Origin and Evolution of Gardens:

The origin of the garden is rooted in the Th concept of naturalism has been traced to
human desire to be surrounded by plants. China, but it has reached its highest
The first few gardens in recorded history development in Japan.
were those of the ancient cultures of Egypt Fusion of Naturalism and Formalism
and China. The fusion of Eastern naturalism and
It was in these cultures that the two-opposing Western formalism took place in eighteenth
tradition in gardens originated, namely century England.
formalism and naturalism.
Formalism
The Egyptian gardens developed at the edge Cottage Garden were primarily utilitarian
of the deserts where the natural vegetation gardens, with fruit, vegetables, herbs,
was sparse, represented the development of flowers and shrubs, crowded in a very
an artificial oasis. small area.
The enclosed garden is cool and leafy,
typified by water and shade. Woodland Garden is a peaceful sheltered
The Egyptian garden, copied their basic place based on natural grouping of trees
design everywhere though changed and with appropriate underplanting of the
according to the local variation in land, plants shrubs, herbaceous plants and bulbs.
and climate, spread to Syria, Persia India and
The first botanical garden was started at
ultimately to Rome.
Padua, near Venice (Italy) in 1543.
The grounds design became the important
concept, whereas the plant was treated as
merely an architectural material. The plant
was pruned, clipped and trained to conform
to the plan. The resultant noble symmetry
included courtyards, terraces, staircases and
fountains.
Formalism reached its peak in the age of
Louis XIV.
The master architectural gardens and Andre
Le Notre still remain unsurpassed examples
of formalism design predominant over
nature.
Naturalism
Naturalism as a concept in garden can be
interpreted as an attempt to live with nature
rather than to dominate it.
 Historical Development of Gardens and Gardening in India
Ancient India (Vedic Period)
The history of systematic gardening in India
is as old as civilization of Indus of Harappan
which existed between 2500 B.C and 1750
B.C. During the period, people were living in
well-planned dwellings. Harappan pots were
generally decorated with the design of trees.
In every village, trees including Ficus
religiosa (pipal) and F. bengalensis (banyan)
were planted for worship as well as for shade.
Aryan’s contribution in Indian gardening
The history of civilization which prospered in
Punjab, Sind, Rajasthan and Gujarat dates
back to 2500 B.C. before the Aryans
civilizations of about 1600 B.C.
The Aryans of the Vedic period were great
lovers of trees and flowers. They were
literary people and brought with them the
four Vedas viz., Rig Veda, Artharva Veda,
Yuzur Veda and Sam Veda and the Puranas.
The first evidence of Asvatha tree, the Pipal
(Ficus religiosa), comes from a seal from
Mohen-jo-daro, of the third millennium B.C.
Another seal from Harappa of the same
period depicts a weeping willow (Salix
babylonica).
The lotus has been mentioned frequently in
the Sanskrit scriptures of Vedic times.
The Atharva Veda and possibly the Rig
Veda mention the Asvatha tree, the Pipal
(Ficus religiosa).
The epics of the Aryans, the Ramayana and
the Mahabharata, also mentioned about
gardens, trees and flowers.
The Asokavana where Sita was held
captivity by Ravana, was composed mostly
of Asoka (Saraca indica) trees.
In both the Ramayana and the Mahabharata
trees and creepers namely Ficus religiosa,
Saraca indica, Terminalia arjuna, Mesua
ferrea, Cassia fistula, Shorea robusta, Butea
menosperma are mentioned.
The tree Kadamba (Anthocephalus
cadamba) as it was closely associated with
the life of Lord Krishna.
The Lotus was a popular flower and regarded
by both the Hindus and Buddhists as a
symbol of purity.
During the later Aryan period the Aryans
developed some wishful thinking in the form
of Kalpavriksha, the wish granting tree, the
Kalpalata, a similar creeper.
One sculpture depicting such a tree dating
back to the third century B.C and now
preserved in the Calcutta Museum was
identified as the Banyan tree.
Gardening in Buddhist India
The association of different trees with the life
of Lord Buddha is well known. Buddha was
born in 563 B.C. His birth is believed to have
taken place under the Asoka tree (Saraca
indica). Further, Buddha attained his
enlightenment under a Pipal tree, spread his
new teachings under shady banyan and
mango trees and breathed his last in a Sal
(Shorea robusta) grove.
