Welcome to the New Day Cafe! This is an open thread.
Did you know that Versaille’s gardens still produce fruit in abundance? Why, yes, they do.
T?he World of Interiors takes a look: www.worldofinteriors.com/…
“In every nook and cranny of this marvellous patchwork of greenery, we find pear, apple and peach trees all drooping under the weight of their lush blossom. Espaliered fruit trees line the garden’s sheltered outer border, while the central square, anchored by a pond and divided into 16 smaller squares, houses the vegetables and herbs, planted in neat lines. From the middle of the terrace, you get to take in all this magnificence. Here you will also see a full-sized sculpture of Jean-Baptiste de la Quintinie (1626–1688), Louis XIV’s horticultural director and the man who designed this quite unforgettable sight..
Prior to all this, he (la Quintinie) had also ventured over to England to research his favourite subject at the court of James II, who tried, in vain, to enlist his services. In 1678, having already worked at Versailles for several years, he was charged with creating a new vegetable garden that would supply the royal kitchens and court with fresh produce. This project would take him five years. It was no mean feat as the plot in question was little more than a swamp.
Faced with such unpromising conditions, La Quintinie told his master: ‘But, your Highness, no-one would want that.’ Le Nôtre’s solution was to drain the land, diverting water to the Lake of the Swiss Guard, which was being installed in the palace grounds, and backfilling the site with dredged material from there and with earth brought in from outside; the reclaimed land was regularly fertilised with manure from the royal stables. It was a laborious undertaking that still bears fruit, literally and metaphorically: three centuries on, it makes for an astonishing sight that is at once beautiful and useful. And the potager yielded plentiful produce, even out of season. For example, strawberry plants were cultivated to crop as early as March in order to satisfy the king’s culinary cravings. But bounty alone wasn’t enough for La Quintinie. Everything had to be staged in this, his horticultural theatre. Look at the 3,500 fruit trees here – mainly pear and apple, along with some apricot, peach and plum – and you will see that they are, for the most part, espaliered.”
Here’s a cool video which describes how these gardens have been preserved.
This is an open thread. Please join us.