Armchair garden archaeology

Dry conditions ake it easier for garden archaeologists and historians to see what history is lurking underneath the otherwise opaque green surfce of garden lawns.

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Summary

Dry conditions ake it easier for garden archaeologists and historians to see what history is lurking underneath the otherwise opaque green surfce of garden lawns.

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Broderies (Le Nôtre) at Sceaux restored

André le Nôtre’s parterres de broderie are being reconstructed at Parc de Sceaux, as a reminder that the architect was born 400 years ago. The parterres are lined with box, and the whole approach seems to be different than the one use in reconstrutions in Holland.

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Summary

André le Nôtre’s parterres de broderie are being reconstructed at Parc de Sceaux, as a reminder that the architect was born 400 years ago. The parterres are lined with box, and the whole approach seems to be different than the one use in reconstrutions in Holland.

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Overlooked evergreens

Drawings showing garden scenes often reveal the presense of evergreen plantations, while these are not visible on maps or birds-eye views of the same garden (sometimes by the same artist). As we have much more maps and plans at our disposal – as a vital source – I now wonder how many evergeen plantations of significance we miss during our research.

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Summary

Drawings showing garden scenes often reveal the presense of evergreen plantations, while these are not visible on maps or birds-eye views of the same garden (sometimes by the same artist). As we have much more maps and plans at our disposal – as a vital source – I now wonder how many evergeen plantations of significance we miss during our research.

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Mixed avenue at Elswout

Another mixed avenue planted with evergreens and deciduous trees has surfaced, now at Elswout. This is, after Beeckestijn, the second design by J.G. Michael where such an avenue an be found. Coincidence?

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Summary

Another mixed avenue planted with evergreens and deciduous trees has surfaced, now at Elswout. This is, after Beeckestijn, the second design by J.G. Michael where such an avenue an be found. Coincidence?

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Box disease: different approaches

Box disieases force owners of historical gardens to look out for viable replaments. Different gardens choose different plants. The experience of historical gardens could well change in the near future.

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Summary

Box disieases force owners of historical gardens to look out for viable replaments. Different gardens choose different plants. The experience of historical gardens could well change in the near future.

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Replacements at Het Loo

Just over six years ago (oh, how time flies…) I wrote about a possible penalty for Paleis Het Loo for using too much water for their fountains, causing problems with groundwater levels in the surrounding areas. The main problem was a leak in the basin of the Venus fountain. Now,…

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Rodin’s maples

Clipped trees in a revival 18th century garden are hardly remarkable. But when part of these trees are maple trees, it is clear that the landscape style has left a lasting mark on gardening.

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Summary

Clipped trees in a revival 18th century garden are hardly remarkable. But when part of these trees are maple trees, it is clear that the landscape style has left a lasting mark on gardening.

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Squeezed between trees

A question: when did landscape architects start planting two trees close together on either side of a garden path, so the casual visitor feels the path narrows considerably?

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Summary

A question: when did landscape architects start planting two trees close together on either side of a garden path, so the casual visitor feels the path narrows considerably?

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