This is a discussion sparked off by my teasing of Charlie for his very East-Bay business venture, The Funky Chicken Coop. He creates coops for suburban chicken rearers. I remark on how the growing of flowers is not valued by all the back-to-the-land enthusiasts of the modern era.

There is a deeper message connected to this for our interraction with Creation is governed by our understanding of mankind’s place within it. The thrust of my argument is in a past blog post too, which you can find here.

Pictures that illustrate the points we make are:

Juan de Flandes, Noli me tangere. Flemish 15thC. Mary Magdalene mistakes Christ as a Gardener (the artist even gives him a spade).

Hortus Conclusus, ‘A Garden Enclosed’, Illuminated manuscript, gothic, anonymous

Gerard David, The Virgin and Child with Saints and Donor. Flemish 15th century. She is shown in a garden enclosed, echoing the Song of Songs

Robert Campin, Madonna-and-Child-with-Saints-in-an-Enclosed-Garden, Flemish 15th century

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