The great Emperor Asoka (264-227 B.C.)
adopted arboriculture as one of his state
policies. He encouraged the planting of
avenue trees. His son Prince Mahendra took
a sapling of the Bodhi tree (Ficus religiosa)
from India and planted it at Anuradhapur in
Sri Lanka (250 B.C.).
Kanishka and Gupta era
The golden age of Hindu culture is
considered to be period between 100 and 600
A.D. during the rulers of Kanishka and the
Gupta kings.
Kalidasa during the rule of Chandragupta
II mention several flowering trees including
the Asoka tree (Saraca asoka), Kadamba
(Anthocephalus cadamba), Arjuna
(Terminalia arjuna), Butea monosperma,
Parijatham (Nyctanthes arbortristis),
Bauhinia variegata, Mimusops elengi,
Albizzia lebbek and screwpine.
The creeper ‘Madhavi latha’ (Hiptage
madablata) occupied a prominent place in his
play ‘Sakuntala’. In the same play, we find
the mention of pleasure gardens. In
Meghduta he describes the women of
Alakapuri to have used Kadamba flowers to
decorate their hair in the monsoon and carried
pink lotuses in their arms.
Vatsayana (300-400 A.D.) in his book
‘Kamasutra’ gives a glimpse of the joyful
civic life of that period. He narrates four
kinds of gardens:
1. Pramododyan meant for the
enjoyment of the royal couples
2. Udyan where the kings played chess,
enjoyed the dances of the maids and
jokes of the court jesters
3. Brikshavatika the garden where
high-placed persons in the king’s
court enjoyed life with courtesans
4. Nandavana which was dedicated to
Lord Krishna.
Hiuen Tsang, the famous Chinese pilgrim,
traveled widely in India and describes the
status of gardening in Ancient India
Mughal Period of Indian Gardening
Before the Mughals came to India, Firoz
Tughlaq had developed about twelve
hundred gardens around Delhi and more
elsewhere.
Among the Mughal emperors, Babur had
high aesthetic sense and was fond of gardens
and he made gardens at Panipat and Agra.
Aram Bagh at Agra is still being well
maintained by the Archeological
Department. Mughal gardens
synonymous with formal style of gardening.
The square or rectangular flower beds are
special features of Mughal gardens. Another
important contribution was the introduction
of exotic plants like cypress, rose, carnation,
narcissus, daffodils, lilies, tulips, etc.,
Babur introduce the Persian rose in India.
Akbar built a new capital at Fatehpur Sikri,
complete with gardens, trees and flowers.
He was the first Mughal to enter Kashmir and
establish a garden, Nasim Bagh, close to the
Dal lake.
The tomb garden of Akbar at Sikandra is
an example of gardening art during that
period.
Jahangir and his wife Nur-Jahan were great
admirer of garden and flower. The gardens at
Shalimar, Achhabal and Verinag in
Kashmir were created by him. The tomb
garden at Itimad-ud-Daulah in Agra, in
memory of his father-in-law, was also his
creation.
Shah Jahan built the Red fort in Delhi
which has a beautiful garden. The gardens
around Taj Mahal in Agra, in memory of his
beloved queen Mumtaz Mahal, was also his
creation. The small but pretty garden at
Chashma Shahi in Kashmir was laid by one
are
of his governors.
The best garden created by Shah Jahan was
Shalimar garden in Lahore
Sher Shah Suri who ruled for a short period
after defeating Babur, constructed the famous
Grand Trunk Road and planted avenue
trees on both sides.
Among the Nawabs of Oudh, the last Nawab
Wajid Ali Shah, established Sikandar bagh
now the National Botanical Research
Institute, Lucknow.
The Babur Nama, the memoirs of Babur,
mentioned of the flowers namely oleander,
Hibiscus, white jasmine
Gardening in the Era of Rajputs Kings
The garden at Amber Fort near Jaipur was
started by Man Singh and completed by Jai
Singh II. This beautiful garden has three
terraces and a lake.
The Mandor garden near Jodhpur was built
by Raja Abhai Singh. The city of Jaipur was
founded by Jai Singh II, who built a palace in
the heart of the city with beautiful gardens.
