Luis DaSilva - "The Vegetal Setting of Death"

In our reading for this period, "The Vegetal Settings of Death", Talks about how trees and plants were used in cemetery in the Earlie's 1600 - 1800 up to the 20th century by the ancient Egypt through our present day and how the use of trees in cemetery has changed. Its to say that at some time trees were not allowed to be planted in cemetery because it was to believe that trees would interfere with circulation of air and people in general. Today its very common to see vegetation in cemeteries. The reading talks a lot about the Cypresses, yews and box trees that today its mandatory that every cemetery must have. Its very interesting to see how people in different times had different concept about cemeteries and how they needed to be design. I personally believe that cemeteries need the presence of vegetation in their designs, not just for show and decoration but also for preventing vandalism and improper use of the site. Trees can also function in night times, to discourage people to approach the cemetery providing a much darker place and sending a message to people to back off. I enjoy very much the reading and I believe it help me in my understanding of how landscape design and concept were developed towards cemetery grounds through out human history.