"The Idea of A Garden"

In his essay, Pollan states that a gardener "cultivates wildness, but he does so carefully and respectfully, in full recognition of its mystery " (607). His belief in humans respectfully utilizing nature's many resources is illustrated within White's observations of how Asian cultures connect with nature. She reflects upon how even their houses are designed "to remind us of our imperfection and our oneness with nature" (54). Bamboo, in her essay also serves to represent a bond between man and his environment. She asserts that bamboo is regarded as "a sign of fertile land" (55) and is revered in Asian culture. Her example of how one culture holds nature in high esteem helps Pollan's essay successfully suggest that if humans are to nurture their environment they must learn to respect it's essence.