Natural garden

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The natural garden , ecological garden or natural garden has an integrative approach between man and nature. Local wild animals and wild plants (fauna and flora) are particularly encouraged in the natural garden . The design is based on the models of nature. The image of the natural garden mostly resembles a naturally grown room, but these are rooms that have been planned, laid out and cared for by human hands. Formal elements are increasingly present in more recent designs. When it comes to planting, preference is given to native species that are long-lived and require little care ( sustainable planting and sowing ).

Natural garden in France

These garden spaces are created in order to make a contribution to nature conservation and human recreation in settlement areas. There are also educationally motivated natural gardens to bring nature closer to people. Sustainable construction and management is sought in the natural garden. The criteria of the natural garden are less of a formal nature, but an expression of a horticultural examination of nature.

Current areas of application

Open space types of the natural garden

Natural play area in Eglfing (Upper Bavaria) with wildflower hills, fireplace, water play area, wood carvings, rock climbing wall, castle hill
  • Settlement gardens in urban and peri-urban areas
  • Private and communal gardens
  • Institutional, pedagogically shaped rooms in schools and social facilities
  • Leeway
  • Company premises
  • Public spaces, urban parks
  • Traffic accompanying green

Plant usage

Willow construction in Schlepzig (Brandenburg). The Willow Dome is a building made from living willow.

Plant communities of nature find an adaptation in the natural garden. These include, for example:

  • Use of perennials: ruderal vegetation , extensive grassland , dry locations and alternating moisture locations, hedge fringes and shadow flora
  • Trees: solitary and wild hedges

Further topics are:

  • Willow growing
  • Themed gardens such as medicinal and herb gardens or wild plants for the kitchen ( herb spiral )
  • Facade and roof greening
  • Vegetable garden, see: organic garden
  • Agriculture, see: Permaculture

Construction techniques

A sustainable construction method is sought that conserves the resources of soil and water . This is achieved through the most closed cycles of plant and mineral material, through recycling and the use of natural and regionally produced building materials and plants.

  • Natural stone walls and stairs in dry construction (without binders)
  • Natural stone coverings
  • Wooden structures
  • Gravel areas
  • Natural ponds
  • Retention zones for drainage (roof water, paths, squares)

History of the natural garden

From 1770

The natural garden can hardly be identified as a separate style epoch. We found the term natural garden in the 18th century in connection with the discussion about landscape gardens. In Germany in the late 18th century there was a discussion about a separate "natural garden" derived from the English garden style. The “German Natural Garden” should differ from the English Garden in terms of more “objectivity”, “natural science” and less “idealization of nature” . This brought an aspect into the natural garden that is still an issue today. The “German Natural Garden”, however, remained more of a theoretical construct that shaped garden art, but did not produce its own garden style.

From 1800

The landscape garden in the 19th century influenced all subsequent garden trends, so only one small aspect can be mentioned here: The late historical landscape garden of the late century represented the emerging middle class. The garden increasingly became a field of activity for the educated citizen who had brought arboretums , alpine and other scientifically motivated topics into the garden. The examination of nature has been preserved as an aspect in the natural garden movement.

The turn of the 20th century

The turn of the century occupies a key position, as this was where the impetus for various impulses was given.

Garden design by Willy Lange in Berlin-Wannsee around 1920

Plants with locals in the reform garden: The use of native species became “en vogue” at the turn of the century, after a long decade of collecting the most exclusive exotic species possible. The definition of native species, however, was broad and the distinction between wild forms and horticultural cultivars was not made. It was even specifically combined with cultivated varieties. This natural garden was based on the natural image while the ecological "function" was only rarely an issue.

The hour of birth of nature and heritage protection associations: Naturally high-quality and aesthetic landscape areas were declared by the protagonists of the emerging " nature and heritage protection movement " as "nature reserves" or sometimes as "natural gardens". The latter were intended to educate the people.

Organic and Biodynamic Agriculture: Another topic was the ideas of agriculture, which brought forth the first pioneers of organic farming . The topic of natural and biological management has arisen.

