Oxford's Botanic Garden – Nature's Art

The University of Oxford ‘s Botanic Garden is an exhibition of art of the natural world. My first thought when entering the grounds of the garden was that it did not look especially outstanding or interesting. Upon closer examination at the individual plants, species, and architecture of the garden, my appreciation for the garden was greatly increased.

Each different plant was accompanied by a small sign that gave its scientific name and the area of the world in which it is naturally found. The garden boasts an impressive range of species and areas of the world, including Asia, the Middle East, the Mediterranean, Europe, North and South America, and Africa. Some of the plants from around the same areas were grouped together. The floral arrangements of the plants were beautiful. It is obvious that the architects of the garden carefully planned the layout of the garden, including which plants to place next to each other and where in the garden these plants would be situated. The general layout of the garden was small, short rows of plants, which went down the area of the garden. Next to these rows were large “Narcissus” trees. The variety of plants, floral and simply green, tall and short, also created a pleasant balance and visually interesting landscape. Some of these plants needed wooden structures to grow around, and some were bended to form different shapes. Further in the garden, there were some species of plants whose natural habitats were in mountainous terrains, and these plants were able to grow on large rocks in the garden. While these flowers were less traditionally beautiful, and the flowers were smaller, I liked some of these plants more than the more traditional plants. The mix of rocks and plants created very alluring scenery.

One of the most striking things I noticed while in the garden were the bees, constantly flying from flower to flower, carrying pollen, busily moving about. It was quite amazing to see the process of pollination and plant reproduction so closely and clearly. The bees themselves were striking, their yellow and black bodies often creating interesting clashes of colors with the red, purple, and white hues of the flowers they were busy pollinating. This experience reminded me of the importance of various relationships and interactions between animals and plants in nature.

My favorite thing about the garden was the fruit and vegetable plants and trees. These represented the functionality and utility of plants, and reminded me that not only is nature beautiful, but it is also very practical. Young, growing apple and orange trees had moved past the flowering stages and had begun bearing fruit. I could see the small apples growing, some green, and some red. The oranges were of a greenish-orange color, as they were far from ripe. One patch of ground was dedicated to the growing of strawberries. The strawberry plants looked like weeds to me, until I saw one miniscule, green strawberry peek out from under a leaf. Across from the fruit trees were several rows of vegetables, including cabbage, peas, broad beans, and many other vegetables. All of the fruit and vegetable plants clearly demonstrated do not just grow on the ground and look pretty, but that they play a crucial role in the functioning of planet Earth.
The botanic garden is an exhibition of nature’s own art. It is also a reminder that beautiful things can also be functional and practical, as the plants in this garden are. Overall, this garden achieved its goals in illustrating nature’s art and beauty, as well as demonstrating the usefulness of plants.