Comments on: The landscape architecture of sacred groves in Ancient Greece and modern London http://www.gardenvisit.com/blog/2009/11/17/sacred-groves-in-ancient-greece-landscape-architecture-london/ News and debate from Gardenvisit.com Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:15:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Christine http://www.gardenvisit.com/blog/2009/11/17/sacred-groves-in-ancient-greece-landscape-architecture-london/comment-page-1/#comment-2780 Christine Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:49:39 +0000 http://www.gardenvisit.com/blog/?p=3151#comment-2780 Both the landscape installation Waterloo Forest and the art installation Ghostforest are great projects. However I disagree with Tom about the white plinths: as they tend to accentuate the incredible 'reddishness' of the trunks, which in turn accentuate the 'reddishness' and warm and cool colourtones of the surrounding stone buildings in Trafalgar Square as well as on the buildings on the axial views (Big Ben) and the skyline. The white plinths give visual depth to the composition. Both the landscape installation Waterloo Forest and the art installation Ghostforest are great projects.

However I disagree with Tom about the white plinths: as they tend to accentuate the incredible ‘reddishness’ of the trunks, which in turn accentuate the ‘reddishness’ and warm and cool colourtones of the surrounding stone buildings in Trafalgar Square as well as on the buildings on the axial views (Big Ben) and the skyline.

The white plinths give visual depth to the composition.

]]> By: Tom Turner http://www.gardenvisit.com/blog/2009/11/17/sacred-groves-in-ancient-greece-landscape-architecture-london/comment-page-1/#comment-2777 Tom Turner Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:38:49 +0000 http://www.gardenvisit.com/blog/?p=3151#comment-2777 I would not have put the Ghostforest trees on white plinths but apart from that they look marvelous. Incidentally, the planet does not need saving: it is <em>Homo sapiens sapiens</em> which needs to be saved, if one thinks it worth doing. Regarding the word 'spiritual', I find it easiest to understand as a contrast to 'materialist'. Much of what people do is governed my material objectives, including food, possessions and physical comfort. But other things are done for other reasons, which can well be described as spiritual. This seems to be a driving force behind the most admired chief executive of recent times: Steve Jobs. He does not want any more money - but he does want to create perfect products. Ghostforest needed more work to make it perfect. I would not have put the Ghostforest trees on white plinths but apart from that they look marvelous. Incidentally, the planet does not need saving: it is Homo sapiens sapiens which needs to be saved, if one thinks it worth doing.
Regarding the word ‘spiritual’, I find it easiest to understand as a contrast to ‘materialist’. Much of what people do is governed my material objectives, including food, possessions and physical comfort. But other things are done for other reasons, which can well be described as spiritual. This seems to be a driving force behind the most admired chief executive of recent times: Steve Jobs. He does not want any more money – but he does want to create perfect products. Ghostforest needed more work to make it perfect.

]]> By: Marian http://www.gardenvisit.com/blog/2009/11/17/sacred-groves-in-ancient-greece-landscape-architecture-london/comment-page-1/#comment-2775 Marian Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:14:20 +0000 http://www.gardenvisit.com/blog/?p=3151#comment-2775 It seems that trees are in in London this Christmas, and not just Christmas trees. See the ambitious project by Angela Palmer to bring 10 rainforest trees to Trafalgar Square to highlight climate change. See http://www.ghostforest.org/. The enormous stumps went up yesterday and will be there until 22nd November when they go to Thorvaldsens Plads, Copenhagen, Denmark (7-18 December 2009). This is not a sacred grove per se but the sheer size and majesty of these ancient trees cannot fail to make one think of longevity and mortality - be it ours or our planet's. It seems that trees are in in London this Christmas, and not just Christmas trees. See the ambitious project by Angela Palmer to bring 10 rainforest trees to Trafalgar Square to highlight climate change. See http://www.ghostforest.org/. The enormous stumps went up yesterday and will be there until 22nd November when they go to Thorvaldsens Plads, Copenhagen, Denmark (7-18 December 2009). This is not a sacred grove per se but the sheer size and majesty of these ancient trees cannot fail to make one think of longevity and mortality – be it ours or our planet’s.

]]> By: benz http://www.gardenvisit.com/blog/2009/11/17/sacred-groves-in-ancient-greece-landscape-architecture-london/comment-page-1/#comment-2774 benz Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:30:32 +0000 http://www.gardenvisit.com/blog/?p=3151#comment-2774 I too received an invitation to Deborah's installation and I was very pleased to see something like this being installed even temporarily. I have put a number of sacred groves in a number of my competition submissions. Places with trees that have tranquility, a 'spiritual character', contemplative... It is apt that we should have such open places in our cities where we perhaps can take refuge. I too received an invitation to Deborah’s installation and I was very pleased to see something like this being installed even temporarily. I have put a number of sacred groves in a number of my competition submissions. Places with trees that have tranquility, a ‘spiritual character’, contemplative… It is apt that we should have such open places in our cities where we perhaps can take refuge.

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