Garden Type Research Articles

The role of community gardens in achieving UNSDG 11, Target 7: safe, inclusive and accessible green and public spaces

ABSTRACT This paper examines the contributions that community gardens can make in achieving Target 7 of UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11, namely, to ‘provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces’ (UN 2021). The paper focuses on a subset of green and public spaces, namely community gardens, to examine if their features enhance the capacity of public spaces to contribute to achieving target 11.7. In doing so, the paper applies a more expansive definition of ‘inclusive’ than that currently suggested by the target. The paper draws on findings from interviews with participants in several types of community gardens in Australia. The data indicates that community gardens contribute to solving the challenges of UNSDG 11.7, by improving the inclusivity and activation of public spaces through their design features, governance and community involvement. The development of additional target indicators that planners and policy makers can use to measure progress towards meeting the target is an area in need of further research. KEY FINDINGS Community gardens are effective sites for enacting UNSDG 11 Target 7. Community involvement in the design and governance of community gardens contributes to their inclusivity, safety and accessibility as a local public space. Secure tenure, well-chosen locations and sufficient resourcing can improve the ability of community gardens to meet SDG 11 Target 7.

Distant migration of a broken guide pin following femoral neck fixation: a case report

IntroductionKirschner wires are frequently employed in orthopedic procedures. While most complications are minor, rare instances of distant pin migration can occur. Such migration is more prevalent in the shoulder region but has been reported elsewhere.Case presentationA 50-year-old Persian male with a right femoral neck fracture (Garden type IV) underwent closed reduction and internal fixation with three cannulated screws. During the procedure, a guide pin broke and remained lodged. Follow-up radiographs revealed the migrated pin in the patient’s chest wall near the 11th rib, necessitating surgical removal via thoracotomy.ConclusionThis case underscores the potential for orthopedic implant migration. While often associated with smaller pins, the risk exists for all sizes. The timeframe for diagnosis varies significantly and in some cases it can be asymptomatic and discovered incidentally.

Incidence of agroecological-based practices in urban vegetable gardens: effect on crop diversity and production levels

ABSTRACT Agroecological-based practices (ABPs) play a vital role in urban vegetable gardens, enhancing the quality of life. However, factors driving ABP implementation and their impact on crop production and diversity are not fully understood. Our study assessed the influence of socio-economic and environmental characteristics on ABP adoption, crop diversity, and total weight vegetable production in San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina. Through interviews and a multi-model inference approach, we found that ABP implementation is tied to gardener experience and formative assets (e.g. horticultural experience, specific training). Crop diversity, integral to ABP, is affected by farming practices and farmer characteristics (Farm animals, Pollinator-friendly practices, Experience, Additional training and Environmental knowledge). The Total weight produced was primarily influenced by the type of garden, the gardener’s experience and some ABPs. Long-standing commercial and community objectives and the use of farm animals and commercial seed led to greater production. Strengthening key drivers, such as farmer training, through public policies (e.g. income generation, financing, specific training, land access) can bolster the role of urban gardens in providing a healthy environment and promoting food sovereignty.

Valuing ecosystem services of community gardens in developing countries: a case study of Dezful City in Iran

