 |
Parterres are often confused with knot gardens. Indeed, on a recent "Gardeners'
Question Time" radio programme, when the question was asked "What is distinguishes a parterre from a
knot garden?", the three panellists had three different answers!
Clearly knot gardens and parterres have certain similarities, for example:
- They are both characterised by symmetry and geometrical patterns
- They are best created on level ground
- Their boundary is usually square
- Both are best viewed by looking down onto them
- Low growing evergreen, dense, slow-growing hedging, particularly dwarf box, is used extensively in both to provide the pattern
There are, though, differences between the two, as generalised below:
|
|
Knot Gardens |
Parterres |
|
|
Origination |
Tudor period (16th Century) |
Late 16th-17th Century (became
popular again in Victorian and Edwardian periods) |
|
|
Inspiration |
The "over and under" of threads used
in an English knot or strapwork needlework pattern |
French embroidery patterns – the term comes from "parterres de broderie" |
|
|
Scale |
Small |
Grander scale |
|
|
Hedge Topography |
Height rises at hedge junctions to indicate the crossing of threads |
Flat-topped, uniform height design |
|
|
Hedges |
May be of more than one species
to represent different threads |
Characterised by one particular species |
|
|
Planting |
Often solely on earth, gravel, or mulches – it’s the hedges that are meant to impress |
Hedge pattern creates a series of
ornamental flower beds, which are planted symmetrically or to describe a pattern |
Further reading:
The description above is a distillation of information from several sources, in particular:
1. "Topiary, and the art of training plants". David Joyce. Frances Lincoln Ltd.
2. "RHS Encyclopaedia of Gardening". Christopher Bricknell, editor-in-chief. Dorling Kindersley Press.
3. "Ground Rules". John Glenn. in "The Garden" (RHS Magazine), November 1999, pp 834-837.
4. "Rare Parterre". Robin Whalley. in "The Garden" (RHS Magazine), September 1999, pp 652-655.
|
|
|
|
