The gardens i really enjoy.

[UMARKHANMARDAN]

The gardens i really enjoy are Arif sb, Khurram sb,Munirs sb & AY Khan sb,Arbab,s gardens.the most i visit the most i am thrilled & wish to see practically. These gardens gives the practical garden effect.Now you can easily understand what is my personal taste, a true garden & not a botanical garden.I plant what ever is practical in my climate & i love.I am not a collector gardener but i enjoy my garden & others gardens also.

[Farhan Ahmed]

please elaborate botanical garden....from my perspective all the gardens that you mentioned have plants species in excess of hundreds.

[Farhan Ahmed]

and if you mean to say....like In Sir Arif's garden the plants are the ones suited to our climate...then dear he came to this state after various tests and trials through time, his garden has evolved. And if someone is in process of that evaluation, it would be very untrue to categorize it like that.
What i perceive you like formal gardens....okay good enough, but this world can't be monotone. People have likings and perspective which makes everything so rich. For instance a collector garden is one trying to find maximum joy in little space by growing maximum species.

In simple words, let me describe the case of Mr.Kaleem he hasn't got enough space to create a formal garden or a cottage etc. What he is trying to do is find joy by growing unusual in little space he has got right now.

Positive competition is something we should look forward to, it keeps us going. Let us not throw arms ...hahaha

Gardening has to be seen in the perspective and circumstances of a gardener. I like Mustansir's garden the best. He is youngest of age both in gardening and otherwise, has little space, probably only pocket money to buy plants and lesser time due studies. Resources Vs outcome, he has beaten us all probably Gardens can not be compared.

[UMARKHANMARDAN]

Farhan dear what ever i like i expressed.The gardens i mentioned are the most beautiful are,t they.There is no competition my dear but choice is very personal.I enjoy my gardens both at Mardan & Islamabad.ok good bye.

[Farhan Ahmed]

Everyone likes his/her garden....infact it would be awkward if someone didn't.
Personal choices, when presented in public become open to debate

Anyways as you wish , i am open to debate if ever you feel like. The(My) garden of mind also requires hoeing and tilling

[Muhammad Arif Khan]

Every Garden is a selective Botanical garden. From thousands of species of plants one selects those which impress the person the most.
In my child hood of serious gardening about twenty years ago, I purchased three books READERS DIGEST ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO GARDENING, STTRLING MACBOYS What FLOWER is that and The World of plants.
The first stage of Gardening started with Collection.
I tried to get every plant that fascinated me in those books and years of struggle and frustration taught me that You can’t have all that you would like to, Gardening has its own limitations and deceptions.
All that glitters is not gold. The reality is different from the pictures.
Limitation of space. Out of 14 different types of Hibicus now I have only two.
Limitation of climatic conditions, it is of no use having sickly looking un happy plant, let them go.
Cost, no explanation required.
Personal whims
Challenge, If others can grow it why cant I.
At this old age of gardening my priorities are, care and improvement of what I already have and drive pleasure of what others are growing so well.

[Farhan Ahmed]

Thankyou for your input. Couldn't agree more.

[UMARKHANMARDAN]

Some one agrees or disagree what i like i have told it openly.What i feel. I love these gardens most & Rafiques garden is also one of the top of the line garden.I really love his roses.

[Farhan Ahmed]

the question was never about what you love . It is the analogy which attracted my attention. There is of-course no question about the exquisiteness and loveliness of all mentioned gardens.

a true garden & not a botanical garden

"there is nothing as such true or false garden" For you if formal garden or a Rose Garden is a true garden, it might be Zen garden or a cacti garden for someone else. The other extremes.

I plant what ever is practical in my climate

There is a big question mark here. I think in short age of this forum, many of us have demonstrated many a new things can in-fact be practical in our climate. Of-course only if it is practical, then the plant will become a permanent feature in a garden, but How would i or you would know that something is practical or not? I guess only through experimentation. Or because someone else tried it.....i do not want it to be left on nurseries atleast, i.e. if the nurseries keep only certain species we should restrict ourselves to them. Agreed that nurseries play a dominant role in determining what is suitable in our climate but their prime consideration is commercial and generally addressing the most novice gardeners. I hope you understand.

Be happy
Regards

[UMARKHANMARDAN]

Yes of course there so many who really love cacti & cacti is a very vast genus.I have seen one cacti lover at Abbottabad oh my God a great collection of cacti he has.Crazy for cactus. Yes Fahan your point is valid & when i was new i tried to get every type of plant & tried so many.After that now i am very very selective.Thats why when i see your garden it reminds me my past.I never discourage the new gardeners.We should always encourage & guide them. Nurseries are totally commercial based & many times they make the new ones fool to sale out their stock.What i wanna say gardening may not be their real passion.