People tend to notice the beauty of plants in form and color, as well as the beauty of smell and sound. In addition, trees (plants) have an abstract beauty, but it is full of thoughts and feelings, that is, associative beauty. The most widely known are pine, bamboo and plum, which are called "three friends of the old cold", symbolizing faithfulness, integrity and ideals and representing noble qualities. Others, such as pine and cypress, are evergreen all the year round, symbolizing longevity and immortality. Bauhinia symbolizes brotherly harmony and expresses deep affection with a smile. Red beans represent acacia and yearning, while for willow, "Yang Shasha" means melancholy and sadness, and "weeping willow" means emotional abandonment and parting. Traditionally, there is a concept of "jade, hall, spring, wealth and preciousness" among the people, which some people think is vulgar. However, in some areas, the broad masses of people like to have Magnolia, Begonia, Yingchun, Peony and Osmanthus fragrans at home during festive festivals. Even if only one plant can blossom at home, it will bring them spiritual happiness and comfort all year round.
The formation of associative beauty of trees is complicated, which is related to national cultural traditions, local customs, cultural and educational level, social and historical development and so on. China has a long cultural history. When appreciating and eulogizing the beauty of natural plants, it conceptualizes or personifies the image beauty of many plants and endows them with rich feelings. In fact, this is true not only in China, but also in many other countries. For example, when cherry blossoms are in full bloom, men, women and children are singing and dancing, and the whole country is jubilant; Canada symbolizes the motherland with sugar maple and draws leaf patterns on the national flag. China used to use mulberry trees and catalpa trees to represent villages, which appeared in literary works. A famous example is that after World War II, Russia established a Soviet monument in Berlin, Germany; In the focus of the long axis, stands a mighty warrior holding a statue of a child who fought against fascism, defended the motherland and defended peace; The national flag was tilted to express solemn mourning, and the statue of mother hung her head and was immersed in deep sorrow. Beside the statue of mother, white birch with drooping branches is planted. Birch tree is a native tree species in Russia, and its drooping branches express grief. This set of planting makes us imagine a mother from a distant hometown of the motherland, visiting her long-missed son in a foreign country thousands of miles away, but learning that her beloved son has passed away and came to the cemetery. This group of planting was very successful. When you savor it carefully, it will always touch people's tears, thus arousing feelings of opposing fascism and defending world peace. I also think that the spirit of the warrior will be comforted, because he is respected by the people, accompanied by his mother and the plants in his hometown, and will not feel like he is in a foreign country. The Monument to the People's Heroes in Tiananmen Square, the capital of China, and the pine forest south of Chairman Mao Memorial Hall are also good examples.
As mentioned above, the associative beauty of plants is gradually formed by cultural traditions, but it is not static and will change with the development of the times. For example, "Yang Shasha" was planted in a cemetery in the old days, but in modern times, because of its rapid growth, tall and straight branches, tough and shiny leaves and shading effect everywhere, it has become a good universal greening tree species, that is, the times have changed, the greening environment has changed, the landscape formed has changed, and the psychological feelings of tourists have changed, so there will be no "rustling" when the breeze blows. On the contrary, if planted in the quiet rest area of the park, it will produce a sense of tranquility and relaxation of "drumming in the distance" and "everything is ringing", and obtain the effect of full rest. Another example is plum blossom. In the old days, it was always influenced by the literati's "thin shadow" and there was a narcissistic mood. Now we should use the content of "when the mountain flowers are in full bloom, she laughs in the grass" to transform, which has positive significance and lofty ideals.
In a word, garden workers should be good at inheriting and carrying forward the associative beauty of trees, skillfully applying it to the art of planting trees, and giving full play to the cultivation of human spiritual civilization by the beauty of trees.