彭蒙惠英语：America’s First Landscape Architect（在线收听）

America’s First Landscape Architect

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U.S. Capital Grounds

Every day, Holly Shimizu, executive director of the U.S. Botanic Garden, looks out on Olmsted’s crowning achievement, the design of the nearly 60 acres of grounds surrounding the U.S. Capitol. From 1874 to 1889, Olmsted supervised its planting, as well as the design of walkways, walls, lights and other features.

Olmsted provided spacious lawns and spectacular open views, keeping the Capitol building itself as the focal point of the grounds. But according to Shimizu, Olmsted’s love of nature is manifested in the thousands of plants found here.

“He knew he had to first honor the building itself, but the plants were also very important,” she says. Today, a wide variety of trees thrive on the grounds, including ginkgo, redbud, dogwood and oak. “These carefully selected, interesting plants make the Capitol Grounds an arboretum,” she says.

Enhancing the Building

The U.S. Capitol building inspires, but it can also intimidate. To mitigate that effect, Olmsted planted large Southern magnolias at its base. “These big trees look like little shrubs next to that building,” Shimizu notes, “but what they do is ‘nest’ it into the landscape and soften harsh lines.”

Olmsted had several other tricks up his sleeve. Large shade trees line walkways, breaking up the lawn into smaller areas that seem less exposed. Around the grounds’ periphery are places where people can rest, such as the summerhouse, an ornate brick structure on the west front lawn.

“Olmsted didn’t need instant gratification, like people do today,” Shimizu observes. “He had the restraint, the discipline, and most importantly, the understanding.

“He could paint that mental picture and say, ‘The design for the Capitol Grounds—it’s going to outlive us. ... This is why we have to do it this way.’ And that ability is a God-given gift. You cannot learn that.”

Vocabulary Focus

manifest (v) [5mAnifest] to show something clearly, through signs or actions

mitigate (v) [5miti^eit] to make something less harmful, unpleasant or bad

have a trick up one’s sleeve (idiom) to have a few secret surprises, plans or ideas (also “ace” or “card” up one’s sleeve)

instant gratification (n phr) the act or condition of immediately getting what one wants

Specialized Terms

botanic garden (n phr) 植物园 an area where a wide range of plants is grown for scientific study, as well as the enjoyment and education of visitors (also called “botanical garden”)

arboretum (n) 植物园 a place where plants, usually trees and shrubs, are grown for scientific or educational purposes

nest (v) 使套入 to fit closely together

美国景观建筑之父

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美国国会大厦庭园

美国植物园执行署长霍莉·清水，每天往外眺看奥姆斯特德的旷世巨作：环绕美国国会大厦周围近60英亩的庭园设计。从1874年至1899年，奥姆斯特德监督园区的园艺栽培，以及过道、围墙、灯光和其它设施的策划。

奥姆斯特德提供宽敞的草坪和壮观的开放景致，让国会大厦本身成为庭园的注目焦点。但是根据清水女士所言，奥姆斯特德对自然的钟爱，则显露在此地数以千计的植物上。

她说，“他知道首先必须为建筑物本身增光，但是植物的重要性也毫不逊色。”众多种类的林木在庭园中绿意盎然，包括了银杏、紫荆、山茱萸和橡树。“这些精心挑选的有趣植物，让国会大厦庭园成为一个植物园区。”

为建筑物画龙点睛

美国国会大厦具有启发性，却也带着胁迫感。为了缓和那份效果，奥姆斯特德在庭园基部种植大型的南方木兰树。“这些大树在国会大厦旁边，看起来就像是矮灌木丛，”清水女士解释，“但是它们的作用在于‘套入’景观中，使强烈的线条变得柔和。”

奥姆斯特德还有其它的锦囊妙计。高耸的遮蔽林树沿着走道排列，将草坪分成较小的区块，让它们看起来若隐若现。庭园的周围有可供人们休憩的场所，像是凉亭那个坐落在西翼前方草坪的华美砖砌建筑物。

“奥姆斯特德不需要像现代人所追求的立即满足感，”清水观察到，“他能自制，有纪律，而且最重要的是深刻领会。”

“他能在脑中画出一幅画说，‘国会大厦庭园的设计，会比我们经历更多的岁月……而这正是为何我们必须这么做的原因。’而那种能力来自上帝的馈赠。你无法学得。”