Allotment (AGs) and community gardens (CGs) are types of urban gardens that provide diverse ecosystem services (ESs) such as climate regulation, beautiful landscapes, biodiversity and food security. Despite this, there are no AGs or CGs in many developing countries such as Iran. One of the main reasons for the lack of development of CGs in developing countries is the lack of proper understanding by policy-makers and citizens regarding the economic value of the ESs provided and the lack of disclosure of the benefits of its construction in urban areas. The purpose of this study is to analyse the preferences of citizens, to examine the existence of a potential market, to estimate the willingness to pay (WTP) for the creation and operation of CG services and to investigate the factors affecting residents’ WTP in Dezful, Iran. For this purpose, a choice experiment, based on the stated preferences valuation approach, was applied through interviews with 170 respondents living in Dezful urban area. The data were collected during the autumn of 2022 and analysed using conditional logit model. The results indicated that the responding citizens are willing to pay 4.57 USD per month to create CG and operate its ESs in Dezful. Amongst the attributes and ESs of the community garden, citizens valued cultural services the most, followed by provisioning services. In addition, the variables “age”, “being native”, “education”, “household expenditure level” and “awareness and recognition of CG ecosystem services” had a significant effect on WTP. According to the results, it is suggested to follow the policy of creating CGs with the participation of citizens instead of focusing only on the creation of urban green space with a government budget and heavy financial burden. CGs, while providing diverse ESs, can generate sustainable incomes for municipalities and accelerate the movement toward sustainable urban development.

Towards a conceptual design framework for bee botanic gardens: integrating perceptions on urban biodiversity into landscape design processes

Botanic gardens, valued for their live plant collections, have evolved into scientific institutions with roles in conservation, education, research, and public recreation. This study repositions botanic gardens as essential urban habitats enhancing biodiversity, focusing particularly on their support for both European honeybees and Western Australian native bees. This research addresses the intersection of urbanisation and bee conservation by developing a conceptual design for a bee-friendly botanic garden in Yanchep, Western Australia. It employs semi-structured interviews and research through design (RtD) methods to collaborate with local beekeepers, landscape architects, and ecologists. A systematic design framework for a bee-friendly botanic garden in Yanchep, Western Australia was proposed, encompassing the entire design process, from scope to detailed considerations, and aiming to be applicable across other parts of Western Australia and Australia. The research highlights three key findings: the necessity of interdisciplinary collaboration, the importance of defining the garden type and functions early in the design process, and the need for diverse plant selection and nesting options to support native bees.

The Effects and Risk Factors of Femoral Neck Shortening after Internal Fixation of Femoral Neck Fractures.

Internal fixation has been established as a treatment of choice in relatively young patients with femoral neck fractures. Due to the characteristics of femoral neck anatomy and blood supply, complications such as malunion, nonunion, avascular necrosis, and femoral neck shortening can occur after internal fixation of femoral neck fractures. Unlike other complications such as avascular necrosis or nonunion, femoral neck shortening has not been relatively well studied. This study aimed to investigate the risk factors and clinical outcomes of femoral neck shortening after internal fixation of femoral neck fractures. From June 2012 to July 2022, among 102 patients who underwent internal fixation of femoral neck fractures, 94 patients who met inclusion and exclusion criteria were retrospectively analyzed. Internal fixation of the femoral neck was done with cannulated compression screws or a femoral neck system. Patients were divided into 2 groups; femoral neck shortening (≥ 5 mm) and no shortening (< 5 mm) according to measurement on follow-up hip anteroposterior (AP) simple radiographs compared with postoperative hip AP simple radiographs. Demographic and radiographic data were compared between the 2 groups. The modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS) and a visual analog scale (VAS) were used to evaluate the clinical outcomes. Among 94 patients, femoral neck shortening was observed in 33 (35.1%). In chi-square test, Pauwels angle, Garden type III or IV (displacement), and cortical comminution were significantly correlated with neck shortening (p < 0.05). In the multifactorial logistic regression test, cortical comminution was significantly correlated with femoral neck shortening (p < 0.01). The shortening group showed significantly lower clinical scores in terms of mHHS and VAS (p < 0.01). The femoral neck shortening group showed significantly lower clinical scores of mHHS and VAS than the no-shortening group. The presence of cortical comminution in preoperative hip computed tomography is a risk factor of femoral neck shortening after internal fixation of femoral neck fractures.

