Formal French gardens will typically include
allées (avenues), straight and narrow pathways bordered on each side by trees. The most famous parks in the city of Paris, like the Luxembourg Gardens and the Tuileries, are filled with them. Even here in Saint-Aignan, the path along the
quai in the center of town is planted with rows of
tilleuls (linden or lime trees), or maybe it's
platanes (plane trees), forming a nice
allée along the riverfront.
In late October, this allée is perfectly shaded from the low sun. Until the leaves fall, that is.
This is one of many
allées planted in the gardens at Villandry. If I remember correctly, it's probably the longest one, running nearly the full width of the garden from the forest on the east to the labyrinth on the west.
These are lovely shots of Villandry, Walt...
ReplyDeleteit is one of our favourte places to visit...
surpassed only by the Chateau de Valmer...
also for the gardens.
The lime/linden/tilleuls are the real frame of the garden at Villandry. Once you get up high and look down you can see how it is really the lindens which divide the garden up into 'rooms', not the terraces or the box hedging. They are the reason the garden is organic too, because the gardeners use a biological control for a mite that eats the linden leaves in the summer making them look tatty if the problem is not dealt with. Using a biocontrol means they can't use insect/mite-icides. It's been a tremendous success though and gardeners, garden and visitors are all very happy with the results.
ReplyDeleteThe thing I think of as typically French is that the trees are so formally trimmed and trained.
ReplyDeleteI am really enjoying seeing Villandry through your eyes and lens Walt.
ReplyDeleteWalt, I thought I had commented but must not have. I said something about how you can see the allees with Google Satellite view.
ReplyDelete