Q4 - What is the most interesting thing you've seen in a garden that wasn't to do with plants?
Full details of the responses are given here in alphabetical order.
15 meter long vase in Madeira
3 point perspective "Borogrove Folly" by Duncan Heather at Hampton Court Flower Show for Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust
A Bachannalian orgy scene made out of copper sculptures in the WTB at The Eden Project
A compost diplay at Cambridge Botanic
A display in the grounds of large aerial photographs of different landscapes around the UK
A Science Art exhibition at the Eden Project - I think it was called primitave streak, by Helen Story.
African sculptures in rocks made by African artists in Kirstenbosh (Cape Town), wonderful and very well sited
An aviary
Architectural accents
Architecture either historic or contemporary, water features either natural or man made, exhibitions
Art Sculpture
Artwork/sculpture
Because there is a very poor understanding of plants in the world, I feel that a Garden's educational focus should be on plants. Though, a Garden also serves an aesthetic purpose which can include cultural music festivals, art displays, and other appreciations of "beauty" in natural areas.
Chapangu sculptures from Africa
Concert by well known band
Concert events
Concerts that used the gardens as a backdrop.
Doors
Festival activities
Fountain
Glass
Grinder
Herpetological exhibition nestled among the plants. Animals in terrariums of course...
I always feel art and gardens have blended well. Music can be great also, but equally it can be distracting and damaging because people focus only on the performance.
I cannot think of anything at this moment, my personal view on the relation with plants is very broad. In some way just an art expo is already suitable in a bg!
I have seen nothing in a garden which didn't relate in some way to plants-because of the setting! The most potent attractions work because they engage via the medium of plants' impact on our lives.
I usually prefer historical gardens
In Brisbane.Qld. Australia, they once had a small Zoo in the Botanical Gardens (monkeys..the lot)
Interactive exhibits relating to plants/environment
I've been to many gardens and never have seen anything interesting that wasn't related to plants
Model trains
Music Concert (Keane) at the Eden Project - 5000 people audience!!
Native wildlife within a city able to survive due to the gardens presence
Not sure about the MOST interesting, but sculptures, water etc. which ENHANCE the planting are always good.
Opera, art exhibitions, food fairs
People (mentioned twice)
Rentage of space for social and religious activities
Sculpture & other art works that were chosen or created to say something about a planned message. e.g. Eden Project
Sculpture exhibition
Sculpture on the grounds
Sculpture, a display of lights and lanterns
Some weird sculptures
The Elvis Presley thing in Adelaide
The geological history of Wales in the welsh botanics... and music festivals at Eden!
The WEEE man - raising awareness of how much electronis waste humans generate in a lifetime with associated disposal problems.
Theatre production
Thoughtfully placed art pieces
Todos, tanto los de cada region como los que el mundo entero aun puede conservar.
Water falls
Water features
WEEE man - relates to electrical, electronic waste we all produce in our lifetime
WEEE man sculpture at Eden
What could possibly not have anything to do with plants? All and everything is related and comes from a base of plantmatter, and I believe greatly in stimulatng awareness of this for a more sustainable future - using plants as a starting or attracting or storytelling point. Most interesting thing: the everchanging Eden Project as a whole!
Wild animals
