Discovering The Purple Garden: A Garden of Glass Modpack
If you have ever wanted to blend the serene challenge of a skyblock with the creative flair of Botania and a generous helping of builder-friendly blocks, The Purple Garden modpack might just be the hidden gem you are looking for. Originally crafted for a Let's Play series by PurpleMentat and his Patron server, this pack centers on the innovative Garden of Glass skyblock mode from the Botania mod. It is no longer actively supported, but it remains a fascinating snapshot of 1.7.10 modded Minecraft, packed with personality and plenty of reasons to revisit it.
What Exactly Is Garden of Glass?
Garden of Glass is a unique skyblock experience created by Vazkii, the developer behind Botania. Instead of starting on a tiny dirt island with a tree and a chest, you begin on a small patch of grass floating in the void, surrounded by a few flowers and a single piece of living rock. The entire progression revolves around Botania's mana-based mechanics. You will use floral fertilizers to generate mystical flowers, craft pure daisies to transmute wood into living rock, and slowly expand your island using nothing but the power of plants. There is no cobblestone generator, no Ex Nihilo sieving—just you, your wits, and a world of magical botany.
Modpack Highlights
The Purple Garden takes that core concept and wraps it in a cozy, builder-oriented package. The pack's creator carefully selected mods that complement the skyblock setting without overshadowing Botania's central role. You will find a wealth of decorative blocks, storage solutions, and a few whimsical surprises. Pam's Harvestcraft adds a delightful culinary dimension, letting you grow dozens of crops and cook elaborate meals—perfect for a skyblock where every resource feels precious. The inclusion of Archimedes' Ships Plus even allows you to construct flying houses, turning your floating garden into a mobile airship.
Why Builders Will Love This Pack
One glance at the mod list reveals a builder's paradise. Chisel 2 and Ztones provide hundreds of decorative block variants, from factory blocks to sleek futuristic textures. Carpenter's Blocks let you shape slopes, doors, and custom frames, while MalisisDoors adds animated doors and hidden passages. DecoCraft2 brings a huge assortment of furniture and decorative items, so your sky island can feel like a real home. Garden Stuff offers planters, fences, and other outdoor decorations that blend seamlessly with Botania's natural aesthetic. Whether you want a rustic cottage or a modern floating villa, the tools are all here.
Key Mods Included
The modpack features a carefully curated selection of over 40 mods. Here are some of the standout additions that shape the experience:
- Botania (Garden of Glass) – The heart of the pack, providing the skyblock rules and all the magical flora.
- Pam's Harvestcraft – Adds extensive farming and cooking, giving you a reason to cultivate every inch of your island.
- Chisel 2 and Ztones – Massive block variety for creative building.
- Carpenter's Blocks – Customizable slopes, stairs, and textured blocks.
- Storage Drawers and Jabba – Compact, visually appealing storage solutions.
- Archimedes' Ships Plus – Build and pilot your own flying structures.
- DecoCraft2 and Garden Stuff – Furniture, decorations, and garden accents.
- Inventory Tweaks and NEI – Quality-of-life inventory management and recipe lookup.
- Waila and Waila Harvestability – In-game tooltips to identify blocks and their harvest requirements.
How to Start Playing
If you are new to Garden of Glass, the learning curve can feel steep. The pack does not hold your hand with a quest book; instead, it encourages experimentation and discovery. PurpleMentat's original Let's Play series on YouTube is an excellent visual guide, walking you through the early steps of obtaining living rock, creating your first mana pool, and automating flower generation. The playlist is still available and serves as both a tutorial and a nostalgic trip. Once you grasp the basics, the skyblock opens up into a deeply satisfying progression where every new flower unlocks a new possibility.
Installation and Modern Convenience
Originally, the pack required the Curse Voice application for installation, with a workaround for Linux users available on the CurseForge page. While the pack is no longer updated, you can still download it manually from the CurseForge website under the modpacks section. For those who prefer a more streamlined experience, many players now turn to third-party launchers that simplify modpack management. For instance, the foxygame.net launcher offers a convenient, flexible, and modern way to browse and install modpacks directly from its menu, making it easy to jump into older gems like The Purple Garden without wrestling with manual file placement. Just search for the pack, click install, and you are ready to start your floating garden adventure.
Server Setup Tips
If you plan to host a multiplayer server, there are a few important tweaks. Disable client-side mods like Baby Animals Model Swapper, ArmorStatusHUD, StatusEffectHUD, and Default World Generator on the server. To spread players to their own individual islands, use the built-in command /botania-skyblock-spread, which can even be triggered from a command block. This ensures everyone gets their own patch of sky to cultivate, keeping the cooperative yet independent spirit of the pack intact.
Why The Purple Garden Still Matters
Even though the modpack is no longer supported, it stands as a testament to the creativity of the 1.7.10 era. It demonstrates how a single mod's custom skyblock mode can be the foundation for a rich, cohesive experience. The careful balance between Botania's progression and the decorative freedom of building mods makes it a relaxing yet engaging playthrough. For anyone who enjoys skyblock challenges but is tired of the standard Ex Nihilo grind, The Purple Garden offers a breath of fresh, flower-scented air. It may be a relic, but it is a beautiful one, and well worth a visit for builders, Botania enthusiasts, and curious explorers alike.