Garden Paradise

Chinese Gardens and Fountains Are Clues to the Mind

noreply@blogger.com (Kuntal Debnath) — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 16:36:00 +0000

Classical Chinese gardens and fountains are more than collections of beautiful plants, trees and water. They are representations of nature, providing insight into the philosophical and spiritual mind of past Chinese artisans and high-ranking citizens.

The principles of classical Chinese gardening can be useful and insightful to garden lovers living anywhere in the world. Chinese design objectives can inspire American home gardeners to try something new such as a garden fountain and encourage the expression of culture and philosophy through gardening.

In the 2,000 years since the imperial family first set aside natural areas for hunting, traditional gardens in China have developed into an art form equal in rank to painting, calligraphy and poetry. Several of the finest gardens, built during the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1912), have survived the ravages of time and politics.

Suzhou, about 50 miles west of Shanghai, is known as "the city of gardens." For generations, rich officials, merchants, landowners, scholars, garden designers and garden crafters settled in Suzhou to enhance its fame. The principles of classical Chinese gardens were well represented in their gardens. Visitors come to learn their secrets and experience their magic.

These gardens provide insight into the traditional Chinese view of nature, which includes the role human's play in the natural order. The gardens hold clues to the ancient Chinese mind through the winding paths, the use of symbolism and the selection of plants. In the traditional Chinese view of nature, humans were equals with everything in the natural world. As the philosopher Lao Tsu wrote in the Tao Te Ching, "Man follows the earth. Earth follows heaven. Heaven follows the Tao. Tao follows what is natural." Traditionally, Chinese people assisted in the expression of nature but did not impose their will upon it.

Chinese gardens were originally designed to symbolize a living entity: rocks formed the skeleton, water and fountains functioned as the blood, while plants provided the clothing. To portray the influence of human beings in nature, architectural constructions (bridges, pavilions, halls, courtyards, gateways, windows, doors and pavings) were integrated into a garden's design. Their purpose was to illustrate the ideal interaction of humans with nature. Together, these elements made up all that is natural on Earth: vegetation, mountains, and bodies of water with gently flowing Chinese fountains as well as human influence. The way they were integrated into the garden expressed the relationships they have in nature.

Gardeners in the West may be unable to mimic the grandeur with which the ancient Chinese gardeners represented nature, but they can include parts of each element. The goal is to create a sense of wholeness within the limitations of the site and to consider all these elements as integral parts of the garden.

Just as a garden's main elements are symbolic of the parts of a living whole, symbols that make up the culture's beliefs are scattered throughout Chinese gardens and integrated in their design. For example, bad spirits were believed to travel in straight lines so pathways were seldom designed straight or flat. It was believed that the many changes in levels and directions made it difficult for these spirits to infect the people enjoying the garden. Dragons, symbols of strength, change and goodness, frequently adorn Chinese fountain walls and roofs of garden structures.

Suitability -- The most appropriate location for every feature of a garden must be found. Seasonal changes in weather and plants as well as the physical requirements of the garden site are considered. In addition to finding the most suitable site for each garden element (plants, rocks, water fountains and architectural constructions), details such as the size, shape, color and placement of railings, windows and doors in a building, for example, are also considered to ensure complete harmony of the surroundings.

Taking Advantage - The Chinese garden designer attempts to use the garden's surroundings, whether near or distant, to the best advantage. Sights, sounds, movement and stillness, the subtle and the obvious, are used as part of the scenes created within the garden. Many of the private gardens in China were small in size -- no larger than the typical garden sites of single family homes in the United States. It is the challenge, then, of the garden designer to create the illusion of spaciousness by incorporating far-off sights and sounds into the garden's ambiance.

Refinement - To define what is refined in the garden design is a judgment rooted in culture. In Chinese gardens, this refinement has meant incorporating a tranquility, gracefulness, elegance, neatness and distinctness that is in accordance with nature. The expression of these characteristics is judged in China against culturally accepted historical standards. Outside of China, gardeners can define what is considered refined according to their own standards.

Simplicity - To Ji Cheng, being simple means not being extravagant. Resources that are on site or nearby are considered the best materials to use in designing the garden. Rare or unusual objects and plants are considered extravagant.

Changeability - This objective is prominent in traditional Chinese gardens because it expresses the natural law of constant change. A garden design can create a sense of change and unexpectedness with scene changes in every turn of a path, an unexpected or different view from each window and aesthetic changes with each season. Designs can include changes caused by clouds, sun, wind, rain, snow, insects, birds, plants and water.
A garden's plants provide a link among all its elements, symbolizing harmony in nature. Plants are the garden's dynamic, living component.

