Explore the enchanting Japanese-style garden and French parterre and compare and contrast the style of these two very different landscaped gardens. Use your senses to observe each garden closely and imagine how the gardens change throughout the seasons. Consider what garden designers need to make sure the plants in their gardens have in order to grow and thrive. Then enjoy a hands-on art project, making mixed media collage flower design, inspired by the colors and shapes in the gardens.
After completing this program students will be able to: *Give examples of some of the natural elements and human design found in landscaped gardens *List things plants need to grow and thrive in the garden, including light, water, air, and nutrients *Use sense of sight, smell, and hearing to observe the gardens *Predict how the garden might change throughout the seasons
Program agenda:
1. Welcome to Hillwood and the program; discuss that we are going to explore two landscaped gardens and observe nature in the gardens, and also see how garden designers are like artists who create a garden setting
2. Walk through the Japanese-style garden; students share observations about what they see & hear in the garden–sound of water falling, birds chirping, etc., as well as colors of the leaves and plants, statues in the garden, etc.
3. Discuss what plants need to grow and thrive in the garden—the right amount of sunlight & shade; temperatures that are not too hot or too cold; soil that provides nutrients; appropriate amount of water; enough space to grow—and how the garden designer needs to consider all these things when planting a garden, in addition to thinking about how the garden will be used and what plants look nice in the garden
4. Students share thoughts about how the garden would change in different seasons–for example: leaves could change color and fall off; different plants could bloom; water could turn to ice; etc.
5. Visit Hillwood’s French Parterre and compare & contrast with the Japanese-style garden: What is the same and what is different? Which garden do you like better, and why? Notice how garden designers use many of the same features (plants, water, rocks, statues) to create completely different settings and experiences
6. If time permits, students may also visit additional gardens: 1) the cutting garden and greenhouse – in these working gardens, the students can watch garden staff caring for plants; 2) the four seasons overlook – students see statues representing the different seasons, and use their bodies to pose and create their own versions of season statues – use their body to show cold for winter, for example, or to show a flower growing in spring; and 3) the Lunar Lawn – on this large open lawn space students can have a chance to enjoy the gardens as a place for exercise and physical activity – they can have a few minutes of free time to run around and play on the lawn.
7. The program concludes with students participating in an art project, making a mixed media collage of a flower arrangement, inspired by the colors and shapes they saw on their garden exploration