From 1900

The natural garden was only established as a separate style in the 20th century. However, it remains a movement within the "garden in the 20th century" which is shaped by modernity . Accordingly, the developments of the natural garden run parallel to those of the reform garden, the architectural garden, the landscaped residential garden and the garden creations of postmodernism. On the one hand, the styles mentioned are clearly and particularly intellectually differentiated from one another, and yet the same or similar aspects can always be found in the individual garden styles. What they all have in common is that the garden forms mentioned can be interpreted as a reflection of a social debate about the understanding and relationship of nature. In the course of advanced industrialization, globalization and secularization, an individualized understanding of nature has developed. The "garden of modernity" is likely to be characterized by the fact that it defines the relationship between man and nature from different views. The natural garden is largely the result of private, educational or nature conservation initiatives. While the other styles have their protagonists from the ranks of garden designers, city gardeners, etc., i.e. from key positions in the green industry. That is why the natural garden has established itself as a “lay movement”. A definition that was maintained on both sides in order to delimit each other, but which is currently likely to be a hindrance. From the 1980s onwards, horticultural companies took up the topic and developed it further. Due to the increasing social support for environmental issues, natural garden design is increasingly coming into the focus of the general public.

Characterization of the natural garden in the 20th century

The garden historian Anja Löbbecke divides the natural garden movement into three main trends: "Biological and ecological garden art" (beginning of the 20th century), "Private nature conservation" (1970s) and "Function for people" (from the 1980s). Mainly supported by interested laypeople and committed environmental activists , the natural garden movement is still characterized by an ambivalent relationship to historical garden art and professional landscape architecture . The actors of the 1970s in particular criticized the established landscape architecture of their time, turned against environmental degradation and “alienated garden culture” and did not want their concerns to be understood in terms of horticulture. Typical publications at that time focused on consistent nature and environmental protection and defined the garden primarily as a habitat for flora and fauna. In the 1980s the established garden culture was dealt with more intensely and a social component was anchored within the "natural". The standard work of that phase is the 1986 book “Der Andere Naturgarten” by the Swiss geographer and landscape gardener Andreas Winkler. Formerly active as a chemical laboratory assistant in agrochemical research, Winkler was involved in nature and environmental protection in the eighties and turned with his natural garden idea "against the compulsive, against fighting life with weed killers and insecticides" as well as against garden architects and their "meaningless, architectural, flavourful banter ”. He wanted to see something revolutionary in his “other natural garden” as well as guide people on a departure into a better future and explicitly referred to the planning-critical writings of the Kassel School of Landscape and Open Space Planning of the early 1980s.

The natural garden is a regional phenomenon that is shaped differently by a few actors. The biologist, journalist and near-natural green planner Reinhard Witt writes: “There are and have always been few people who have carried forward this story [note: the Naturgarten eV association ]. [...] These people change, as if the life interests and energy of a person did not last long enough for all the paths and wrong turns of the natural garden. ”Despite the regional character and the small number of people of the Naturgarten eV, this association is for natural garden and landscape design Well networked nationwide.

The natural garden in the Netherlands

It is considered an archetype, as its development history can be traced back almost completely to the late 19th century. In the Netherlands, the disputes and crucial tests around the natural garden were not carried out in a pronounced manner. It seems that this makes the general relationship much more relaxed than in the German-speaking area. The projects are often embedded in an educational context and typically have the character of a miniature landscape.

The natural garden in Germany

Germany has a “quiet” pioneering role, as the impulses often come from here. However, the natural garden movement was seriously weakened in the 1930s by folk tendencies. From the 1970s onwards, intensive research was carried out at the Kassel School of Landscape and Open Space Planning on the subject of spontaneous vegetation in the settlement area, which in turn would have provided a theoretical basis for the natural garden. However, the practice-oriented application was driven in the Netherlands and Switzerland.

The natural garden in Switzerland

(German-speaking) Switzerland is considered a pioneer country because it is where a lot of practical experience comes from. Projects have been implemented in public space ( Grün 80 Basel, Irchelpark Zurich) that have made the natural garden widely known. The range of natural horticultural companies and wild plant producers is relatively well covered in Switzerland and their working methods are regulated by guidelines.

Institutions

Associations, interest groups

In the course of professionalization, various interest groups have been formed that deal with the natural garden issue.