Revision rate of displaced femoral neck fractures in non-elderly adults: a retrospective comparative study of the femoral neck system and cannulated screws

BackgroundDisplaced femoral neck fractures are associated with a high revision rate. The new femoral neck system(FNS) offers advantages in fixation stability, potentially reducing the need for revision. The purpose of this study was to compare the revision rate of patients with different reduction quality treated with the FNS and cannulated screws (CS).MethodsThis retrospective study included patients with Garden III or IV femoral neck fractures who underwent osteosynthesis in a level 1 trauma center between July 2019 and June 2023. A total of 141 cases met the inclusion criteria and received treatment with either the FNS (N = 65) or CS (N = 76). The quality of fracture reduction, surgical complications (such as femoral neck shortening, avascular necrosis of femoral head, nonunion of fracture, implant failure and withdrawal), revision surgery and the reasons for revision were analyzed.ResultsThe mean age of the 141 cases was 52.0 years (range 18–65); with sixty-five cases being male (46.1%). Eighty-four fractures (59.6%) were classified as Garden type III. Reduction quality was good in 71 cases (50.4%) and fair in 70 cases. The mean follow-up period was 25.9 months (range 12–46). A total of 26 cases(18.4%) underwent revision surgery. The revision rate in cases with good reduction was 11.3% (8/71 cases), with seven cases (four hardware removal and three arthroplasty) in the CS group and one case (arthroplasty for fracture nonunion and implant failure) in the FNS group, a significant difference was found between the two groups(P = 0.041). Among the 18 cases (25.7%, 18/70) with fair reduction who underwent revision surgery, nine cases (six hardware removal and three arthroplasty) in the CS group, and nine cases (arthroplasty for implant failure and cut-out) in the FNS group, and there was no significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.672). The total revision rate between the FNS group (15.4%, 10/65) and the CS group (21.1%, 16/76) was not significantly different (P = 0.387).ConclusionsThe total revision rate between the FNS and CS group showed no difference. However, in cases with good reduction, the revision rate was lower in the FNS group compared to the CS group.

“Two million gardens could be the biggest National Park in Ireland”: pathways to nature in domestic gardens

ABSTRACT Domestic gardens often comprise the largest land use in urban spaces. Little is known, about their potential to enhance biodiversity and re-nature urban areas. This exploratory study aimed to understand potential pathways to promoting nature and native biodiversity in domestic gardens from an environmental psychology perspective. The approach involved a preliminary pre-recruitment questionnaire (n = 90) and four qualitative focus groups (n = 12) with residents in Dublin, Ireland. Key questions explored emotions relating to gardens, opinions about nature and biodiversity, as well as aspects which encourage or discourage enhancing biodiversity in gardens. Four themes were uncovered: 1) individual emotional and experiential co-benefits from nature in gardens by avoiding disconnection, 2) the garden setting as a nature facilitator through configurations and capabilities despite perceptions of gardening ‘work’, 3) social gardening identities embracing wilder garden types and collective approaches overcoming social judgement and shame 4) potential for nature through learning infrastructure to align with nature experiences and narratives and efficacy of actions for nature. The study concludes that transformational change could reframe Ireland’s two million gardens as its biggest national/nature park through a more psychological approach to biodiverse gardens to appeal to different social gardening identities and garden types.

Health clinic gardens as models for social-ecological systems: Floristic composition and potential utilization of plants in the Bojanala Platinum District North-West Province, South Africa

