Lately in the British media I have noticed references to gardening as "the new rock and roll". I don't know where the quote originated but I first saw it on the cover of the soft cover edition of a book I absolutely love called "Planted" by Andy Sturgeon. This book has some of the most beautiful plant photography I have ever seen. Then I saw it in a British design magazine I can't remember the name of.
Is gardening really the new rock and roll? Personally I don't think it is. It's kind of a silly thing to say really. I have noticed in the last few years that gardening is slowly pushing out of its associations with the traditional English garden, and suburban living. People are making the move towards backyard ecology; growing native plants, wildflower gardening, that sort of thing. I can find more publications on the news stand that suit my sensibility such as "New Eden" magazine. I saw an article in "Garden Design" magazine a few months back (Feb/Mar 2000) on young "cool" gardeners.
That's all fine and good but I still find that overall there is a focus on affluence and money. Plants are expensive, especially the cool ones. The gardens they tend to focus on in these magazines are big and beautiful and in the backyards of homeowners. They feature great furniture that is contemporary and expensive. The idea is that style is something that only rich people have, or can acquire, and that you need to have a large wallet and lots of space to have a nice garden. All these publications make me do is covet things that I can't have. I am yet to learn anything from them that I can actually put to real use. Sure I still buy the magazines. I live under the assumption that one day they will have what I need, not just what I want. I also like to look at the pretty pictures. Like everyone else I'm not above dreaming about what could be if only I had the cash flow.
When I think of the origins of rock and roll, I think of people with 'nothing' making 'something'. I think of people going against what's acceptable and the norm and creating something new and exciting. Maybe I'm expecting too much. Sure trends in gardening have the power to change the shape and look of communities, neighborhoods, and human living spaces both public and private. Yet, maybe I'm expecting a literal interpretation or translation of gardening into rock and roll. All I know is that rock and roll, when it first came into fruition was gritty and dirty and shocking. Gardening right now is either like slick, over-produced, chart toppers, or wholesome and traditional like Pat Boone. Hell, even Pat Boone has tried to shed that image. Maybe that means gardening is 'on the verge' of becoming the new rock and roll. We're poised for a takeover, it just hasn't happened yet. Maybe somewhere between the coordinated floral gardening outfits and the ultra rare 'it' plants (yes that really exists) the new gardening is taking form. Or maybe not.
I honestly don't care that much. As soon as something becomes new and exciting and sucked up by mainstream media it becomes old and stale just as fast. Even rock and roll is boring and crappy now, fronted by people desperate to keep alive something that died a long time ago. Gardening is the same way. Only different.
Is gardening really the new rock and roll or is this the most ridiculous thing you've ever heard?
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