Fortuitous landscapes vs. Manicured spaces

Hough (1995) in Tim Hall and Heather Barrett's book Urban Geography 4th Edition makes the distinction between a manicured space to that of a fortuitous landscape.  Manicured spaces, "symbols of high civic vitue) (p.316) are those that are planned to suit the needs of the individual utilizing the space.  These areas found in-front of homes, parks, buildings and other areas, suppress diversity according to Hough.  These areas use plants alien to the area while only using a variety of species

Manicured Space - Home

On the flip side, fortuitous landscapes are those spaces within the city that become abandoned and are allowed to be "unmanged" reflecting the local ecologies of the area.

Fortuitous Landscape

Hough feels that the fortuitous landscape will be more beneficial to reducing the "ecological footprint' we leave behind on the earth. Though i agree to Hough to some extent, I have noticed in my community, residents planning the gardens of their small spaces to incorporate local flora - bush medicines and vegetables are grown in plots and organized spaces providing a balance, in my mind, or culturally relevant plants as well as be socially pleasing.  Even the animals have a way of adapting to the surroundings.

Below are pictures of a "postman" bird who has laid eggs in my orchids.

A plethora of choices

Uses of limited space

Under ITS showers

Have you ever had a bath under one?  Yes this is a discussion of urban spaces but believe it or not some urban-ites don't have running water in their households.  Traditionally, the standpipe was the meeting point for village news.  Women would discuss daily going-ons and trash out issues while washing clothes  children would bath and the various rituals of the society would unfold.  Today, the standpipe represents the unequal distribution of resources most face in urban centres.  Now the standpipe in the urban center represents a contested space, an area of conflict where individuals fight over this resource.  Hall and Barrett (2012) in Urban Geography 4th Edition discusses the economic impacts of urbanization on different social groups. o Haughton and Hunter (1994) in Hall and Barrett notes that "...the environmental consequences and costs of urbanization impact unevenly on different social groups..." - one of these groups are the "squatters".  These individuals are less able to protect themselves from floods and natural other environmental problems as they tend to occupy spaces that were not designed for them in the urban centers.