The Origin of Our Garden
Traditionally, the garden played a unique part in Chinese cultural life. The classical Chinese garden was an artistic complexity. Its design and maintenance were infused with philosophy and art. The royal garden and the private garden were two tendencies in design. Today, we can see the best examples of the royal garden in Beijing and the private garden in Suzhou city. The private garden was a place where the philosopher within us sat to contemplate and balance Nature's inner and outer energies in a garden arrangement of the elements, colours, scents, and a variety of viewpoints, through deep thought and light spirit.
The traditional Chinese philosopher's garden is not reproduced in our garden but re-interpreted and refreshed: balance, harmony and playful creativity, embodied in the various arts, make a modern interpretation of traditional ideals. A Chinese musician will perform daily in the garden. A place for contemplation of the human in Nature, the garden balances the ancient and modern through the use of reclaimed materials where possible. The form is natural, based on the inner ear (our organ of balance and harmony) and irregular in the tradition of Chinese gardens.
The blend of recognisable elements, commissioned art pieces and Chinese plants place the visitor as part of an enjoyable garden artwork.
The main tale of the garden, that of a philosopher waiting for the love of his life and spring to return, was originally inspired by the plants of the Tatton Garden itself. Our garden is linked to a trail of Chinese plants, 'Tatton Park's Hidden Chinese Garden Trail' made for Tatton Park's Biennial 08 programme by John Hyatt and Tongyu Zhou of MIRIAD, an artwork followed by means of a map available at the Tatton main garden entrance. The plants inspired a poem that can be collected on a plant/art trail circuit of the gardens and the poem inspired our garden design. So, what is the origin of our garden design? Why, Nature! The plants themselves!
In the glass of the Peach Case
Your cheeks were in blossom.
Our paths were not straight
But went winding like Wisteria.
How long will the little red leaves last
Beneath the tree?
The memory of your parting kiss
Strewn on the green grass.
A scissor wind in February,
A paper cut.
The evergreen.
I collect tears
And pearl earrings
Hang from the sky.
Dawn Redwoods gather round me
To discuss the form of a man.
Under the Hemlock
I sit with your shadow
And drink a toast to my ghost.
Brother Dragon, my skin too is
A bark of scales
Hardened by the Summer Sun.
I wait and wait for your return.
The bushes run,
More human than I am,
Rushing past me with the seasons.
The Golden Birch shed their skins
Waving handkerchiefs and
Letters in the wind.
But only the passing of the clouds
Is read by the water.
The winged messenger is frozen stiff!
Me and this fossil tree stare down time.
We wait for Spring to come again
And for the peach blossom to return.
(Hyatt and Zhou, 2008)
2008 RHS Flower Show Tatton
23 - 27 July 2008
Tatton Park, near Knutsford, Cheshire
Site: C69
