gardens as in urbs in horto as in openlands

gardens may be more historically reputable on the east coast. the natural landscape and elevation and older mountain ranges give to a more delicate and visually stimulating environment for the bed of flowers, patches of ivy, shaded azaleas, clusters of rhododendron and the rarely seen mountain laurel. i have not found a garden in chicago that speaks of its natural landscape nor its historical and agricultural link to the land. should a park in chicago be made of only wheat and prairie grass? (as i write this, i do hope that in time, these will be discovered as i do love to explore on my bicycle.) as you pass an abandoned lot, if you were reminded of what lies on the outskirts, what drives the majority of the midwest economy, watch the breeze bristle and bend the grains, could you consider concrete sidewalk and paved streets and the block lots with the little more comparison to where we have all actually come from?

loudon published an encyclopedia of american gardens in 1834.

"Landscape Gardening is practiced in the United States on a comparatively limited scale; because, in a country where all men have equal rights, and where every man, however humble, has a house and garden of his own, it is not likely that there should be many large parks."

where chicago is known for being the working class city, the first and largest anarchist movement started in chicago, as well as the creation of labor unions, there is not as much green spaces as one would imagine for a midwest center. is it due to chicago's historical plight with industry. it has worked so hard and so fast in its creation of skyscrapers and railroads, it has little time for a patch of garden to make things grow. but for a majority within the working class, the sustainable and agriculturally friendly subsociety does not seem to have formed as they have in other american cities. community gardens have existed in philidelphia since 1897 as answer to the distress of lack of employment. it is stated that the vacant lot cultivation association up until at least 1919 encouraged city dwellers to cultivate and begin for-profit garden markets.

is it then simply because chicago and the majority of the midwest is flat? is there no majesty in its inherent landscape? for d'eramo was correct, the great lakes are fresh water seas, divinely large and at times lake michigan's color deepens to turquoise.