Health clinic gardens (HCGs) are social-ecological systems (SESs) associated with health clinics on government land and are intended to provide fresh vegetables and fruits to patients struggling to keep healthy immune systems. Little is known about their comparability to other garden types with regards to plant distribution and potential utilization, and thus their potential to address some of the challenges limiting ecosystem services (ESs) provision in other garden types. In this study, we report on the floristic composition and presence of utilitarian plant species at 105 HCGs across a district municipality in the North-West Province, South Africa. Different micro-gardens, including vegetable, medicinal, ornamental, natural vegetation, bare soil, orchard, hedge, and lawn micro-gardens, were identified. To understand plant composition, species were classified according to status of origin, invasive characteristics, Raunkiaer’s life-forms, growth forms, and potential usefulness. To determine the frequency of species occurrence we enumerated the number of gardens containing the respective species. Six-hundred and thirty-three species from 404 genera and 116 plant families were encountered. Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. and Urochloa mosambicensis (Hack.) Dandy, found in 91 % and 79 % of gardens, respectively, occurred the most. Herbaceous species were the most dominant, with Schkuhria pinnata (Lam.) Kuntze ex Thell. and Conyza bonariensis (L.) Cronquist occurring the most. Plant species richness was greater in the ornamental (282 species) and natural area (naga) (281 species) micro-gardens, while the hedge had the least (8 species). Fifty-five percent of species in the natural vegetation micro-garden were indigenous, compared to 44 % in the ornamental micro-garden. There was greater diversity in fruit-bearing plants, and most medicinal plant species (70 %) are used as a tonic. Health clinic gardens resemble home gardens and are well positioned to enhance ESs provision at the community scale. Future HCGs research should evaluate community usage of the gardens and the extent to which knowledge of useful plants and efficient gardening practices is upscaled to home gardens around HCGs.

From rupture to disruptive innovation: the colonial subcontinent’s ‘Devil’s Wind’; the Mughal Bagh (garden) and the English-style public park

ABSTRACT Set against the backdrop of the 1857 uprising against British colonial rule in the Indian subcontinent, the article examines the impact of this tumultuous event on the Mughal era Bagh (garden). The uprising, while causing a sudden and unprecedented rupture in the subcontinent’s political, cultural and urban landscape, also led to a form of disruptive innovation that displaced the well-established Bagh, a private space for leisure or veneration of the deceased, by a novel garden type, an English-style public park. More often than not, this new garden type emerged from remodelling the Bagh, to result in a Bagh-turned-Public Park. This innovative venture not only physically replaced the original Bagh but also changed the notion of leisure from the Mughal-to-the-metropole-inspired variant. Concurrently, this landscape endeavour served the agenda of empire to stamp British authority. To make its case, the city of Delhi, whose large corpus of Mughal- era Baghs underwent remodelling, is selected. As the epicentre of the uprising, Delhi was the recipient of the colonial regime’s spatially tumultuous military and civic interventions to turn it into a tamed modern city, among whose new spatial icons was the English-style public park. Two gardens are examined to demonstrate the rupture and disruptive innovation, as colonial civic actors overlaid an English-style landscape on the Bagh. This seemingly innocuous landscape intervention was as disruptive and efficacious as its spatially violent military counterpart in transforming Delhi into a colonial modern city. The article concludes by taking stock of the Bagh-turned-Public Park in the present as a colonial legacy that continues to be an integral part of the leisure landscape of Indian cities.

Post-landslide restoration through multistrata agroforestry-based land management in the West Bogor area of Indonesia

The West Bogor area experienced a landslide disaster, causing extensive damage to secondary forest areas, plantations, and residential homes. Despite evacuations, the community persists in using the affected land for agriculture. This study aims to develop a land management model based on agroforestry for post-landslide restoration, to prevent landslide reactivation, and to provide benefits for the local community. Introducing an agroforestry system that includes deep-rooted trees and perennial crops on landslide-prone slopes can improve slope stability by enhancing soil structure and water retention, minimising erosion and landslides. The study examines unexplored aspects of landslide characteristics and zoning as a novel approach to improve mitigation strategies. We classify the post-landslides area into depletion, transition, and accumulation zones. The lithology comprises Breccia with pumice and Andesite gravels, a sandy tuff matrix, and Claystone underneath, acting as the slip surface. The northern landslide has depletion, transition, and accumulation zones ranging from 743 to 710 m above sea level (masl), 710 to 694 masl, and 694 to 676 masl. In the southern landslide, these zones range from 783 to 720 masl, 720 to 705 masl, and 705 to 676 masl. Based on the characteristics of those zones, we develop an agroforestry model in a vertical pattern with species strata, fast-growing local plants, strong and deep roots, and a relatively high evapotranspiration rate. The depletion zone is managed as a complex agroforestry system (forest type) consisting primarily of forest plants and plantation crops. The transition zone is a complex agroforestry (garden type) with plantation crops and some forest plants. The accumulation zone is a simple agroforestry system with seasonal crops. On almost flat land in an accumulation zone suitable for Oryza sativa cultivation, we apply Cocos nucifera as a protective plant. Soil fertility in all zones is improved with organic and inorganic fertilization, and it also increases the mycorrhizal population through the planting of leguminous plants. The multistrata agroforestry model, created and adapted to the specific characteristics and zoning of landslide-prone areas, is expected to significantly enhance landslide restoration and erosion mitigation and reduce the risk of future landslides. Such approaches can be extended to regions with comparable characteristics.

