as no plants have same shape. So atmosphere of each garden rely on the gardener’s sense and skill to make it. Those who like red may use many red flowers or who like green may use plants with a lot of leaves.

              Plants are living and gardening is a activity to take care lives. Good soil is one of the most important things to glow great plants because it thinks of a house and meal for every plant. Good soil seems it has proper drainage, nutrition, ventilation and water holding property. In addition, these balances depend on the kind of plants. For example, most kind of plants need some fertilizer to be better but cactuses can glow with less amounts of them (much fertilizer can give them bad effect). Other factors to make good view of garden are sunshine and climates. Where flowers cannot get enough sunlight is bad place to grow them, of course. Plants from tropical areas cannot glow well in cold climates. When it comes to cultivate any vegetables, these influence become more conspicuous. Bad surroundings make their fruits smaller and less tasteful. Thus it is required of good gardeners a lot of knowledge.

              As you know, there’re gardens not only for individuals but also for public. Most of public gardens are artistic and have themes like tropical, wildlife, Japanese etc. Those who make such garden are sometimes called “landscape architect”. A picture below (picture 1) is one of a famous garden named The Garden of Cosmic Speculation. It looks far larger scale than individuals’. Activities to make that garden are for landscape architect than gardeners. In these large public gardens, it is seen that much differences among each cultures. Here are two pictures of Japanese and tropical garden. As you can see, gardens can introduce their cultures.

Garden of Cosmic Speculation

Tropical and Japanese garden

              In the next week, I’ll talk about some styles of gardening.See you next time.

references

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gardening

http://allabout.co.jp/gm/gc/31893/

http://www.sekichu.co.jp/diy/089.html

pictures from

http://inspired-tour.blogspot.jp/2013/05/garden-of-cosmic-speculation-scotland.html

http://blackrainbow-letslearnjapanese.blogspot.jp/2011/09/japanese-gardens-nature-beauty-and.html

Self Introduction

             Hello, my name is Hiroya Mizushima. I am a student of University of Tsukuba, one of Japanese University and this blog is a work of my English class. There may be many strange expressions in this blog because of my English is poor. I live in Ibaraki prefecture, Japan and my hometown is Gunma prefecture. I was born in 1994 and enter the university in this year. There’re five members in my family; my mother, father, younger sister and grandmother. My mother and sister are good at cooking. Their dishes are so delicious, especially; my sister, she is one old younger than me, makes so great cakes. We always say she can earn her own money with them. It is too bad that you can’t eat her cakes. My father is bicycle racer, and he had got the first prize in many races. But now he is too old to surpass younger racer. Even so, I want him not to give up win any races. My mother is so bright person. In contrast, I and my grandmother are shy.

             I belong to folklore club in the university and I play the guitar. Folklore club plays the music played in South America, especially in the Andes. I like their simple sound with South American traditional instrument; like qena, zampona and charango. Their sounds are sometimes sad and sometimes powerful. I want to be a good folklore player. I have many hobbies; listening music, playing video games, drawing pictures, watching illustrations and playing badminton. Actually, I have been listening to rock or metal music, not folklore, since I join the folklore club. But now, I like both of them. My favorite bands are; UPLIFT SPICE, Crossfaith, Ancient Bards, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and so on. If you are interested in Japanese rock, you should search them on Youtube. Second, I like the game called “jubeat”. It is a rhythm game with 16 panels. We touch these panels when they flash to music. Third, I like drawing pictures. It is not good and they are drawn only with pencils. I can draw some unreal objects better than real things; like animals, humans and buildings. I don’t think I want to be a good painter but want to keep making some works through my lifetime. Forth, I often visit “konachan.com” to find some good photos. There are so many sexual pictures of anime but a few works are great. There are scenic, beautiful and no-anime pictures. My purpose of visiting konachan.com is to get these “great” ones. At last, badminton is only sport I can play enough. I belonged to a badminton club when I was in junior high school. Sport kite is a sport I want to play. A sport kite has two strings and we can control them at will. It is a sport such as figure skate or synchronized swimming; competing their beauty and order.

              As you can see, gardening was not my concern since I decide to write a blog about it. In this blog, there may be some false because it is the frontiers for me. I’ll try not to make such mistake. I’m grad if you watch my articles and get interest in gardening. Thank you for your visiting.