  • Germany , see: Naturgarten eV
  • Switzerland: In 1987, the “Association of Nature Garden VNG”, formerly the “Association for near-natural gardening and landscaping VNG”, was formed in Switzerland as an association of near-natural horticulture companies. The association comprised between 20 and 30 specialist companies that worked according to their own guidelines, as well as individual memberships. From 1995 the club's own magazine “Naturwärts” appeared. In 2008 the VNG merged with Bioterra and the Association of Organic Gardeners. Since then, the interest groups have been represented jointly. Around one hundred specialist companies (horticulturalists, planning offices and gardeners) as well as around 13,000 individual members belong to Bioterra. Bioterra offers a magazine, various courses, direct sales, conferences, etc. for its members. The Nature and Economy Foundation promotes the natural design of company premises.
  • Austria: The transnational movement “ Nature in the Garden ” was formed from a Lower Austrian initiative . Their goal is that private and public gardens and green spaces are ecologically designed and maintained without chemical-synthetic pesticides and fertilizers and without peat. There is also the “Rewista Network”, an Austria-wide association of near-natural and regionally operating companies that provide advice, planning and execution, but also plants, seeds and building materials from regional origins - also from organic production on request.
  • Netherlands: The Oase Foundation was set up in the early 1990s on the basis of a documentation of natural garden objects in Holland. The foundation organizes excursions, publishes the magazine “OASE” and has so far published two garden guides. The Oase Center in the “Oasegarten zu Beungingen” is the roof of various specialist areas: 'Wilde Weelde' for gardeners, seed producers and specialist planners. There is also a specialist group for near-natural garden maintenance and finally “Springzaad”, the interest group for children and nature. The nature education branch has become the focus.

Courses

Various natural garden courses are offered. You can find day courses on all sorts of topics, from pragmatic building instructions, plant teaching courses, permaculture courses to experience courses with esoteric coloring. Accordingly, they are aimed at all possible target groups. There are several years of further training for the gardening professional. Due to the increasing demand and requirement for sustainable horticulture, the interest in such courses has also increased.

Criticism of the natural garden

Expert critics, such as the Zurich landscape architect, Professor Dr. Dieter Kienast , have had a lasting impact on the discussion about natural gardens since the 1980s. Kienast condemned the artificial creation of natural-looking biotopes in unsuitable urban areas as a flimsy “eco-design” that merely obscures the true qualities of the environment. Due to the conservative , partially anti-modernist and art-hostile attitude of the natural garden movement, he was also of the opinion “that the progressive nature of natural gardening is also accompanied by a proper piece of restorative ideas. [...] Here, the future-oriented attitude in social issues is opposed to a conservative attitude in cultural issues characterized by ignorance and uncritical reception. ”This view is still held today by parts of the professional world.

A second point of criticism concerns the one-sided preference for native plants and the strict rejection of foreign plants in natural gardens. However, many of the cultivated plants valued today , such as the potato , do not originally come from Central Europe, and the distribution of certain plant species is constantly changing from a global perspective as a result of changing climatic conditions. Plants that are considered indigenous today were introduced to Central Europe as early as the Celtic times. The problem of the lack of a clear definition of "native" was countered in biology by setting the year of the discovery of America, 1492, as the dividing point. All species introduced after 1500 are considered "non-native" neobiotic plants. This normative determination is repeatedly called into question in specialist circles.

Another point of criticism of the natural garden is the restriction of the design options. This criticism is occasionally expressed by gardeners who, after years of commitment, distanced themselves from the natural garden.

