Ph.D in Gardening Sciences and Green Space, Professor of Green Space Engineering, University of Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
Brocade Netscape or Xeriscape is part of the landscape science introduced when facing warm and dry climate. Netscape Brocade is composed of seven principles which are designated to achieve optimal irrigation. The term was first defined in the Oxford Dictionary in the year 2000, while its principles have been used for many years in the landscaping of Persian Gardens. Persian garden is a path toward illustrating how mankind can coexist with nature, especially in a harsh desert environment. This issue which is a reflection of Iranian intelligence and awareness has been forgotten and nowadays is just being mentioned in the gardening courses. In order to respect and acknowledge the Iranian competence in this field, the article tries to prove that the seven principles of landscaping in arid areas are consistent with the style of Persian gardening and landscaping. The first principle of the Xeriscape is pertaining to its structure which has been met similarly in the Persian garden. It expounds that each different region defined in Xeriscape in terms of importance has its special planting design which is in agreement with that area. The next principle limits the use of grass to the areas in which, in addition to its different use and aesthetic aspects, the use of water can be optimized. Iranian utilization of grass for the purpose of producing animal feed, harvesting herbs, and fertilizing soil are signs of adherence to this principle. Drought-resistant plants used in Iranian Gardens due to their economic characteristics have been noticed in Persian Gardens. The landscaping in arid regions, using elements to enhance the capacity of agricultural soil modifier, which means to promote water storage in soil, is taken into consideration. Persian garden as a microclimate is the natural home for birds that directly or indirectly reinforces the soil and increases the capacity of its agricultural and biological pest-repelling of plants without the use of any chemicals. The importance of nature in Iranian culture, its pertinent traditions, and particular irrigation methods to reduce surface evaporation of water and optimize water usage illustrate that the principles of Xeriscape were followed in Persian gardens. To portray the glory of Iranian way of thinking, two other principles (creating the shade and making the windbreak) are also introduced so that the fact that this knowledge was born in Iran is substantiated by strong and irrefutable evidence
)