Short answers, pulled from the story.
The earliest gardens were established in the valley of the Yellow River during the Shang dynasty between 1600 and 1046 BC. These vast enclosed parks served as extensions of royal authority where kings and nobles hunted game or grew fruit and vegetables.
King Zhou constructed the Wine Pool and Meat Forest as a pleasure ground to demonstrate decadence and bad taste. The pool was filled with wine to float small boats while trees held skewers of roasted meat for his concubines to eat directly from the branches.
The moss garden at the Saihō-ji temple in Kyoto was started in 1339. This sparse use of plants created a meditative space that contrasted sharply with the dense floral displays of later Western styles.
King Francis I established new gardens at the Château de Fontainebleau by 1528. These gardens featured fountains, parterres, and a forest of pine trees brought from Provence.
The only surviving Caroline garden is located at Bolsover Castle in Derbyshire. This garden is considered too simple to attract much interest compared to other styles.
Gardens contribute to climate change through greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. Carbon dioxide results from burning garden waste and using power tools, methane comes from compacting soil, and nitrous oxide arises from applying excess nitrogen fertilizer.