(Reporter /Lu Gang) On the afternoon of Apr. 28, the opening ceremony of “Tingxiang” Garden was held at Vegetable and Flower Base. Gao Chi (secretary of the Party Committee of HZAU), Zhang Jinzhou (director of the School Office), and Chen Shenghong (chairman of Zhejiang Humanities Landscape Co., Ltd.) attended the ceremony.
Gao Chi and Chen Shenghong give guidance on the construction of “Tingxiang” Garden. (Photo/ Yan Huahua)
Yuan Fangting (leader of “Tingxiang” Garden Construction Project, director of the Undergraduate Experimental Teaching Center of the College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, HZAU) introduced that the garden covers an area of more than 360 m2, in which over 200 kinds of aromatic plants have been planted, including more than 20 types of mint, over 30 types of sage, and over 20 types of Asteraceae aromatic plants. The garden mainly functions as a place for practical teaching for undergraduates from horticulture therapy specialization, collection and evaluation of horticultural aromatic plant varieties, basic research on the fragrance of horticultural plants, and popular science education of aromatic plants.
“Tingxiang” Garden is donated by Zhejiang Humanities Landscape Co., Ltd. The designers draw their inspiration from the the censer with the burning incense; Ziluo Pavilion on the south is big on top and small at the bottom, resembling a censer, while the winding black stone trails symbolize the curling smoke. Volcanic rock is largely used to construct a higher ground and improve its waterlogging resilience. The porous volcanic rocks and the elevated terrain not only create a relatively enclosed space but also ensure a permeable soil environment, which provides an excellent growing condition for aromatic plants. Besides, the mist spraying system installed throughout the garden can be intelligently controlled by smart phones. After turning on, the system could water the plants as well as lower the temperature and create an atmosphere of wonderland.
Some types of the aromatic plants in the “Tingxiang” Garden. (Photo/Yan Huahua)
After visiting, Gao Chi emphasized that the harmonious blend of the cultural landscape of HZAU and “Tingxiang” Garden, where the aromatic plants flourish in the poetic atmosphere created by the mist sprayer, truly depicted the idea of “all things grow in harmony and nourish themselves to thrive”. With the old saying “through long-term efforts we could shine like brilliant flowers”, he encouraged the horticulture therapy team to persevere in education and research, in the hopes of becoming outstanding educators in this field and advocates of aromatic culture.
“Traditional Fragrance Ceremony — Seal Incense”
Group photo of participants (Photo/Yan Huahua)
Before the opening ceremony, the experiencing activity “Traditional Fragrance Ceremony — Seal Incense” was also conducted. Seal incense, also known as stamp incense, is made through a very time-consuming process--- grinding different incense into fine powder, adding them to seal mold and pressing it simultaneously, and finally demolding the seal incense. After lighting it, the incense would keep continuously burning along the seal line until it’s finished.
More than 20 participants attended the opening ceremony, including directors of the School Offices, College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, teacher and student representatives of the team of horticulture therapy .
Translated by: Yang Jiazhen
Proof-read by Wang Xiaoyan
