An Enduring Example Of Artistic Excellence

                                 This would make a lovely addition to the backyard

A garden, a proper garden such as those created by professional gardeners, can be as artistically creative as anything ever put on display in any gallery anywhere.

The garden in the pic above is in front of the Broadmoor hotel in Colorado Springs. It is a great example of the type known as a Renaissance Garden. The fountain as a focal point, the well-trimmed hedges, the symmetry of the flower beds and gravel paths all reflect the Renaissance ideals of balance and proportion.

The layout and design can be traced back to the 13th century, specifically to the work of the Italian horticulture enthusiast Pietro de' Crescenzi. He was educated as a Jurist, spending his life as first a lawyer, then as a judge until he retired.

Upon his retirement he decided to devote himself to agriculture, and subsequently wrote a manuscript that became the first known printed modern book devoted to horticultural and agricultural practices and techniques, as well as proper land management.

That handy little book also has a chapter devoted to the pleasure of gardening, and Mr de' Crescenzi drew upon the gardening techniques and practices of the ancient Romans as seen in the ruins of his native Italy to inform his vision of the perfect integration of grass, flowers, trees, bushes and other plant life in meticulously planned terraces and beds, with ramps and staircases leading to reflecting pools and large fountains that created a cool and serene area in which one could relax.

A Renaissance Garden would be a fun undertaking. To be able to create (on a much smaller scale, of course) a garden that featured well-tended beds of brilliant flowers and topiary sculptures with meandering gravel paths that converged on a majestic fountain (or maybe just a small bird bath - probably a little more practical) would be quite an accomplishment.

If the stars line up properly (meaning: If I can get off my lazy ass), I think I'll draw up a plan for a Renaissance Garden and lay it out in the backyard within the next couple of weeks - next Spring I'll just have to put the plants in and install a fountain (bird bath).

Yeah, that would be cool.