See also

literature

  • U. Barth, C. Brand: Natural gardens. Current examples of skilful design, planting and care. Callwey, Munich 2000, ISBN 3-7667-1393-0 .
  • A. Dobler, W. Fleischer, G. Wagner: The swimming pond in the garden. Plant, planting, care. with numerous building instructions and detailed plant descriptions. Orac, Vienna / Munich / Zurich 1997, ISBN 3-7015-0370-2 .
  • I. Erckenbrecht: The herb spiral. Building instructions, herb portraits, recipes. Pala-Verlag, Darmstadt 2005, ISBN 978-3-89566-290-4 .
  • F. Hilgenstock, R. Witt: The natural garden construction book. Callwey, Munich 2003, ISBN 3-7667-1542-9 .
  • EW Kleber, G. Kleber: Gardening in the biotope with people. The practical organic garden manual for sustainable living. OLV, Organischer Landbau-Verlag, Xanten 1999.
  • N. Kleinz: The natural garden. Planning and designing with local plants. Naturbuch-Verlag, Augsburg 1995.
  • M.-L. Kreuter: The organic garden. With plant protection compass. Blv, Munich / Vienna / Zurich 2004.
  • M.-L. Kreuter: The small organic garden practice. Blv, Munich 2006.
  • P. Kurz, M. Machatschek, B. Iglhauser: Hedges. History and Ecology: Plant, Conservation & Use. Stocker, Graz 2001.
  • LG Le Roy: switch off nature, switch on nature. Klett-Cotta, Stuttgart 1978.
  • C. Lloyd, J. Buckley, E. Hunningher: Meadows. Ulmer, Stuttgart (Hohenheim) 2005.
  • W. Milan: wooden fences. Old models, new forms. Stocker, Graz / Stuttgart 2006.
  • C. Moll, A. Simon, E. Neuenschwander: Eduard Neuenschwander . Architect and environmental designer. GTA Verlag, Zurich 2009.
  • L. Moos, K. Spitzer, M. Adritzky: Green in the city. From above, by yourself, for all of all. Rowohlt-Taschenbuch-Verlag, Reinbek near Hamburg 1980.
  • A. Oberholzer, L. Lässer: Gardens for children. School and family gardens close to nature. Ulmer, Stuttgart 1991, ISBN 3-8001-6448-5 .
  • A. Oberholzer, L. Lässer: A garden for animals. Natural garden adventure space. E. Ulmer, Stuttgart (Hohenheim) 1997, ISBN 3-8001-6625-9 .
  • A. Oberholzer, L. Lässer: Gardens for children. Near-natural kindergarten and school facilities, house gardens and playgrounds. E. Ulmer publishing house, Stuttgart 2003.
  • P. Richard: Planning, designing and maintaining lively natural gardens. AT-Verlag, Aarau, Switzerland 2002.
  • P. Richard, R. Locher, J. Brandt: Garden happiness. The art of relaxed gardening. Alataverlag, Winterthur 2008, ISBN 978-3-033-01509-8 .
  • I. Schenck: New rules for an old craft. In: Callwey (ed.): Garden and landscape. Callwey, 2000.
  • U. Schwarz: The conservation of native animals and plants.
  • U. Schwarz: The natural garden. More space for native plants and animals. Krüger, Frankfurt am Main 1980.
  • U. Black: Green is not green. Receive d. home. Flora u. Fauna! Creates more natural compensation areas! Krüger, [Frankfurt (Main)] 1987.
  • Swiss Foundation for Environmental Action (ed.): Dry stone walls. Instructions for construction and repair. Steffisburg 1996.
  • V. Straaß : Experience nature all year round. Discover, observe, understand. Blv, Munich / Vienna / Zurich 2000, ISBN 3-405-15893-1 .
  • P. Whitefield: The Great Handbook of Forest Garden. OLV, Organischer Landbau-Verl.-Ges., Xanten 1999.
  • D. Wieland, PM Bode: Green broken. Landscape and Gardens of the Germans. Raben, Munich 1990, ISBN 3-922696-43-0 .
  • A. Winkler: The other natural garden. E. Handb. For practitioners; with ecolog. Considerations. Ringier 1986.
  • A. Winkler: The natural garden manual for practitioners. AT-Verlag, Aarau / Stuttgart 1989.
  • R. Witt: Wild Gardens. Blv, Munich / Vienna / Zurich 1995.
  • R. Witt: Wild flowers for pots and bowls. Natural beauty in a small space. Blv, Munich / Wie / Zurich 1998.
  • R. Witt: Wild plants for every garden. 100 domestic flowers, shrubs and shrubs; Cultivation, planting, care. Blv, Munich / Vienna / Zurich 2003.
  • R. Witt: The wild plants pot book. Perennial species for balconies, patios and gardens. lively, easy to care for, sustainable. NaturGarten, Ottenhofen 2007.
  • R. Witt: Sustainable planting and sowing. Herbs, perennials and shrubs. gardening successfully for decades. practical, close to nature. extended weed lexicon. NaturGarten, Ottenhofen 2008, ISBN 978-3-00-023586-3 .
  • R. Witt: Roses close to nature. Garden and wild forms. Blossom abundance, rose hip splendor, ecology. the somewhat different rose book. the best varieties. NaturGarten, Ottenhofen 2010, ISBN 978-3-00-027547-0 .
  • R. Witt: The history of the natural garden movement from a German perspective. From 1980 to 2011. In: Bioterra (Ed.): Beyond the borders. Conference documentation on the occasion of the Natural Garden Day on March 11, 2011. Zurich 2011, pp. 6–7.
  • R. Witt, H. Janiček: Wild garden natural oasis . Survival space for our plants and animals: planning, practice, care. Blv, Munich 1993.
  • R. Witt, H. Janiček: The natural garden. Lively, beautiful, easy to care for; Planting suggestions for all locations. Blv, Munich / Vienna / Zurich 2001.

