Modern Movement, 1945 to the Present

After WWII, the American dream of buying a freestanding single home in the suburbs gained momentum, and interest in gardening surged. Today, the "suburbs" include not only houses, but apartments, condominium complexes, outer belts, edge cities, and countryside dotted with pleasure farms. We are accustomed to landscaping and expect well-maintained grounds in both public and private places. Garden magazines continue to thrive, although the Internet is commonly used as a quick source of information. The backyard maintains its status as an outdoor room for relaxing, grilling, and entertaining, while the garden itself reflects a busy lifestyle: low-maintenance evergreens and perennials are highly popular. But despite the modern need for ease and practicality, the garden remains a very personal expression of the owner's sense of beauty.

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