Through the looking glass: Reflections of self in the garden

The residential garden is one of the few places where average people can create an environment that reflects their own needs, values and tastes, yet surprisingly, little research has looked at how gardens might express the identity of their creators and caretakers. The purpose of this study was to explore the nature of the relationship between an individual and his or her garden in an effort to understand the personal meaning of the garden and to ascertain how the garden might be a product of self-reflection. Auto-photography and in-depth interviews were used with a convenience sample of eight gardeners who ranged in age from 40-87 years. Interview data were transcribed, coded and themed revealing patterns in expression, engagement, and outcomes of the garden experience. Findings suggest a cyclical and temporal process that occurs between the gardener and the place.