Horti-Culture. The etymology of Horticulture, from the Latin “hortus” meaning garden plus the word culture, embodies the history of man’s mark on nature.
Horti-Culture. The etymology of Horticulture, from the Latin “hortus” meaning garden plus the word culture, embodies the history of man’s mark on nature.
Seeds of Culture. Grass seeds planted in the letter-shaped wooden moulds.
Seeds of Culture. Grass seeds planted in the letter-shaped wooden moulds.
Fuzzy Culture. The edges are no longer crisp as the long grass tendrils cross over the lines of containment.
Fuzzy Culture. The edges are no longer crisp as the long grass tendrils cross over the lines of containment.
Fall of Culture. The grass begins to die back as the leaves turn color.
Fall of Culture. The grass begins to die back as the leaves turn color.
Dormant Culture. Unexpected snow cover until culture rises again.
Dormant Culture. Unexpected snow cover until culture rises again.
Truths And Roses Have Thorns About Them. Quote by Henry David Thoreau appropriate for the formal Rose garden.
Truths And Roses Have Thorns About Them. Quote by Henry David Thoreau appropriate for the formal Rose garden.
Leaf detail. The poetic French adage "Pas de rose sans épines" was installed in the adjacent rose bed.
Leaf detail. The poetic French adage "Pas de rose sans épines" was installed in the adjacent rose bed.
THOR. Leaves turn brown; the message remains.
THOR. Leaves turn brown; the message remains.

Green Words

The installation of the word Culture in a botanical garden referenced the splendors of gardens such as Versailles in France where wealth and power were epitomized by the size and spectacle of gardens. The six foot high wooden forms were planted with everyday grass seed, which was never trimmed but allowed to grow wild, in contrast to the well tended and manicured garden. Lawn monoculture is related to the development of suburbs  and today landscape architects have embraced the planting local native plants instead but there is still resistance from the maintenance faction in many institutions. In addition Henry David Thoreau‘s “Truths And Roses Have Thorns About Them” further demonstrate the influence of nature on language and culture.

 

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