The garden palace at Deeg, Rajasthan was
founded by Suraj Mal. With fountains, water
courses and other features, it is one of the
most beautiful gardens ever created by any
Rajput king.
Gardening during Britishers Period
The arrival of the British in India changed the
whole pattern of gardening.
The Mughal gardens in India were laid out in
formal (symmetrical) patterns, but the
English changed the style into informal
patterns by laying out parks and gardens.
Indians gardens had only scented trees and
shrubs, climbers and bulbs, but had no
flowering annuals
The Britishers brought with them beautiful
annuals and biennials such as Phlox,
Carnation, Verbena, Dahlia, Lakhspur etc
and idea of flower arrangements for interior
decoration, which was taught by them.
The greatest contribution by the Britishers
was the establishment of Botanical gardens
starting from the one established near
Calcutta.
Botanical gardens developed by Britishers in
India:
1. Horticulture Research Institute,
Saharanpur in 1750.
2. Indian Botanical Garden, Sibpur, Kolkata
in 1787.
3. Govt. Botanical Garden, Ootacamund in
1848.
4. Agri-horticultural Society Garden,
Kolkata in 1872.
5. Sim’s Park Conoor, Tamil Nadu in 1874
by J.D. Sim.
6. Llyod Botanical, Garden Darjeeling in
1878.
7. Botanical Garden Coimbatore, 1908.
8. Bryant Park, Kodaikonal, Tamil nadu in
1909
9. Rashtrapati Bhavan Garden, New Delhi
was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyen in
1929 on advicse of Lady hardinge.
10. Forest Research Institute, Dehradun in
1934
Post-Independence Period- For successful flower growing scientific
research is must. For this Indian Council of
Several radical changes Remarkable
Agricultural Research is playing important
achievements like
role. Nine Research centers in different agro-
a) Conscious planning for improvement of
climatic zones are set up. Other than this-
total environment
Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New
b) Commercial floriculture
Delhi
c) Teaching and research of Ornamental
Indian Institute of Horticultural Research,
Horticulture at graduate and post graduate
Banglore
level.
National Botanical Research Institute,
Several important gardens in different cities
Lucknow
and passive recreational facilities. Important
Bhaba Atomic Research Centre, Bombay
gardens are Buddha Jayanti Garden, Delhi;
Agricultural Universities like-
Rose Graden, Chandigarh and Ludhiana.
Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana;
State Departments like Urban Development,
University of Agricultural Sciences,
Archeololgical and Tourism are actively
Banglore;
improving total environment of buildings by
Dr.Y.S.Parmar University of Horticulture
conscious planning and planting. Green belts
and Forestry, Solan;
are being provided in industrial are to reduce
Bidhan Chandra Krishi Vishwavidalaya,
pollution. It is done by technical persons.
Kalyani
Special attention to Cut flower trade
are the places where scientific research of
Flower cultivation specialization in different
floriculture is being conducted. Availability
agro-climatic zones, as detailed below-
of technical trained persons is must.
Hilly region (Sri Nagar, Darjeeling, Nainital
Till 1971, no university was providing
and Himachal Pradesh)-gladious, narcissus
education up to M.Sc. level in L&F. PAU is
and other bulb plants;
the first university then others like Solan,
North Indian plains-rose, gladious, marigold,
Kalyani, Coimbtore, Pune, Kanpur,
aster;
I.A.R.I etc.
South India-tuberose, jasmine, marigold,
Town Planning and Architecture, New Delhi,
crossandra
imparts post-graduate course in landscaping.
Eastern region-chrysanthemum, tuberose,
aster and lotus and other foliage plants
Strenghtening of such facilitates is essential Multiple choice question (MCQ):
to make floriculture industries prosperous. 1. The first evidence of ornamental tree that
Important points to be remember: comes from the seal of Mohenjo-daro,
depicts which of the following tree
Plants native to India:
a. Ficus bengalensis
Balsam, Primula, Muskrose, Orchids, Tulip.
b. Ficus religiosa
Among trees Sita Ashoka, Pipal, Banyan
c. Ficus benjamina
Nagkesar, Amaltas,kadam, Swarn etc.
d. Salix babylonica
Champa, Neem, Palas, Arjun tree, Kachnar,
2. Seal obtained from Harappa depicts which
Karanj, Chalta, Barna.
of the following tree
Some shrubs like Bela,Pili Chameli,
a. Ficus bengalensis
Rukmani, Har Shingar, Clerodendron
b. Ficus religiosa
inermae, Chandni, Crossandra.
c. Ficus benjamina
Some climbers like Passiflora sp. Madhvi lata
d. Salix babylonica
etc.
