Why do we garden? To nurture and cultivate, yes, but also to create our personal vision of paradise. For many, their gardens are stage sets, where the drama of life plays out in quiet and fanciful ways. For others, they serve as retreats from worldly woes. Cole Burrell examines the shifting roles of gardens in our culture, from Victory gardens to outdoor living rooms, and suggests ways to make them integral to the everyday experience of gardeners and non-gardeners alike.