Garden of Love Forever Stamp – Strawberry

Issue Date: May 23, 2011
City: Crestwood, KY
Printed By: Avery Dennison
Printing Method: Photogravure
Color: Multicolored

For over 4,000 years, gardens around the world have evolved from exclusive retreats for the elite into welcoming sanctuaries where anyone can find peace, beauty, and inspiration.

Egyptian tomb paintings from the 1500s B.C. depict some of the earliest known gardens, featuring lotus ponds framed by symmetrical rows of acacia and palm. By 800 B.C., Persian gardens used water’s soft, cooling qualities to create refreshing contrasts to Iran’s arid climate.

The finest Egyptian gardens were adorned with protective trees and elegant pools filled with fish and birds. In Ancient Rome, gardens offered quiet escapes from the bustle of city life, while Byzantine gardens (330–1453 A.D.) reflected the growing influence of Christianity.

Throughout the Middle Ages, gardens symbolized the connection between the earthly and the divine. Renaissance gardens told stories through statues and fountains inspired by mythology. By the 1700s, natural landscapes were admired for their untamed beauty, while the 1800s favored smaller, botanically focused spaces.

Today, many modern gardens blend elements from multiple eras, often guided by the architectural principle of “form follows function.” Whether classic or contemporary, gardens everywhere continue to provide peaceful havens where people can escape daily stress and appreciate nature’s enduring charm.