Bridging biodiversity and gardening: Unravelling the interplay of socio-demographic factors, garden practices, and garden characteristics

The expansion of urban areas threatens biodiversity and disrupts ecological relationships, thereby impeding key ecosystem services. To avert irreversible consequences, there is a focus on improving the biodiversity value of domestic gardens. We employ machine learning and network analysis and examine gardening practices and garden owners’ environmental consciousness in Hungary through a questionnaire-based study to untangle the interplay among socio-demographic factors, garden management and -characteristics. We found that the activities determined as biodiversity-positive were widespread among respondents, but ubiquitous pesticide use (62.14%), lack of undisturbed areas (49.52%), and frequent mowing (32.06%) were also present. Middle-aged respondents demonstrated more biodiversity-supporting activities than those over 55, who had long-term gardening experience and were predominantly conventional gardeners. Respondents of towns showed the least biodiversity-positive activities, whereas those living in cities and the countryside fared better. Additionally, multiple interconnected garden characteristics revealed various types of gardens distinguished by care practices and use, such as gardens for food self-provisioning, ornamental gardens, or those prioritizing biodiversity support. Our results show that garden owners use pesticides independently of socio-demographic parameters, gardening practices, or garden characteristics, suggesting widespread pesticide use in Hungary. Our findings suggest that strategies to promote biodiversity-friendly gardening may not be equally suitable for all gardener owners with different cultural backgrounds, environmental consciousness and gardening habits. Factors like differences between societal groups underscore the preference for in-person programs over online information transfer in several cases, for instance, among the elderly and those living in the countryside. We offer fresh perspectives on the intricate connections between garden diversity, characteristics, and practices, and it lays the groundwork for future research into the sociological drivers of gardening practices in Eastern Europe. Our work emphasises that optimizing gardens for multiple ecosystem services, including biodiversity conservation and enhancing human well-being, requires a nuanced understanding of both ecological and socio-demographic factors.

Research on the restorative benefits of sky gardens in high-rise buildings based on wearable biosensors and subjective evaluations

BackgroundThe design of sky gardens in high-rise buildings to promote health has recently attracted increased attention. However, little is known about the specific physiologically and psychologically restorative benefits of sky gardens. MethodThis article defined sky garden types according to five indicators in three dimensions based on the characteristics of the high-rise buildings where sky gardens are located: plaza-park, rest-stay and move-pass sky gardens. Typical sky gardens of each type were selected for the subsequent experiment. Thirty-six participants experienced 12 typical case scenarios (432 pictures), and data were collected on physiological responses (skin conductance resistance, SCR; heart rate variability, HRV; electroencephalogram, EEG; and eye movement) and psychological evaluations (emotional valence & arousal self-esteem scale, perceived restrictiveness scale) during the sky garden spatial experience. ResultsThere are significant differences in plaza-park, rest-stay and move-pass type sky gardens, especially in the internal spatial characteristics (size scale, shape index, and elementary richness). The plaza-park sky gardens had better restorative outcomes in visual-physiological (average pupil diameter, average blink count), emotional valence and restrictiveness components of being away, fascination, and coherence. The rest-stay sky gardens had better restorative effects on SCR, HRV, emotional arousal, and compatibility. The move-pass sky gardens had the greatest restorative benefits in the average saccade count. ConclusionsSky gardens in high-rises impact people's physical and psychosocial well-being. The restorative qualities of the three types of sky gardens differ based on their spatial heterogeneity, with large-scale sky gardens, diverse natural landscapes, public facilities, and high void-to-solid ratios having greater restorative potential.

