Gardening philosophy - thinking about gardening and gardens.

Here are a few excerpts from a book of Hortense Miller's writings called A Garden In Laguna. I just finished loading some photos I took at her garden three days ago. The excerpts below come from the article "Gardens and Gardeners". Regarding why we do it: "We are ambivalent about physical labor. We are taught to despise it. Yet many of us have a real delight in doing things, making something. But to work with your hands is always associated with poverty and dirt; so we are pulled both ways. But there is nothing to compare with making a garden yourself! Any gardener is aware that 'Gardening is the purest of pleasures,' that 'If you would be happy all your life, make a garden,' and also that 'Gardens aren't made by sighing, Oh how beautiful! and sitting in the shade.' Regarding what makes a garden our own: "One of the oddities about gardens throughout history is that they are associated with the rich, and the rich don't work. That's the whole point of being rich. - And yet it is curiously true that unless you work in the garden, it is not yours; it has only a most tenuous connection to you an you with it." Regarding the famous landscape architect Thomas Church's famous quote: "The saying 'A garden is for people' was useful because it got many a neglected backyard cleaned up and planted to be used as a patio. But if it goes all out for people and gets a playground, a swimming pool and cabana, a barbecue and dining area, a game court and dog run, a real gardener will look in vain for the garden. No garden worth the name is 'an outdoor living room.' Your living room is for you; a garden is for plants."

I'm always amazed at all the different interpretations of a garden. They are as unique as the individual that created them.. everyone's own idea of paradise using what ever they have available to make it.