ABSTRACT
In a number of diverse situations the presence of plants helped people to feel better about themselves and where they lived. The first symposium clearly established the validity of people/plant interactions and pointed the way to further consideration of human issues in horticulture. Humans evolved in a world already populated with a wide diversity of green plants. Years of research by environmental psychologists and geographers have clearly established that the presence of green is a strong indicator for preference. The green environment itself became the source of information on its suitability for sustaining human life. Those successful at learning joined the company of their predecessors that continued the species. This chapter discusses the human preferences for green settings and explains if people can find their origin. It also considers the mental steps that might be required in appraising a setting for its survival value.
