I think it is most directly a link with walled gardens dating back to the Persian and moghul gardens of India. Contemporary non-commercial applications of this sort are common enough in high density urban residential projects all around the world these days.

Thanks, bahia.

Now that you mention it, I remember seeing similar gardens at a condo--each unit had a fenced in patio with a door to a common lawn.

Does this contemporary style of miniature enclosed gardens have a name?

Does anyone know of any good books on this style of gardening?

Thanks again,

Bill

I am not sure what the contemporary name would be but the template is 'hortus conclusus', there are a lot of images on google. If you really want to get into it there is a book called 'The Enclosed Garden' that will take you there and back.

Here is a link that might be useful: the enclosed garden