EVERGREEN
GROWING CULTURE We enjoy spending time in our gardens, but there’s much more to it than that. Outdoor spaces function as an expression of identity, places to grow relationships, produce food, and connect with nature.
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Emily Hastie, Landscape Architect, Kamo Marsh Landscape Architects kamomarsh.co.nz
he ability to readily access gardens and the natural environment cannot be underestimated. Scientists involved in a University of Otago study of 55 householders, which appeared in the Journal of Environmental Psychology, found the significance of gardens was greater than previously understood. “Gardens proved to be very important for our householders; for physical and mental health, as an expression of ownership and identity, as sites for social relationships, for connecting with nature, and as sites of domestic produce production.
Householders’ connections with nature were idiosyncratic, multifaceted, and exhibited in ways that are more complex and varied than those usually considered by those working in the natural sciences …” We tend to think that creating a garden is based on practical decisions and personal taste, but there are many more factors underlying how we go about building outdoor spaces. Our cultural history, family traditions, memories, emotions, and experiences all combine to form spaces that incorporate objects and vegetation, reflecting who we are and where we come from.
Identity
Well-being
Throughout history, wellestablished gardens have played an important role in the development of cultural identity. History is entwined in the traditional gardening styles and techniques such as Bonsai or Zen gardens in Japan or the famous formal gardens at the Palace of Versailles.
Gardens present opportunities for relaxation, recovery, and learning, from the toddler taking their first steps on the soft lawn to the daily ritual of tending to vegetables or flowers in retirement, offering us limitless physical health and well-being benefits.
Relationships
Self-expression
Parks function as meeting places, helping people to establish community, gather, and socialise. Traditionally, the town square was where people met to chat, share ideas, and form friendships in a neutral space. A school playground is a classic example.
Gardens, like our homes, represent an expression of personality. For example, you may choose a formal versus natural style or private versus shared, reflecting your values and creating a space where you feel comfortable.
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