Gardening

Gardens may be of many different types of designs, as a rock garden, a herb garden, a wildflower garden, or a water garden. They may also manifest different styles or gardening techniques, as in a bonsai garden or an espalier garden.

The type of garden planted by the average homeowner generally depends on a number of cultivation variables, as well as on individual tastes and preferences.  Among such variables are soil type and fertility, wind and sun exposure, air pollution (if in or near large urban centers), position of existing trees and shrubs, visual effect desired, amount of land available, size and design of buildings, need for walks and pathways, desire for privacy, and ease of maintenance. Local regional climate determines the plants available and useful to the home gardener.
The gardener may purchase some plants, seeds, and tools from a commercial nursery, which provides various services to householders and small-scale gardeners.

Specialized Gardens

A number of gardens are cultivated for specialized purposes. Vegetable gardens produce edible vegetables for home use; rock gardens highlight rock and mountain  plants;  herb gardens grow various herbs used in cooking;  wildflower gardens are dedicated to native   flowering plants;  water gardens specialize in aquatic and semiaquatic  plants in their natural settings.

Anna Walsh/Oxford Scientific Films
"Specialized Gardens," Microsoft(R) Encarta(R) 98 Encyclopedia.