Correlation between femoral offset, rotation center and leg length discrepancy after total hip arthroplasty based on digital analysis

CT scans combined with Mimics software were used to measure femoral offset (FO), rotation center height (RCH) and lower leg length discrepancy (LLD) following total hip arthroplasty (THA), and the relationship between FO, RCH and LLD after THA is discussed. Retrospective analysis was performed on 40 patients with unilateral THA who met standard cases from October 2020 to June 2022. There were 21 males and 19 females, 18 patients on the left side and 22 patients on the right side, aged range from 30 to 81 years old, with an average age of (58.90 ±14.13) years old, BMI ranged from 17.3 to 31.5 kg·m-2 with an average of (25.3±3.4) kg·m-2. There were 30 cases of femoral head necrosis (Ficat type Ⅳ), 2 cases of hip osteoarthritis (Tönnis type Ⅲ), 2 cases of developmental hip dislocation combined with end-stage osteoarthritis (Crowe type Ⅲ), and 6 cases of femoral neck fracture (Garden type Ⅳ). Three-dimensional CT reconstruction of pelvis was taken preoperative and postoperative, and three-dimensional reconstruction model was established after processing by Mimics software. FO, RCH and LLD were measured on the model. The criteria for FO reconstruction were as follows:postoperative bilateral FO difference less than 5 mm;the standard for equal length of both lower limbs was as follows:postoperative LLD difference less than 5 mm. Bilateral FO difference was positively correlated with LLD (r=0.744, P<0.001). Chi-square test was performed between the FO reconstructed group and the non-reconstructed eccentricity group:The results showed that the isometric ratio of lower limbs in the FO reconstructed group was significantly higher than that in the FO reconstructed group (χ2=6.320, P=0.012). The bilateral RCH difference was significantly negatively correlated with LLD(r=-0.877, P<0.001). There is a linear relationship between bilateral FO difference and bilateral RCH difference and postoperative LLD, and the linear regression equation is satisfied:postoperative LLD=0.038x-0.099y+0.257(x:postoperative bilateral FO difference, y:postoperative bilateral RCH difference; Unit:cm), F=77.993, R2=0.808, P=0.009. After THA, LLD increased with the increase of FO and decreased with the increase of RCH. The effect of lower limb isometric length can be obtained more easily by reconstruction of FO. There is a linear relationship between the bilateral FO difference and the bilateral RCH difference after THA and LLD, and the regression equation can provide a theoretical reference for judging LLD.

Correlation between combined deflection angle classification adduction typing and complications after internal fixation of adduction femoral neck fracture

