Looking out at a miserable rectangle of urban waste, AKA my garden, I’m hoping for inspiration from Monty Don’s Paradise Gardens (BBC2), which is about gardens that were themselves inspired by the Qur’an. Maybe I too can bring a bit of eternal heaven to earth. Specifically, an insalubrious corner of north-west London.
Monty’s journey around great Islamic paradise gardens begins in southern Spain (where presumably he’s known as Don Monty). In the gardens of the Alhambra in Granada, he learns about key features of Islamic gardens: water to reflect stars and architecture; the number four, into which spaces are often divided to represent the four elements, the four seasons, and the four rivers of paradise flowing with water, milk, honey and wine.
Then, in Seville, he finds the heady scent and abundant fruitfulness of thousands of orange trees – also brought by the Arabs. He sits down beside a tank, so now he, too, is reflected in the water. Monties Dons. Trusty blue jacket, a little ruffled, a flash of red socks – reassuring, calm, cool, with just a hint of fire, ladies.
Monty has a family connection with Seville and with oranges: his great-great-great-grandmother brought some of the famous bitter ones back home to Dundee with her, turned them into marmalade and into a fortune. None of which came to Monty, he hastens to add.
Across the strait of Gibraltar in Morocco, he explores a vast walled garden; beautiful tiles that bring order and symmetry; a modern paradise garden of grasses, garlic, lavender and clipped rosemary hedges based on a Persian idea of fragrant meadows.
Next to Iran, which is the home of the paradise garden. The English word “paradise” comes from an old Persian one describing a closed space. So when we talk about paradise gardens we mean the ancient Persian ones, as well as a reflection of what awaits us in the world beyond.
It’s uplifting, fragrant, vibrant – all of it, including Monty. And, yes, inspiring. I’ll divide my space into four, put a reservoir there, to reflect, if not great architecture and stars, then perhaps the lights of the police helicopter that frequents these skies. And I’ll get one of those ornamental orange trees you get in pots at Homebase. It will be a place to be in tune with the spiritual, and also to enjoy earthly delights, fruit and fragrance. I’m halfway there, to paradise.