3. Which tree is closely related to the life of
Kadamba associated with Lord Krishna
Lord Krishna?
Semal with Lord Shiva
a. Anthocephalus cadamba
Bauhinia with Saraswati, Goddess of
b. Michelia champpaca
wisdom
c. Ficus benjamina
Amaranths with Goddess Kali
d. Salix babylonica
Yellow Amaltas with prosperity in trade.
4. During the Aryan period which of the
Kalapvriksha,which fulfills all desires
following tree is regarded as the
Great poet Kalidas described many trees in
“Kalpavriksha”, the wish granting tree
his various books like Ashoka, Kalpvrisha,
a. Ficus religiosa
Shirish flower, Devdaru, parjpati, Molsari,
b. Ficus bengalensis
Bhoj patri and lotus.
c. Ficus benjamina
Another book in Meghdoot, the route from
d. Ficus elastic
Ujjain to Himalaya has been narrated…….
5. The birth of Lord Buddha took place under
Festival Basant Panchmi-God of Love
which tree
a. Shorea robusta
b. Saraca indica
c. Butea menosperma 11. Who was the first Mughal emperor to
d. Ficus religiosa enter Kashmir and established the garden
6. Lord Buddha attain his enlightenment “Nasim Bagh”?
under which tree a. Akbar
a. Shorea robusta b. Babur
b. Saraca indica c. Humayun
c. Butea menosperma d. Aurangajeb
d. Ficus religiosa 12. The gardens at Shalimar, Achhabal and
7. Lord Buddha died under the tree…. Verinag in Kashmir was created by
a. Shorea robusta a. Akbar
b. Saraca indica b. Babur
c. Butea menosperma c. Humayun
d. Ficus religiosa d. Jahangir
8. Which emperor adopted arboriculture as 13. Shalimar garden situated at Lahore was
one of his state policies? created by?
a. Asoka a. Akbar
b. Akbar b. Babur
c. Chandragupta Maurya c. Humayun
d. None of the above d. Jahangir
9. Rambagh garden in Agra was laid down by 14. Who constructed the famous “Grand
which Mughal emperor Trunk Road” and planted avenue trees on
a. Akbar both sides?
b. Babur a. Shah Jahan
c. Humayun b. Sher Shah Suri
d. Aurangajeb c. Jahangir
10. Who introduce Persian rose in India? d. Aurangajeb
a. Akbar 15. Who established the “Sikandar bagh” at
b. Babur Lucknow?
c. Humayun a. Jai Singh
d. Aurangajeb b. Abhai Singh
c. Wajid Ali Shah
d. Fadai Khan 21. Bryant Park is situated in which place
16. The Mandor Garden near Jodhpur was a. Darjeeling
built by b. Otacamund
a. Jai Singh c. Kodaikanal
b. Abhai Singh d.West Bengal
c. Wajid Ali Shah 22. Rashtrapati Bhavan garden was laid out
d. Fadai Khan by………at New Delhi
17. Bombax ceiba (Semul) is associated with a. Sir Edwin Lutyens
which God b. Sir Edwin Hillary
a. Lord Shiva c. Sir Edwin Hardinge
b. Krishna d. None
c. Brahma 23. Roshnara Park at new Delhi was laid out
d. Vishnu by
18. Kachnar (Bauhinia variegata) is a. Prof. K. Mori
associated with which goddess b. Prof. K.Mastic
a. Saraswati c. Prof. M.S. Randhawa
b. Durga d. Prof. G.S. Randhawa
c. Sita 24. Concept of cottage garden was
d. Lakhsmi propounded by
19. Which garden is considered as the genesis a. G.Jekyell
of gardening? b. G. Harrison
a. Eden garden c. G.Jackey
b. Hanging garden d. None
c. Englisg garden 25. William Robinson gave the concept of
d. None a. Wild Gardening
20. Llyod Botanical garden is situated in b. Cottage gardening
which place c. Terrace gardening
a. Darjeeling d. None
b. Ooty
c. Kodaikanal
d. Mysore