1. Iran gets a unique appearance in autumn. At certain points، Iran’s autumns has elements of both summer and winter. The days when autumn is at the summer point، the nature is green and vivid and on the days when the elements of winter are more felt، the nature is naked and cold. This is a clear manifestation of the Quranic verse that “Things are known by their opposites". Thus، autumns have a special meaning for those who ponder about the wonders of the Creation.
The variety of colors in the gardens of Iran during autumns shows that various trees have been planted in them - trees with different leaf colors and different color change periods. The landscape of Iranian gardens in autumns is based on the dictates of household economy and the tradition of gardening in the country. The gardens in fact have always played a pivotal role in supporting the economy of Iranian households across history. At the same time، the families that run on gardens have shown to have an inclination to invest in various fruits. Therefore، the garden owners usually plant apple، walnut، peach، and pomegranate trees to have a variety of fruits in their basket of family budget. This shows how intertwined the basis of Iran’s economic، social and cultural structures are. Iranian families have also shown to make both ends meet by trying to save costs as much as possible. They have taken the same approach to modern city life.
The walls of the gardens in Iran which are specifically thick and huge as opposed to the small area of plantation are a basic element in the landscape of Iranian gardens. What may be mostly noticeable with regards to garden walls in Iran are the pieces of stones collected from the environment around and used as their building blocks، the mud put on them and the mass of long branches overlooking the walls.
The walls of gardens which Master “Pirniya” describes them as barriers against the invasion of the desert and “Rene Pecher” calls them the protectors and obstacles against the “evil eyes” of people have a triple role to play: the branches on their edges manifest safety، the stones of their feet which prevent the growth of weeds manifest protection and their height blocks the envious from seeing the blessings inside the garden.
Accordingly، the walls of gardens are considered as an element of climate، function and culture. In fact، the garden walls are the cultural response of the Iranian civilization to the above needs. Therefore، garden walls make up a significant part of Iranian landscape apart from other elements around the life of Iranians.
Ayda Alehashemi، in a beautiful picture of the landscape of Tar village، located near Natanz in central Iran، provides a comprehensive explanation of this definition of Iranian landscape which is the result of the interaction between man and environment and society with history.
2. The stand of Manzar and Bagh-e Nazar journals were picked as the best in Iran’s 19th Press Festival that was held in October. Although the location of the stand was far from ideal، two symbols of Iranian landscape i.e. the water pool and Pelargonium flowers had been put up in the stand to make it attractive enough to become the favorite in the hall even though there were expensive halls by rich publishers in the festival.
Over 1،000 people stood beside the pool and took picture (www.nazaronline.ir). This is not meant to be a boast. Rather، it is meant to call attention to the magnificence of symbols of Iranian landscape in the public opinion of Iranians.