Gardens have seldom been simply places for relaxation and cultivation. Since antiquity they have been spaces for contemplation, the embodiment of poetical and philosophical ideas – particularly ideas of mortality. This has encouraged a range of symbolic objects, such as sundials, funerary urns, and fragments of antique statuary.

An important archetype for such contemplative spaces is the classical woodland grove. In this section the Arcadian image is encapsulated by the art of Ian Hamilton Finlay whose garden consciously evokes the tradition of classical garden culture.

Photographs also feature prominently in this section. Photography is a potent means of making images about time and time passing. Indeed, many of the photos shown here reveal the ultimate fate of every garden, subject to the irresistible forces of decay and eventual obliteration.