Cosmic Garden of Speculation
How do you combine a love of mathematics and geometric shapes with gardening and landscape?
Fractals, black-holes, symmetry, spirals, and grass. How do you combine a love of mathematics and geometric shapes with gardening and landscape?
If you are Charles Jencks, of Scotland, you build a garden and fill it with geometric wonders, and scientific themes. You build The Garden of Cosmic Speculation
The garden is located at Portrack House, near Dumfries in the south west of Scotland, and is typically only open one day of the year. When it is open money is collected or a cancer care charity known as Maggie’s Centres, named for Charles late wife who died from cancer. Both were scientists and it was Maggie who thought of the idea to build the garden on her mothers estate. Maggie sadly passed away in 1995, but Charles and head gardener Alistair, continued to develop the garden.
photo source
This garden is definitely full of visual experiences and if one is lucky enough to visit it they should bring a camera. Keep the dog at home, and come with a mind that wants to be more in touch with the beauty of shape and form.
Although there are some natural areas separating the theme areas, the bulk of the garden is sculpture and land formations. This is very different than in a traditional garden, or a Japanese garden for example, where plants are often the focal point. With the exception of an area planted with aromatic herbs it is quite unlike an ordinary garden at all.
Although only thirty acres, the Garden of Cosmic Speculations offers many wondrous areas. Everything is appealing to the eye with graceful curves and forms.
Different areas of the garden have been given inspiring names. One can visit the Garden of Common Sense or the Garden of Taking Leave of your Senses.
And yes, there is humor and whimsy in The Garden of Cosmic Speculation. Charles has other works of landscape art around the world, mostly in the USA and the UK.
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Published in: Gardening
drelayaraja | May 13, 2010 | Reply
Wonderful pictures. nice gardens.
pablina | May 13, 2010 | Reply
Only open one day a year.
I’ll just appreciate the pictures you provided instead.
manilatop10 | May 13, 2010 | Reply
a true treat for the eyes
flame007 | May 13, 2010 | Reply
awesome article!
Sourav | May 13, 2010 | Reply
Wow! Great!
Daisy Peasblossom | May 13, 2010 | Reply
Fun! I think I’ve seen some of the photos from this garden before. Always interesting, however.
VTech | May 13, 2010 | Reply
good post
Tulan | May 14, 2010 | Reply
it’s beautiful and different. I especially like the pond.
Ruby Hawk | May 14, 2010 | Reply
that’s neat, I like the mounds best.
bestone | May 15, 2010 | Reply
It is well written and useful after reading it has been realized. Thanks for the article.
Vikram Chhabra | May 15, 2010 | Reply
Wow! These were amazing!
Anuradha Ramkumar | May 16, 2010 | Reply
Wow…I would want to see them in person. Very nice article.
PR Mace | May 16, 2010 | Reply
What a fun article.
irenen1 | Jun 15, 2010 | Reply
Truly inspiring. Another place to add to my Life List.
Jeremy | Aug 31, 2011 | Reply
These pics are beautiful. After spending a day selling prefabricated barns and packing pallets with neat, square packages, I can really appreciate the curvy, flowing lines. I’d love to see this place in person.
RC Heli | Sep 2, 2011 | Reply
All that beauty and only once a year? How expensive must the tickets be
Christian Hollingsworth | Sep 3, 2011 | Reply
That place looks incredible! I need to surely visit sometime.
Dekorasyon | Sep 7, 2011 | Reply
Wow, so.. nice!
Travel Agents Perth | Sep 15, 2011 | Reply
Wow! This is truly amazing…Very impressive work of art.
Jack Wilkinson | Sep 19, 2011 | Reply
Great pictures – fantastic design!
Environment | Sep 29, 2011 | Reply
Amazing photographs! Artistic landscaping.
Mal Milligan | Nov 7, 2011 | Reply
Just spectacular and creative. I’m especially impressed with the pond that has the curved land jutting out into it. I’m going to try that with one of my ponds.
Βιομαζα | Dec 31, 2011 | Reply
wow!! amazing!
Jianna Gonzalez | Jan 19, 2012 | Reply
Thanks for the informatiom.
Exotic Garden | Mar 17, 2012 | Reply
wow, really cool photos and ideas
drvaughandabbs | Mar 20, 2012 | Reply
Excellent information. This site definitely explains essential concepts to its readers. Thanks for continuing to write such wonderful articles.
Luxury Independent Floors | Jun 12, 2012 | Reply
It’s an amazing site,wonderful pictures with useful contents,thanks for sharing.
Sofia | Aug 10, 2012 | Reply
Haha this is awesome! Especially since nature could often be summed up into mathematical calculations they’re not that far from the truth of what nature is actually like.