THIS COSMIC GARDEN IS A WONDERLAND

GARDEN OF COSMIC SPECULATION

Mind bending and mind blowing, the Garden of Cosmic Speculation is a fantastical landscape that celebrates the wonders of math and physics.

Conceived and created by Charles Jencks and his late wife, Maggie Keswick, this unique garden was planted in 1989 on their family property, located near Dumfries, just outside Glasgow, Scotland. It has been evolving ever since.

There are 40 major areas in the garden, which covers 30 acres. Discover magical bridges, landforms, sculptures, terraces, fences & architectural works throughout. Each element has a story attached. Each has a design that references science.

The story of the universe tumbles down a water cascade of steps. Black holes are illustrated on a terrace, showing the distortion of space and time. Meander down the "Quark Walk" to learn about the smallest building blocks of matter. Fractals appear in lakes and meadows.

Throughout the grounds, we see the twisted double helix shape of DNA appear in various forms.

Check out the Time Warp Garden, and the grassy pyramids. Find the hidden messages in the Life and Death Garden and the Six Senses Garden.

Jencks and Keswick met while studying architecture. They both developed a passion for garden design. Jenks is a prolific author and postmodern theorist. Keswick, authored a book about Chinese gardens. She also worked alongside architect Frank Gehry on his Lewis House commission in Cleveland, Ohio.

The Garden of Cosmic Speculation wonderland is only open to the public for a few hours one day per year, to benefit the cancer charity created in Maggie Keswick’s name. She died of breast cancer in 1995. A statue of Maggie looks out across the edge of the property. 

Read more about Beautiful Wonderland in Experience A Beautiful Otherworldly Wonderland Right Here on Earth, Gorgeous Alice in Topiary Wonderland IRL, Beautiful Renewal of Spirit in Wonderland, and 10 Most Beautiful WonderLands to Visit Now.

And check out more beautiful things happening now in BN Mind/Body, Soul/Impact, Nature/Science, Food/Drink, Arts/Design, and Place/Time, Daily Fix posts.

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IMAGE CREDITS:

1. Image: by Charles Jencks. Untitled. Garden of Cosmic Speculation. Portrack House, Scotland.
2. Image: by Charles Jencks. Untitled. Garden of Cosmic Speculation. Portrack House, Scotland.
3. Image: by Charles Jencks. Untitled. Garden of Cosmic Speculation. Portrack House, Scotland.
4. Image: by Charles Jencks.Untitled. Garden of Cosmic Speculation. Portrack House, Scotland.
5. Image: by John Lord. “Snail Mound and Snake Mound.” Charles Jencks' Garden of Cosmic Speculation, Portrack House, Scotland.
6. Image: by Charles Jencks. Untitled. Garden of Cosmic Speculation. Portrack House, Scotland.
7. Image: by Charles Jencks. Untitled. Garden of Cosmic Speculation. Portrack House, Scotland.
8. Image: by John Lord. “Life Mounds.” Garden of Cosmic Speculation. Portrack House, Scotland.
9. Image: by Flexdream. "Willowtwist" Aluminium sculpture by Charles Jencks and his wife Maggie Keswick. Garden of Cosmic Speculation. Portrack House, Scotland.
10. Image: by BN App - Download now!
11. Image: by Charles Jencks. Untitled. Garden of Cosmic Speculation. Portrack House, Scotland.