Garden of Eden in the Beginning
According to the Book of Genesis, the Garden of Eden is where the first humans, Adam and Eve, were sent to dwell after having been created by God. According to Genesis, God molded Adam from the very dust of the Earth and then created Eve out of one of Adam’s ribs. God then commanded them to live in and tend to the Garden of Eden.
Central to the story is the commandment from God to not eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. The story goes that Eve was eventually quizzed by the serpent dwelling in the tree about why she avoids eating the fruit of the tree. In the dialogue between the two, Eve elaborates on the commandment not to eat of its fruit. She says that even if she touches the tree she will die. The serpent responds that she will not die, rather she would become like God, knowing good and evil.
Eve then eats from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and persuades Adam to do the same. Once they have both done so, they are suddenly made aware of all things. God discovers them and confronts them, placing judgment upon them for disobeying. It is at this point that God expels them from the Garden on Eden, to keep Adam and Eve from partaking of the Tree of Life as well, which would have made them immortal.
The Geography of the Garden of Eden
The Book of Genesis is the primary source of information regarding the supposed location of the garden itself. A direct quote from the book is as follows:
“And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads. The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold; and the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone. And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia. And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates.”
By analyzing this, the true location of the Garden of Eden is difficult to determine. Much speculation exists, with general opinion being that the modern day Near East is the likely home. Due to the impossibility of pinpointing the exact location, however, it is widely held that the Garden of Eden is lost to history, never to be found again.
The Garden of Eden as Paradise
It is widely believed that the Garden of Eden represents the image of paradise, with lush gardens and bountiful natural wealth being found in great abundance. To many, the idea of such a perfect place is almost heavenly, and so Eden itself has long been considered an ideal utopian existence. This is true to such a degree that the name “Garden of Eden” itself is often used to describe a desired perfect location.
Building Your Own Garden of Eden
Although it is impossible to replicate the splendors and miracles that the Biblical Garden of Eden boasted, it is still an admirable gardening goal to attempt to create an area so attractive and so peaceful that it could be mistaken for such a perfect place. The key to creating your own Garden of Eden is to include species of plants both exotic and beautiful, and to attempt to replicate your own image of perfection.
To many, the idea of a quiet pond with a small waterfall or fountain surrounded by lush vegetation is considered as near perfect as you can get. This is one of many examples of how you can go about building your own Garden of Eden. Consider creating an isolated spot in your yard into which you focus the majority of your creative efforts. It is this location that will serve as your Garden of Eden.
By successfully recreating your utmost desires in this spot, you can fashion an area so relaxing and so peaceful that you and your family alike will love spending time within. Plant those flowers which hold special meaning to you, and compliment them with shrubs and trees that you find particularly beautiful. By doing so you will find that your enjoyment of the garden will magnify greatly.
One additional thing to consider when building your own Garden of Eden is the ecosystem of your yard itself. By discovering information about how to attract local wildlife through the careful addition of plants, you can easily make your home a welcome place for animals and birds. By sharing your yard with the creatures living within you can truly replicate a Garden of Eden feeling.
Copyright (c) 2008 – Brant Florist
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