Music and gardens…the parallels are endless. There are many levels of involvement in garden activities. Even if you aren't directly involved in making music, could you possibly say that you don't derive some pleasure from listening?

As with music, one can be a participant or a spectator, a leader or a follower, eccentric or normal. I often compare a large and well-structured garden to a major symphony, whereas a small urban lot might evoke a solo guitar piece. Neither one is more virtuous than the other; each stands alone on its own merit. Similarly, the garden setting may become a simple environment with a pleasant and relaxing ambiance, or perhaps a dramatic statement about the human condition in turmoil with itself. On a less positive note, some of the landscapes that I see in suburban apartment complexes remind me of elevator music; calculated to appeal to the masses yet in the end being without a soul of their own.

A course in music appreciation may be analogous to one in garden design; the resulting increase in awareness makes one a better critic. A particular plant that spans across cultures and geography is the Rose. Just about as many people are familiar with roses, as those who have heard of Beethoven. I find that for this composer you probably won't like everything you hear, but his works have enduring qualities like substance and delicacy that will stand the test of time.

Digging even deeper here, I identify certain other types of plants with particular genres of music; Rhododendrons = Country, Vines = Bluegrass, Vegetables = Blues, Grasses = Rock. OK, to be sure these are very personal associations based on my experiences, but you get the idea. Feel free to disagree with me. I'd love to hear some of yours. Over the years, my gardens would seem to fit into the 'Classic Jazz meets Neo-Country/Punk Rock' section of the record store. Personally, I prefer Ornette to Ludwig but then, “different strokes…”

– Paul