Most Beautiful Gardens

In Genesis 2:8-9 God planted a garden in the east of Eden, it was called the Garden of Eden.  It was in that garden that He placed Adam the first man He formed out of the ground, later his wife Eve came along.  Out of the ground God caused to grow every tree that was pleasant to the eyes and good for food. In that garden was found the tree of life in the midst of it and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 

I can just imagine how gloriously beautiful Eden was, free from sin's ugly presence.  In those days the Almighty God used to come down and commune with man as friends in the cool of the day. It was out of love why he placed our fore parents in a garden, because there is something very special about that piece of cultivated area.

A garden is a peaceful, serene, calm place to go with the family or better yet alone when you want a break from the routine of life.  

There are some real beautiful gardens around the world, especially in Europe that it would be my pleasure visiting.  The skilled layout of the , pools, fountains, flowers and their colours just takes your breath away.    

Versailles Grounds 

This beautiful enchanting garden is located in France at the Palace of Versailles or in French Château de Versailles.

The French King Louis the 13th, said to have founded the Gardens of Versailles in 1632. However, many gave the credit to his son Louis 14th, saying that he is the real founder for the grand garden that stands today as he was the one who laid the real foundation.

In 1661, Louis 14th hired the best architects, painters, and landscape-designers to work on what would become his life project; the Château de Versailles and its magnificent gardens.

Luisium Castle Garden: Dessau, Germany

This beauty is called the Luisium Castle Garden. It is the largest and first English Parks in Dessau, Germany. The inspiration to create this garden came about in the late 18th century under the regency of Duke Leopold III of Anhalt-Dessau (1740-1817).

A pretty English Garden

English gardens most of the times includes a lake, sweeps of gently rolling lawns set against groves of trees, and recreations of classical temples, Gothic ruins, bridges, and other picturesque architecture, designed to recreate an idyllic pastoral landscape. (Wikipedia)

Shaw Park Gardens, Ocho Rios Jamaica

Jamaica has its own beautiful gardens and serene spots all over the island. Trekking through them reveals sculpted grounds with exotic plants, cool tropical rainforests brimming with countless species of ferns, up-close views of gushing waterfalls and rivers, and encounters with fish, birds and butterflies. 

Port Royal

    

  

Port Royal is an interesting town that I have visited three times in my childhood. Its history has intrigued me over the years even to this day.  Many of the stories I first heard about Port Royal came from my parents and subsequently history class, media and books. There were the stories of pirates, buccaneers, earthquakes, tsunami, wealth and moral decay. 

Many would believe that tsunami is a modern day phenomenon but it has been doing its damage for a long time.

Port Royal is located on the southern coast of Jamaica on the Palisadoes. It was once colonized by the Spanish but in 1655 it was captured and taken over by the English through the likes of admiral Penn and Venables.

After the captured the town they began construction of a fort on its natural harbour on its shores.  A town first known as point Cagway sprang up near the fort and later in 1660 it was renamed Port Royal.

                   

There was a fear that the Spanish could retake Jamaica so pirates and Buccaneers were invited to set up shops, thus assuring there were enough manpower to defend the town in case of an attack.

Businesses done by the pirates and buccaneers began to boom, the town was thriving and became very busy. It became a hotspot for pirates and buccaneers with all its taverns, drinking halls and brothels.  There were willing and brave merchants who did business with the pirates soon themselves set up shop. Gradually, Port Royal became the busiest port in the Americas, largely operated and run my pirates and Buccaneers. 

On June 7, 1692, a massive earthquake shook Port Royal and changed the whole feature of that place.  Most of it were dumped in the harbour and it was estimated that over 5000 lives were lost in the earthquake or shortly after of disease and injuries. The city was lying in ruin and many believed it was punished by God for its wickedness, because it was know as the wickedest city in the western hemisphere.  In 1703 it was dealt another blow when a major fire devastated the city after efforts were made to rebuild it.  It became a quiet village up until today because of the many hits it got from hurricanes and even more earthquakes.

                                      

   

 

                                                                                                             

Today it is a small quiet fishing village boasting a great deal of history.  It is not as glorious and wicked in times past but rich in history.

We need to take heed from its history and mend our ways, because if all that happened to them was God's punishment, then we are a nation ripe for judgement.

Fur Elise

I never grew up around the piano although I did a few touch and go as a child in music class. The first time I heard Fur Elise I immediately fell in love with it. Truly, I do not remember the first time I heard it but I know I just have a special love for it. When I hear this melody it simply melts my heart and I always envision myself in a beautiful English garden. Why an English garden? The whole beautiful garden seen just relaxes me. The love for this piece led me to go look up the history behind it.

                      
                                               The opening of "Fur Elise"

                                                

    Ludwig Van Beethoven
          (1770-1827)



Fur Elise (German for Elise) was written by a deaf German composer by the name of Ludwig Van Beethoven around 1810. He was 40 years old when this was written but he did not publish it. In 1865, 40 years after his death, Ludwig Nohl a musicologist found the piece and published it. Fur Elise has been loved the world over ever since it was brought to the world by Nohl.

The question is, Who is Elise?

The fact is no one has a definite answer as to who Elise is. There is a theory that Nohl could not properly read Beethoven's terrible handwriting, and that the dedication was actually Therese.

It is believed that Beethoven may have fell in love with his friend and student named Therese Malfattie in 1810. She declined his marriage proposal in that same year so it is believed that he composed this piece of of anguish of the heart. He proposed marriage to her but she declined.




Therese Malfattie, believed to be the
dedicatee of "Fur Elise"


We don't know the truth behind its composition but all I know this melody came form somewhere deep.