From now till the 3rd of August, Gardens By The Bay will be featuring a Persian Garden floral display. This is the 4th edition of the 'Gardens by the Bay goes round the world ' series, featuring blooms such as Persian Violet, Cyclamen, and Jasmine. To make your visit richer, here’s what you need to know about Persian Gardens before heading there this July. Impress your date, friends or family with these nuggets of knowledge as you take a stroll in the gardens at the Flower Dome.
1. In the Persian worldview and culture, humans are seen as one with Nature.
A UNESCO World Heritage site- Chehel Sotun in Isfahan, Iran.
This can be understood by looking at Islamic teachings- Nature is seen as a field of signs that display the might and power of the Creator. It is therefore an avenue of deep contemplation, wonder, praise and a source of increasing one’s faith.
2. Gardens are paradise on earth for Persians.
The word “ paradise“ was derived from the Greek word “paradeisos”, which in turn was derived from the Old Avestan word (a language predating Old Persian) “pairi-daeza,” meaning an enclosure. In Ancient Persia, the concept was applied to an enclosed garden: a little green haven that shuts out the harsh desert.
Eram Gardens in the Fars Province of Iran.
3. The notion of the Persian Garden permeates Iranian life and its artistic expressions.
References to the garden may be found in literature, poetry, music, calligraphy and carpet design. These, in turn, have also inspired the arrangement of the gardens.
The traditional Persian Garden design has also extensively influenced Persian carpet patterns. The main elements of the Persian garden are visible in the layout of classic Persian carpet, which is known as the garden style.
The ‘Persian Garden Carpet’ displayed at Albert Hall is the best and earliest of all such Persian garden carpets existing in the world. The carpet depicts a formal Persian garden, divided by streams into four main garden sections. The garden and orchards within are supplied with water from the central tank, with two big ponds on either side of it by the main channel. The central tank as picturised, shows fish, duck and turtles. Source: Albert Hall Jaipur
4. Baagh (Persian word for Garden) has found its way into and flourished in modern-day Iranian conversation.
“Step into the Garden” is a saying used today when one wants to get someone to realize something that he is being oblivious of. “You are not even in the garden” means you don’t even have an idea what is being talked about or what is actually happening.
Source: Daily Sabah
5. There is even a specific day in the Persian calendar on which people reconnect with Nature.
On the 13th day of the Persian New Year (Norouz), people leave the house to joyfully spend the day outdoors in the lush of nature. Known as sizdah-be-dar (literally meaning, getting rid of the unlucky 13 or taking 13 out), this ancient tradition has survived to this day despite the complications of modern and urban living. Particularly on weekends, you will be able to find families who take their homemade lunch or dinner out to parks and enjoy their meal outdoors on a rug spread on the grass with their family members.
Source for photos above: Dailymail.co.uk
Qajar-era (1785-1925) painting depicting the Nowruz. Source: Kavehforrokh.com
6. Multi-disciplinary knowledge is needed to make a Persian Garden.
Collaboration makes beautiful things! The perfect design of the Persian Garden, along with its ability to respond to extreme climatic conditions, is the original result of an inspired and intelligent application of different fields of knowledge, i.e. technology, water management and engineering, architecture, botany and agriculture.
7. Each Persian garden in Iran is registered in the National Heritage List and protected according to the Iranian legislation.
Protection provisions established for the gardens and their ‘buffer zones’, defined according to the Iranian law in force, are included in the Master Plans.
Dolatabad Gardens in Yazd Province
Source: Cgart.ir
8. The garden at Taj Mahal is inspired by the Persian-style layout.
Charbagh (Four Baghs) is a Persian-style garden layout. The design and style of the Persian gardens can be seen in countries which have been occupied by Muslims-India in the east and Spain in the west.
The Chahrbagh-e Abbasi in Isfahan, built by Shah Abbas the Great in 1596, and the garden of the Taj Mahal in India are the most famous examples of this style. The Taj Mahal is one of the largest Persian Garden interpretations in the world, from the era of the Mughal Empire in India.
Check out this aerial view of the Taj Mahal. Do you see the four quadrangles (or baghs)?
Source: Secrets Behind History
9. Strong colours are a feature of Persian Gardens
The colours most frequently found in Islamic, Arabic, or Persian inspired garden design are whites, dusky pinks/terracotta, rich blues, golds (occasionally in small patterns), and rich reds. There is not a great deal of reliance on delicate, pastel colours.
No pastels here! The new Persian garden in Singapore should be Instagram-worthy enough for visitors. Source: Gardens By The Bay
When you are there, remember to take a photo and Gardens By The Bay’s instagram contest. Tag #GBjumpshot! 3 winners will walk away with prizes worth $180 each, including 4 tickets to 2 Cooled Conservatories and a Gardens by the Bay retail hamper. Details here.
Since you’re doing that, follow our Instagram @gobeyondsg and hashtag us in your photos too! We would love to see them.
Picture Credit : Gardens by the bay