Web links

Commons : Natural garden  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ See: Stefan Hartmann: Trendy materials. , in: Bioterra (Ed.): Naturgarten Special. From dream to lifelong dream. Planning - design - maintenance. Zurich 2010.
  2. ↑ See Foundation Nature and Economy; http://www.naturundwirtschaft.ch/
  3. ↑ Julia Burbulla: From a work of art to a blockbuster. Strategies for popularization in the theories of artistic freedom from 1750. In: GTLA (Hrsg.): German-language sources on the landscape garden in the 18th century. 2011, pp. 10, 21.
  4. ↑ See the chapter Architectural Garden Creations. and The nature of the residential garden. In: J. Stoffler: Gustav Ammann. Landscapes of Modernism in Switzerland . GTA, Zurich 2008, ISBN 978-3-85676-194-3 .
  5. ↑ In spite of this, a compilation was created in 1981 in which all those active at the time contributed a text: L. Moos, K. Spitzer, M. Adritzky: Grün in der Stadt. From above, by yourself, for all of all. Rowohlt-Taschenbuch-Verlag, Reinbek near Hamburg 1981.
  6. ↑ Anja Löbbecke: Naturalism, Nativism and Natural Gardens. Misunderstandings in the history of garden design “according to nature”. In: Ulrich Patzer (Ed.): Stadt + Grün. The garden authority. Patzer Verlag, Berlin 2011.
  7. ↑ Compare the publication for the 1982 photo exhibition of the same name: D. Wieland, PM Bode: Grün kaputt. Landscape and Gardens of the Germans. Raben, Munich 1982.
  8. ↑ See: U. Schwarz: Der Naturgarten. More space for native plants and animals. Krüger, Frankfurt am Main 1980.
  9. ↑ Andreas Winkler: The other natural garden. A handbook for practitioners. With ecological considerations by Hans C. Salzmann. Ringier 1986.
  10. ↑ Andreas Winkler: The other natural garden. A handbook for practitioners. With ecological considerations by Hans C. Salzmann. Ringier 1986; Pp. 42/43
  11. ↑ See e.g. B. Karl-Heinrich Hülbusch: Herbs with weeds. AG Freiraum und Vegetation, Notebook 2. Kassel 1986.
  12. ^ R. Witt: The history of the natural garden movement from a German point of view. From 1980 to 2011. In: Bioterra (Ed.): Beyond the borders. Conference documentation on the occasion of the Natural Garden Day on March 11, 2011. Zurich 2011, pp. 6–7.
  13. ↑ W. Leufgen: The natural garden movement in the Netherlands - but very old still alive and kicking. In: Bioterra (ed.): Beyond the borders. Conference documentation on the occasion of the Natural Garden Day on March 11, 2011. Zurich 2011, pp. 2–3.
  14. ↑ Dieter Kienast: The longing for paradise. In: Hochparterre 7/1990; P. 49.
  15. ↑ cf. Urs Schwarz: The Frankfurt Natural Garden 1980.
  16. ↑ cf. Ingo Kowarik: Biological Invasions; Neophytes and Neozoa in Central Europe. 2nd Edition. Eugen Ulmer KG, Stuttgart 2010, p. 21.