By strict scientific definition, a garden exhibits total anthropogenic control. Key diagnostic criteria include linear geometry, meticulous trimming, and the subjugation of nature to mathematical symmetry. The presence of manicured lawns and deliberate, breathable spacing between individual plant specimens is paramount to this classification.
Figure 1. A scientifically accurate Garden, demonstrating optimal symmetry and geometric restraint.
In stark contrast, a forest biome is characterized by unbridled botanical dominance. Flora is permitted to expand indiscriminately, overlapping in dense, chaotic layers. Spatial planning is abandoned in favor of maximum biomass. Diagnostic markers include highly irregular growth patterns, an abundance of large-leafed specimens competing for canopy space, and a general disregard for symmetry.
Figure 2. A prime example of a Forest ecosystem (often erroneously referred to by laypersons as a "garden"). Note the dense, asymmetrical plant life.