From spring's adornment to fall's undressing, nature is an indecisive and changing beauty. In general, gardening orders the wilderness; however, pattern gardens sculpt the landscape into works of art.
Pattern gardens, or parterres (French meaning "low to the ground"), are designed to be viewed from above. From a historical perspective, parterres' popular reign began in 17th-century France. Stylistic differences divide the gardens into three categories.
The earliest form is the parterre de pièces coupés, or cutwork parterre. Raised flowerbeds flow to the edge of dividing paths, forming a quilt-like plot. Middle Age monastery gardens inspired the original cutwork parterres, thus giving them true holy order. By the Renaissance, cutwork parterres were the typical ornamental garden.
The parterre de broderie, or embroidered parterre, is the second type of pattern garden. These intricate gardens wove raised walks with lush boxwoods, creating a botanical brocade. Most embroidered parterres spread below the windows of majestic chateaux, offering both a breathtaking vision and view.
The final class is the parterre à l'anglais, or English manner parterre. This turf-based parterre can either thrive on simplicity and style in rectangular designs, or require creativity and craft in gazon coupés that slice turf into elaborate shapes. Nearly all English parterres incorporate gravel paths.
Due to sultry summers, traditional southern parterres featured sand or gravel paths instead of grass. Even if the elite could afford to maintain lawns, mowing required razor-sharp scythes and damp grass. The parterres' tendency to showcase hardy, evergreen shrubs makes them choice among southerners who desired both symmetry and style.
Source:
Phillip Watson
1010 Clearview Ave.
Fredericksburg, VA 22405
540/373-1972
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