Tuesday, September 21, 2010

"So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth"*

My first garden design lesson was last night. We learnt about the importance of unity. We examined a wide range of images of gardens (show gardens, small gardens and large, famous gardens) and looked at what gave them unity, and what elements gave discord to the scene. Such an interesting exercise, which opens your eyes. As the tutor said, we instinctively know what 'feels right' but we need to learn why we react in that way, and work out which elements bring either unity or discord. Sometimes, a little bit of discord can be a good thing - but you need to have a deep understanding of the rules before you can break them. I don't, so I couldn't.

The challenge our tutor has given us is to start looking critically at gardens and ask ourselves questions.

I look at our garden and I see discord. Oh dear. But at least now I'm beginning to understand why.

*Quotation from Bahá'u'lláh

4 comments:

easygardener said...

I suppose it is like admiring art or a book - it's so easy to say I like or don't like but much harder to articulate why we feel that way. Good luck with the course.

Liz said...

Good luck with your course, the ability to critique yourown and other's work was one of the main things I learned on my design degree... It's difficult being able to understand why you feel something is good/bad.

Esther Montgomery said...

My garden, at the front, is total discord. I cringe when I see it as I come up the road. On the one hand, I'm pleased anything grows in it at all. On the other, I wonder if I should simply dig it all up!

Very good luck with the course. Sounds as if it has had a very interesting beginning.

Esther

HappyMouffetard said...

Thanks for your comments. I think I'm going to find it hard to be critical, but I suppose it's a habit I will have to learn.