Gardening 101 – The Gardening Principles Used by Gardeners Everywhere

A garden, by definition, is a well-planned area, usually out in the open, intended for the display, enjoyment, or cultivation of various types of flora and fauna, as well as other forms of natural nature. The single most distinguishing feature distinguishing the wildest outdoor garden from the most beautiful urban garden is autonomy. Despite its unspoiled nature, the urban setting is a highly urbanized environment, where man’s most basic needs are met: water, light, and exercise. As such urban gardens need specific features to ensure the utmost sustainability and functionality.

Urban gardening differs dramatically from its traditional counterpart. Although originally designed to provide shelter from the elements, indoor gardens have steadily adopted the same functions as outdoor landscapes. While the intent behind the creation of the GARDEN was to create a place of refuge from the outside world, many modern gardens still focus on displaying specimens, rather than offering protection from the elements. However, while a rock garden may thrive completely outdoors, most indoor gardens are designed with a utilitarian function in mind. In this light, one of the most important characteristics of a GARDEN is that it is both an enclosure and a habitat.

The creation of a GARDEN must-have attribute is easy: a large enough space with a mix of heights and width that allows a gardener full control over the height and width of each section. As such, the garden will vary greatly in character depending upon the gardener’s individual preference. One gardener may prefer a lush tropical garden of flowers stretching up to several stories; another may prefer a compact rock garden accented by stone spires. Rock gardens often take on a unique cultural and archaeological tone due to their inherent intimacy with nature. Gardening styles may also vary, with some gardens incorporating elements from a traditional lawn-scape, while others may emphasize the dramatic effect of water and the flowing waters of the land.

As with all forms of art and gardening, the primary focus of GARDEN gardening is the use of natural resources. The key features of GARDEN gardens are the natural availability of water and light, and the maintenance required for optimal growth. This is not a difficult concept to understand, but the implementation can present quite a challenge. The first consideration in GARDEN gardening is the integration of a kitchen garden into the overall scheme of the landscape. While the overall aim of the GARDEN is the cultivation of live plants, herbs and vegetables, the primary cooking ingredients can be grown within the barriers of a kitchen garden.

The use of cooking gardens within an indoor garden can have a multitude of interpretations. For example, a gardener focusing his or her attention on the management and growth of herbs and vegetables within a GARDEN may want the plants to bear fruits or even grow in other ways, such as in pots, planters or vases. Within the overall scheme of the herb garden, other methods of using indoor growing plants may include the planting of climbers or rhizomes on trellises or walls, creating small bridges and wall shelves or the creation of gazebos. Creating arrangements that connect the different areas of the GARDEN is essential if the plants are to thrive.

Indoor gardening and the placement of herbs and plants are based on the principles of simplicity, health and the use of as little water as possible, and the ability to attract insects that are beneficial to the garden. Gardening is an age-old skill passed down from generations and in many societies it has become an important part of their culture. The benefits of GARDEN gardening are as varied as the herbs and plants that are grown. The key is to create an environment that is conducive to the growth of the herbs, a place where they can be enjoyed year round and a place where the beauty of the flowers compliments the colors and textures of the herbs.