A garden is a planned space, usuallyoutdoors,set aside for the display, cultivation, and enjoyment ofplants andother forms of nature. The garden can incorporate bothnatural andman-made materials. The most common form today is knownas aresidential garden, but the term garden has traditionally beenamore general one. Zoos, which display wild animals insimulatednatural habitats, were formerly called zoologicalgardens.[1][2]Western gardens are almost universally based onplants, with gardenoften signifying a shortened form of botanicalgarden.

Some traditional types of eastern gardens, such as Zen gardens,useplants sparsely or not at all. Xeriscape gardens use localnativeplants that do not require irrigation or extensive use ofotherresources while still providing the benefits of agardenenvironment. Gardens may exhibit structural enhancements,sometimescalled follies, including water features such asfountains, ponds(with or without fish), waterfalls or creeks, drycreek beds,statuary, arbors, trellises and more.

Some gardens are for ornamental purposes only, while somegardensalso produce food crops, sometimes in separate areas, orsometimesintermixed with the ornamental plants. Food-producinggardens aredistinguished from farms by their smaller scale,morelabor-intensive methods, and their purpose (enjoyment of ahobbyrather than produce for sale). Flower gardens combine plantsofdifferent heights, colors, textures, and fragrances tocreateinterest and delight the senses.

Gardening is the activity of growing and maintaining thegarden.This work is done by an amateur or professional gardener.Agardener might also work in a non-garden setting, such as a park,aroadside embankment, or other public space. Landscapearchitectureis a related professional activity with landscapearchitectstending to specialise in design for public andcorporateclients.