Persian garden : paradise of the world

Iranians love garden.  Besides mosque, garden is probably the most popular place for Iranians.  Their strong appreciation of garden can be explained by its geographical environment.  Most of Iran is on the plateau surrounded by mountains and deserts. With limited rainfall, most of the land is bleak and dreary except the short Spring time. Inside the garden, its foliage and fountain give people the sense of peace, security and abundance.

(Iran plateau)

Development of Persian garden begun several thousand years ago.  Ancient Persian invented the qanat system to collect underground water for drinking and cultivation.  Precious water is regarded as source of life.  The most common feature of a Persian garden is water stream in its center with tree lanes on both sides.  Even better is to have water fountains along the way.

(Dowlat Abad Garden, Yazd)

Tall trees are planted in the garden to provide privacy and security from outside.  Iranians also like to have fruit trees, palm trees, roses and other flowers in their gardens. 

(Eram Garden, Shiraz)

Most of the historical palaces or summer houses of Iranian kings have gardens.  For example, Shah Abbas II  built his Chehel Sotoun Palace with a huge pavilion in the middle of his garden with a long pool. The pavilion of twenty columns is called forty columns pavilion due to water refection.

(Chehel Sotoun in Isfahan and its "forty columns" pavilion) 

During our tour of Iran, we have visited more than six Persian gardens.  One of the most interested one is the Fin Garden in Kashan.  Crystal clear water is channeled through the garden.  With the difference in levels within the garden, non-stop water stream and fountains make the garden full of life.

(Fin Garden, Kashan)

(Water fountain in each junction of the garden paths)

(Beautiful decoration in the Fin Garden)

The Iranian vision of garden as paradise has permeated their thinking, arts and poems.  Hafez is one of the most famous Iranian poets.  He wrote a poem titled "one rose is enough".  Below is the translation by Robert Bly.

One rosy face from the world's garden for us is enough,
And the shade of that one cypress in the field
Strolling along gracefully for us is enough.

I want to be far away from people whose words
And deeds don't match.  Among the morose and heavy-
Hearted, a heavy glass of wine for us is enough.

Some people say that good deeds will earn them
A gated house in heaven.  Being rakes and natural beggars,
A room in the tavern for us is enough.

Sit down beside the stream sometime and watch
Life flow past.  That brief hint of this world
That passes by so swiftly for us is enough.

Look at the flow of money and the suffering
Of the world.  If this glimpse of profit and loss
Is not enough for you, for us it is enough.

The dearest companion of all is here.  What
Else is there to look for?  The delight of a few words
With the soul friend for us enough.

Don't send me away from your door, oh, God,
Even to Paradise.  Your alleyway, compared,
To all space and time, for us is enough.

It's inappropriate, Hafez, for you to complain
Of your gifts from Fate.  Your nature is like water;
Your beautifully flowing poems for us are enough.