The most critical point is this: a garden does not have to be a cheerful, sun-drenched affair. It can be a place of shadow and solace, a landscape that reflects a deeper, more mysterious interior world. For those who have always found more beauty in the twilight than the noon-day sun, the concept of a “goth garden” is less a trend and more of a homecoming.
It is permission to cultivate a space that feels, finally, like oneself.
This is the world Felicia Feaster invites us into with her book, *The Goth Garden*. This isn’t just about planting black flowers and calling it a day. It is an exploration, an illustrated journey into an entire aesthetic. Feaster, an Atlanta-based arts journalist, didn’t set out to become a guru of gothic horticulture.
Her path was more winding, more human. A casual interest in gardening slowly took root, leading to a certification from Clemson University, a position as an editor at HGTV, and eventually, a master gardener designation. Through it all, her own garden became her refuge, a place she describes as emotionally impactful, a solace.
A place to go when you can’t go anywhere else. And from that personal space, an idea for a larger story bloomed, which an editor at Simon & Schuster wisely saw as the seed for this very book.
A Deeper Shade of Green
The entire concept can feel a bit confusing. Is it an attitude? A color palette? An embrace of the slightly dangerous?
The answer is a delightful, tangled yes. Feaster’s work clarifies that this is not about creating a morbid or lifeless patch of land. Instead, it is about embracing a rich, decadent, and moody spectrum. Think of the deep, velvety purple of an aubergine, the near-black of a queen of the night tulip, or the ghostly silver of a melancholy thistle.
It is about texture and form, about plants with spiky silhouettes and names that sound like whispers from a forgotten novel.
• The Aesthetic The focus is on rich, deep, and dramatic colors—dark reds, purples, and blacks—as well as plants with unique, spiky, or ethereal qualities.
• The Author’s Journey Felicia Feaster’s passion grew from a personal hobby into a professional calling, with her own garden serving as an essential emotional sanctuary.
• The Content The book is an illustrated encyclopedia of 50 plants, delving into their history and origins, exploring the stories that make them compelling.
• The Philosophy It is about finding self-expression in the soil and creating a garden that reflects a personality beyond the conventional.
Not Just Black Petals
Feaster’s delight in this subject is palpable, particularly her love for the history and origins of the plants themselves.
This isn’t merely a catalog. It’s an introduction to characters. To Miss Willmott’s ghost, a spectral, silver-bracted sea holly with a fantastic backstory. To the “Black Magic” bachelor’s button. These are not just plants; they are stories growing from the ground. Feaster herself describes the goth garden as something that can be whimsical, a mix of gorgeous forms and colors.
She points to the amethyst bean bush as a perfect example—a plant that is not just a deep, resonant purple, but also features whimsical, elongated shapes that add an element of strange beauty.
And one must wonder, is this a rebellion against the tyranny of the perfectly manicured, perpetually sunny suburban lawn?
Or is it something more ancient? A return to a wilder, more authentic relationship with the things that grow from the earth. The book seems to suggest the latter. It is an invitation to look closer, to appreciate the drama in a dark leaf, the poetry in a thorny stem, and the profound comfort in a garden that embraces the shadows as much as it does the light.
A place to be beautifully, wonderfully moody. In the dirt.
The allure of darkness can be a potent catalyst in the garden, transforming a tranquil oasis into a mysterious realm. For those drawn to the beauty of the macabre, gardening with dark aesthetics offers a unique opportunity to express one’s affinity for the mysterious and the unknown. This style of gardening often features plants with dark or blood-red foliage, twisted tree branches, and an emphasis on texture and atmosphere.
By incorporating these elements, gardeners can create a space that is as captivating as it is unsettling.
In a garden with dark aesthetics, the choice of plants is crucial in setting the tone. Species like the ‘Black Prince’ hollyhock, with its deep, almost-black flowers, and the ‘Bloodgood’ Japanese maple, with its dark, lobed leaves, can add a sense of drama and foreboding to the space.
Other options might include plants with unusual or exotic foliage, such as the ‘Raven’ coleus or the ‘Black Bat’ flower. By combining these plants in creative ways, gardeners can craft a landscape that is both beautiful and unnerving.
For inspiration and guidance, resources like ajc. com provide valuable insights and ideas for creating a garden with dark aesthetics.
◌◌◌ ◌ ◌◌◌
Not content to express their moody aesthetic solely in fashion, music and art, some practitioners are taking it to the great outdoors.
Find other details related to this topic: Check here