To analyze the correlation between postoperative complications and combined deflection angle classification adduction type (CDAC-ADT) of femoral neck fractures after cannulated screw internal fixation. The clinical data of 121 patients with CDAC-ADT femoral neck fracture admitted between January 2018 and December 2021 and met the selected criteria were retrospectively analyzed. There were 69 males and 52 females, the age ranged from 19 to 79 years (mean, 48.1 years). The causes of injury included 52 cases of traffic accident, 24 cases of falling from height, and 45 cases of fall. The time from injury to operation ranged from 2 to 12 days, with an average of 6.0 days. Among them, there were 18 cases of CDAC-ADT type Ⅰ, 46 cases of type Ⅱ, and 57 cases of type Ⅲ; 6 cases of Garden type Ⅱ, 103 cases of type Ⅲ, and 12 cases of type Ⅳ; and according to the location of the fracture line, there were 26 cases of subcapitate type, 88 cases of transcervical type, and 7 cases of basal type. All patients were treated with cannulated screw internal fixation. The occurrence of complications (including internal fixation failure, fracture nonunion, and osteonecrosis of the femoral head) was recorded, and the correlation between complications and CDAC-ADT typing, Garden typing, and fracture line location were analyzed. The patients were followed up 8-44 months, with a mean of 24.9 months. There were 10 cases of internal fixation failure, 7 cases of fracture nonunion, and 30 cases of osteonecrosis of the femoral head after operation. Correlation analysis showed that patients' CDAC-ADT typing was significantly correlated with the overall incidence of complication and the incidence of internal fixation failure, fracture nonunion, and osteonecrosis of the femoral head ( P<0.05), and the Pearson coefficient of contingency were 0.435, 0.251, 0.254, and 0.241, respectively. Garden typing did not correlate with the overall incidence of complication and the incidence of internal fixation failure and fracture nonunion ( P>0.05), but correlated with the incidence of osteonecrosis of the femoral head ( P<0.05), and the Pearson coefficient of contingency was 0.251. Fracture line position typing had no correlation with the overall incidence of complication and the incidence of internal fixation failure, fracture nonunion, and osteonecrosis of the femoral head ( P>0.05). CDAC-ADT typing has obvious correlation with postoperative complications of femoral neck fracture and can be used to predict complications of femoral neck fracture.

Exploring the value of ecosystem services at health clinic gardens in a South African context

Ecosystem services (ESs) valuation is important for advancing biodiversity objectives and investing in green infrastructure (GI) establishment. Little is known about the potential of health clinic gardens (HCGs) to provide ESs and their potential values. This study sought to determine the plant and bird species composition and potential value of ESs provided by 32 HCGs in two South African district municipalities. HCG sizes range from 513.0m2 to 13531.0m2 and each had at least one micro-garden. Among the 312 plant species observed across all HCGs, 60% were exotic. The small HCGs had 31 ± 3.6 different plant species per garden, compared to the medium-sized (32 ± 3.7) and large ones (49 ± 5.2). Provisioning ESs from the observed species were prominent with 17.4 ± 1.16 species potentially used for general well-being, 13.66 ± 1.08 as potential food plants, and 11.91 ± 0.93 potentially raw materials. Trees in HCGs were estimated to sequester up to 163481.87 kg of carbon from trees covering an area of up to 9620.80m2. Approximately 1390.70 ± 427.50m2 of HCG space had the potential to provide a habitat for plants and birds, and 11 bird species were observed across all HCGs. Sixty-three bird nests encountered in 18 HCGs are believed to belong to the Passer domesticus. HCGs resemble other types of gardens like home and domestic gardens, and their rich plant biodiversity positions them as ideal ecosystems to benefit even the most vulnerable members of society. They provide an opportune platform for knowledge upscaling in the cultivation and use of plant species as a supplement of primary healthcare and food security issues in the summer months to the rural, urban, and peri-urban poor in the Global South.

Las hormigas de la Alhambra, un enclave histórico y biodiverso (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) (Granada, España)

The monumental complex of the Alhambra in Granada (Spain), encloses a group of spaces among which we find various types of gardens that constitute the only medieval Islamic gardens in Europe, and the most lush and diverse forests of almost six centuries old that the city of Granada has maintained to the present day. Given the lack of information on the faunal aspects of these environments, in the present work we set out to find out about the ant communities existing in the installations, gardens and woods of the monumental complex. With 26 species of ants identified, and the presence of global indicator species of maturity, our results support that, despite being an urbanized area, the Alhambra has a historical and current dynamic that has allowed it to maintain dense forest masses and diverse garden with hardly any contamination by invasive species.

