Landscaping is something that has been present since ancient times. The Romans already created huge gardens with water features in their country villas. Although when we talk about landscaping we look at something closer, a park in the city, a small garden, etc.
Today We talk about this way of decorating our garden spaces, so that they are harmonious, transmit calm to us and we enjoy being in a little piece of orderly green.
What is landscaping?
Landscaping is a activity where spaces are modified with natural elements like flowers, trees, plants; water areas such as fountains or ponds, and also inert elements such as bridges, benches, stones, etc.. all to create an idyllic, beautiful environment for human beings.
Many times landscaping is also more popularly called gardening. Although not all gardening work should be called landscaping. Landscaping is a compilation of art, science, design and knowledge about plants. It is a process where human beings use nature to create spaces, as a vehicle of communication, of expression, so that other human beings enjoy that space and feel what the landscaper wanted to communicate.
Origin
Landscaping as we know it arose from the Industrial Revolution. However, Man has always given importance to nature, to the need for your closeness.
Egyptians, Persians, Romans and Greeks They practiced the art of landscaping. They introduced water games with fountains, figures...
Already in the Middle Ages, The gardens in the cities were intended to be orchard areas, to supply food and plants with medicinal properties. They were protected areas with walls as in the case of Medieval castles or monasteries. Plants were intrinsically related to the Christian religion. The apple symbol of sin; the lily symbol of purity; Roses symbol of the love of God, etc.
With the advent of Renaissance, gardens became more important, the decoration in the gardens was sought, the enjoyment of them. Of course, something accessible only to the nobility. Having gardens implied prestige, power. An example of this is the famous gardens of Versailles in France. Large plots of land were dedicated to making garden areas, with ponds, gazebos, where you could walk, have tea and meet with the best of society.
Any nobleman who deigned had to have a garden. The geometric labyrinths of bushes, fountains, sculptures spread throughout Europe. In the midst of that fashion, in England changed course, rescued natural forms, the lakes, and the plants growing in all their splendor. A wild appearance well planned for enjoyment.
On the other hand, In the East, where the world was seen differently To the West, the garden areas were also conceived differently. First They located exuberant nature and planned housing around it.They calculated the views from each window. They also established a space dedicated to meditation. This is what Japanese gardens were like. You can learn more about this topic in our article on Japanese art.
With the French Revolution, those gardens enjoyed by the nobility were accessible to everyone. They gave rise to public parks.
En 1863 Frederick Law Olmsted would open the first modern studio dedicated to landscaping.
Evolution of landscaping
Plants, trees, gardens, for us they are fundamental. Many people do not have a garden at home but they have plants and others, although they cannot have gardens or many plants, appreciate taking a walk through the parks of cities and towns. Thus We have the link with nature very present.
Landscaping today is a creative method to create artistic works, landscapes, which integrate gardens, houses, or private estates with urban landscapes. These landscapes can be like those described in our article on types of gardens.
Landscaping is about planning, designing and building outdoor spaces that integrate with what surrounds them. Examples of all this are the public parks in cities and towns, open squares, green areas and more.
Can we be landscapers in our garden?
Like any art, landscaping requires knowledge, practice and creativity. It is something that we can practice in the privacy of our gardens, that we can learn from the garden areas around us. We can take courses or even study to dedicate ourselves professionally to landscaping.
The important thing is to do something we like, design our outdoor spaces to enjoy them ourselves, alone and in company. Express what we want and we can all do something about that. Logically With knowledge we can do much more than without it, and if we are creative people we only have to consider what we would like. have, which are the best plants that adapt to our climate, and what smells we like the most. With all this, it is time to go out to the terrace, balcony or garden and get to it.
What things could we have?
In addition to plants, we must take into account the space we have, elements such as fountains, jars, benches or figures that decorate our green spaces. Color can be something that helps us too. We can be guided by plants with flowers of about color ranges specific. And a recommendation, take plants without flowers that always provide green color and also pick plants that bloom at different times, to always have some color.