In accordance with the Chinese view of gardens as representations of nature, the trees, shrubs and flowers of a garden are chosen to reflect the unique features of the garden's region. Most traditional Chinese gardeners select native plants, or plants with special meaning in Chinese culture. Bamboo, for example, is common in Chinese gardens because of the many lessons it teaches. Bamboo is strong and resilient. Staying green throughout the winter, it teaches that one can flourish despite harsh conditions. Bamboo grows in clumps, modeling life in the family. Its fast growth illustrates self-development.

The plants are situated in ways that show off an individual plant's unique features. Their arrangements in the design demonstrate their interrelationships with other species as they occur in their natural habitats. The purpose of plants in Chinese gardens is to reflect the inherent order of nature. More than a collection of plants or even an expression of beauty in the purely visual sense, the classical Chinese garden is a physical representation of Chinese philosophy and culture. These gardens embody the best of traditional Chinese thought and culture, which sees humanity functioning as part of a greater natural order.

My Pompon

noreply@blogger.com (Kuntal Debnath) — Tue, 24 Dec 2013 04:17:00 +0000

My New Collection

noreply@blogger.com (Kuntal Debnath) — Sun, 24 Nov 2013 14:16:00 +0000

Red and pink adenium my recent new collection.

Large Flowered Inca Marigold and Season Flower

noreply@blogger.com (Kuntal Debnath) — Sun, 10 Nov 2013 03:58:00 +0000

Large Chrysanthemum Bud

noreply@blogger.com (Kuntal Debnath) — Sun, 10 Nov 2013 03:54:00 +0000

My Mum Bush

noreply@blogger.com (Kuntal Debnath) — Sun, 10 Nov 2013 03:51:00 +0000

My mum final stage ready to bloom. All in soil less medium.

My Mum Matured And New Poly-pack Chrysanthemum

noreply@blogger.com (Kuntal Debnath) — Sun, 06 Oct 2013 11:17:00 +0000

Tupsi my little bunny

noreply@blogger.com (Kuntal Debnath) — Fri, 23 Aug 2013 04:48:00 +0000

This Winter Plan

noreply@blogger.com (Kuntal Debnath) — Thu, 22 Aug 2013 06:00:00 +0000

I thought sawing Petunia seed for this winter. So get more preparation for it.

Boost My Mum Rapidly

noreply@blogger.com (Kuntal Debnath) — Wed, 21 Aug 2013 05:41:00 +0000

My mum growing rapidly for rainy season. Today not feed any food but boost growth with rain.

My Chilly Garden

noreply@blogger.com (Kuntal Debnath) — Thu, 15 Aug 2013 04:21:00 +0000

Pinch my mum today

noreply@blogger.com (Kuntal Debnath) — Fri, 09 Aug 2013 10:22:00 +0000

Pinch head and feed them properly today. I spray pesticides also for caterpillar.

My mum growing rapidly

noreply@blogger.com (Kuntal Debnath) — Sun, 21 Jul 2013 11:01:00 +0000

My mum growing well in cynder. I feed them regularly. This is third week.

Changing Pot

noreply@blogger.com (Kuntal Debnath) — Thu, 18 Jul 2013 04:24:00 +0000

Today I change the pot of my mum. They can grow now in bigger space. I hope my mums growth increase rapidly and within one month they will be 4-5 inch. I cover with net for the bird attack.

Plant More Mum Variety

noreply@blogger.com (Kuntal Debnath) — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 06:29:00 +0000

Plant 25 more color mum variety today. Hope these growing better.

Cutting mum in sand waiting for planting

noreply@blogger.com (Kuntal Debnath) — Thu, 27 Jun 2013 09:40:00 +0000

Preparation for planting pompon. Cutting stem's end into the powdered rooting hormone for about 1/3 of an inch. Plant my mums cuttings in sand in 2-inch pots.

I want to plant my mum in cynder. So ready my pot with cynder. Grow very easy than soil.

Magnificent tuberose

noreply@blogger.com (Kuntal Debnath) — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 04:20:00 +0000

Mind-blowing fragrance of tuberose. This is blooming seasons.

Going to plant Loves Magic

noreply@blogger.com (Kuntal Debnath) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 11:50:00 +0000

Liebeszauber (LOVE'S MAGIC)

Big, velvet red flowers on long stems. Tall plant .Rich crimson red, large double bloom, 4' - 5'+, exhibition rose

Suitable flower plants for pot

noreply@blogger.com (Kuntal Debnath) — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 15:09:00 +0000

Sunny areas are a boon to container gardeners; the sunshine not only helps the plants grow and thrive, the sunshine makes the colors pop.