Adapting to urban gardening in China: how will policymaking help migrant and native gardeners?

China’s current urban gardening promotion policies mainly focus on community gardens and lack in-depth research on the differentiated needs of different urban gardeners. To meet the diverse needs of China’s gardeners, this study proposes a typology that classifies gardeners into urban native and migrant ones based on their urban and rural living experiences in China. A questionnaire survey conducted in the core area of Chongqing city revealed significant differences and some similarities in gardening motivations and behaviors between urban native and migrant gardeners: (1) Although most of the gardeners approved of the value of food production and green scenery creation that Chinese urban gardening has, and disapproved of its value for family income generation, the urban native gardeners’ disapproving attitude towards family income generation, and their approval of green scenery creation were more assertive, while on the contrary, the urban migrant gardeners had a more robust approval attitude towards food production. (2) The urban native gardeners preferred proximity and small private spaces for a combination of ornamental vegetation and edible vegetables. In contrast, the urban migrated gardeners preferred larger areas for gardening in non-community spaces and leaned towards edible vegetables. (3) Both have shared motivations related to the recreation and ecological conservation values of urban gardening. Given the above differences and similarities, this paper proposes an urban gardening development strategy that meets the needs of the two types of gardeners in China, including space planning and design, operation, and management of gardening spaces, and organization of activities.

Религиозная иконография и топография в европейском садовом искусстве XVI–XVII веков. Источники, интерпретация, культурный контекст

The paper analyzes gardens and landscapes of the Renaissance, Mannerism and Baroque with particular attention to moral themes and Christian symbols. I follow the devel-opment of moral topography in the gardens by examples of Villa Hadriana, Villa d’Este in Tivoli, Versailles, Tsarskoye Selo, Désert de Retz, Sanspareil, Regaleira. The two types of gar-dens are identified: architectural (Castelo Branco, Bom Jesus do Monte in Braga) and land-scaping (Bomarzo, Cetinale, Esztergom, Buçaco, Kuks, Valsanzibio). The paper then turns to “sacred mountains” created in the foothills of Italian Alps as a symbolic barrier at the bor-der of Protestant lands. The interplay of gardens themselves and their descriptions, such as in “The Path of Purification”, the treatise by Francesco de’ Vieri on Pratolino, 1587 and in the inscriptions in Valsanzibio, is also discussed. Further in the paper I wonder about how moral programs of gardens can be studied and incorporated in the history of ideas and religiosity. The work is based on the materials of author’s travels and is illustrated with his photographs. Translations into Russian are by B. Sokolov.

JAPANESE GARDENS: FROM THE MIDDLE AGES TO PUBLIC SPACES OF THE MEIJI ERA

Gardens in Japan appeared in the 7th century AD and were formed in accordance with Chinese geomantic ideas. They were not intended for aesthetic admiration and had primarily a utilitarian function: protecting the owner of the house from harmful environmental influences (evil spirits). This function was ensured by the “correct” arrangement of stones and the “correct” arrangement of water flows. These rules were formulated in the first treatise on garden art that has come down to us, “Sakuteiki” (“Records on the Arrangement of Gardens”), which was written by Tachibana no Toshitsuna (1028–1094). To avoid curse from other people, the garden plan was kept secret and known only to the owner. During the Tokugawa period (1603–1867), princes (daimyo) began to establish huge gardens, which served as an indicator of their power. Strangers were not allowed inside, but these gardens acquired an aesthetic function, as demonstrated by the example of the Rikugien Garden in Edo. After the Meiji Revolution, the class organization of society was abolished and the goal of creating a unified Japanese nation was posed. The establishment of gardens of a new public (Western) type was supposed to serve to attain this goal. All types of former gardens were models of ideal nature; public gardens were designed to model state values. Using the example of the Ueno Garden, it is shown that public gardens were a specific space where the authorities demonstrated to the Japanese the value picture of a “modern” imperial-type state.