Philosophy and gardens have been closely connected from the dawn ofphilosophy, with many drawing on their beauty and peace forphilosophical inspiration. Gardens in turn give rise to a broadspectrum of philosophical questions. For the green-fingeredthinker, this book reflects on a whole host of fascinatingphilosophical themes.* Gardens and philosophy present a fascinating combination ofsubjects, historically important, and yet scarcely covered withinthe realms of philosophy* Contributions come from a wide range of authors, ranging fromgarden writers and gardeners, to those working in architecture,archaeology, archival studies, art history, anthropology, classicsand philosophy* Essays cover a broad spectrum of topics, ranging from Epicurusand Confucius to the aesthetics and philosophy of Central Park* Offers new perspectives on the experience and evaluation ofgardens

Foreword viiiDavid E. CooperAcknowledgments xiDan O'BrienPlanting the Seed: An Introduction to Gardening - Philosophy for Everyone 1Dan O'BrienPart I The Good Life 111 The Virtues of Gardening 13Isis Brook2 Cultivating the Soul: The Ethics of Gardening in Ancient Greece and Rome 26Meghan T. Ray3 Escaping Eden: Plant Ethics in a Gardener's World 38Matthew Hall4 Food Glorious Food 48Helene GammackPart II Flower Power 635 Plants, Prayers, and Power: The Story of the First Mediterranean Gardens 65Jo Day6 Brussels Sprouts and Empire: Putting Down Roots 79Michael Moss7 Transplanting Liberty: Lafayette's American Garden 93Laura Auricchio8 Cockney Plots: Allotments and Grassroots Political Activism 106Elizabeth A. ScottPart III The Flower Show 1199 Hortus Incantans: Gardening as an Art of Enchantment 121Eric MacDonald10 Gardens, Music, and Time 135Ismay Barwell and John Powell11 The Pragmatic Picturesque: The Philosophy of Central Park 148Gary ShapiroPart IV The Cosmic Garden 16112 Illusions of Grandeur: A Harmonious Garden for the Sun King 163Robert Neuman13 Time and Temporality in the Garden 178Mara Miller14 Cultivating Our Garden: David Hume and Gardening as Therapy 192Dan O'BrienPart V Philosophers' Gardens 20515 The Garden of the Aztec Philosopher-King 207Susan Toby Evans16 Epicurus, the Garden, and the Golden Age 220Gordon Campbell17 Gardener of Souls: Philosophical Education in Plato's Phaedrus 232Anne CottonNotes on Contributors 245