You can group your pots by color or size or whatever is pleasing to your eye. You also should know that potted plants need daily watering. Watering the plants at night allows the plants to absorb the water, not giving it a chance to evaporate in the bright afternoon sun. Here are some sun-loving to partial-shade plants that offer lovely blooms with little care: geranium, angel's trumpet, bellflower, lobelia, candituft, celosia, marigold, nasturtium, phlox, salvia, snapdragon, sweet alyssum, petunia, balloon flower, blanket flower, bee balm, ornamental peppers, african daisy, sweet pea, verbena, vinca and zinnia.

Mango delicious fruit

noreply@blogger.com (Kuntal Debnath) — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 16:45:00 +0000

Mangoes belong to the list of fruits that are most nutritious. They contain more than 20 than 20 different vitamins and minerals. Mangoes are also rich in carbohydrates and calories.The vitamins that are found in mangoes include vitamin A, vitamin C, Vitamin K, vitamin B and vitamin E. Also included is folic acid.

The vitamins found in the mango give us a lot of health benefits. Vitamin A and vitamin C act as antioxidants.

The Alphonso mango is regarded as the King of mangoes. This cultivar originates in Goa in India.

The Alphonso is a rich gold when ripe and is usually about 10 ounces. This mango has an intense, fruity, pleasing aroma. The flesh is soft, yielding and full of juice. The Alphonso has much less fiber than other varieties which gives an irresistible melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Organic garden helpful ideas and tips

noreply@blogger.com (Kuntal Debnath) — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 13:07:00 +0000

The basic rule of organic garden is to plant and grow your crops without the obvious use of fertilizers, chemical pesticides.The biggest reason that many to start an organic garden is because they know they are producing the best quality produce they possibly can. Most organic gardeners agree that the fruits and vegetables are great but the benefits to the planet also have become important to them.

Organic matters will provide high nutrients for the soil. Gardening organically uses natural fertilizers and compost to grow the plants in you garden. By using these natural supplies you won't have to expose your plants to chemicals that can be harmful to your plants

These nutrients serves as a need for the plants.Organic matters can be almost anything that is decaying or animal waste that is mixed together with soil.Add these organic matters on top of your plants so that they can absorb the nutrients in well.

Compost is the cornerstone of organic gardening, providing vegetable gardeners with an inexpensive way to enrich soil. To make compost, plant waste is layered in a compost bin, typically constructed from untreated lumber or concrete blocks. Leaves, lawn clippings, sawdust, shredded branches and wood chips can all go into compost. Between layers of plant matter, the University of Florida IFAS Extension recommends adding 1 cup of dolomite and 1 quart of chicken litter. Compost is kept moist and can be used within 2 to 12 months.

Regular maintenance is necessary for the best results. Following the directions for your plants and finding out how to look after them are good things to do. Learning how to care for an organic garden is very important.

Organic gardening is the best way to take living organisms and break them down for the best value to the environment.

Suitable vegitables for organic garden - tomato, carrot, beet, cabbage, paper, lemon, etc.

My Garden Edenium Flowering

noreply@blogger.com (Kuntal Debnath) — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 10:27:00 +0000

Gladiolus beauty

noreply@blogger.com (Kuntal Debnath) — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 03:54:00 +0000

Botanical Name: Gladiolus nanus

Description: Very pretty! Nymph produces flower stalks with loosely arranged satiny white blossoms with red lipstick markings on three of the six petals. Also very hardy. Given a little winter protection, plants will reappear next spring. Nymph grows 20 to 25 inches tall, blooms July into August. Elegant cut flowers.

Mandevilla For Gardena

noreply@blogger.com (Kuntal Debnath) — Tue, 24 May 2011 03:51:00 +0000

How To Grow Mandevilla

noreply@blogger.com (Kuntal Debnath) — Tue, 24 May 2011 03:43:00 +0000

Plant madevillas in full sun or partial shade in a prepared container. Full sun is best for flower production. Provide well-drained, sandy soil amended with humus. Being a climber, this vine can be trained on a trellis or frame.

Pinch the stems of small plants to produce a bushier look and water consistently for adequate moisture.

Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer at regular intervals during the summer.

Keep the plant outside until the nights begin to cool down in the fall. At this time use a liquid fertilizer with a high phosphorus content. Wait about 3 weeks, then prune the vine to 1 foot above the soil line.

Bring inside to a sunny area and cut back on watering, letting the soil stay a little dry. Don't look for much growth during the winter. You are just trying to maintain the plant. Move it back outside in the spring after freeze danger is over.

Take cuttings in summer and dust the stems with rooting hormone to start new plants. They will root within a few weeks and be ready to grow in a container.