The Italian Renaissance saw a dramatic development in the whole concept of gardens. In the early fifteenth century, as trade started to flourish again, merchants in the hot city of Florence began to build villas or farms on the surrounding vineyard hills where it was cooler. The earliest Renaissance gardens were at first in the formal, enclosed tradition but gradually a view was allowed into the garden through a hole in the wall. As a natural view became more important the enclosures were swept away and the hillside gardens were allowed to stride down their sites through olive groves and vineyards.
Enclosed gardens gradually reappeared on a small scale at the end of the Dark Ages, within the confines of monasteries and fortified buildings. The monasteries were laid out on a Roman court and cloister plan and inside the court monks cultivated medicinal plants, herbs and some vegetables. The beds were divided by straight paths and there was sometimes a fish pond too. Within castle walls the ladies also began to grow herbs for medicinal and culinary use, with the occasional raised bed for flowers where space allowed.
Unlike the Italian hillside gardens, the French ones were flat and straight, most of them situated in the fiat marshy areas to the south and west of Paris. The style was still very geometric, as the original pattern of formal beds within a grid system of paths was simply repeated in order to enlarge the garden.
As times became more peaceful throughout Europe the defence walls were lowered, the garden area grew larger and a simple formal design developed.
The central courtyard within a colonnaded peristyle (known as an atrium) became a major feature of the house and was, in effect, the main living area; it still survives today in the cathedral court and cloister. The garden layouts were much on the Greek pattern, architectural and formal and made up of flower beds and paths, pergolas and statuary with fountains and pools for irrigation. Flowers such as the violet, poppy, iris, lily and pansy were popular and, in particular, the rose. Climbing plants were trained up the supporting columns of covered walks and pergolas.
The Romans carried vegetable growing much further in their country homes because it was the main form of sustenance for rich and poor alike. Salad crops were grown and cabbage was said to be the favourite vegetable. Cato also wrote of turnips, beans, garlic, asparagus and radishes and later writers added carrots, onions, peas, lettuce, chicory, parsley, fennel, parsnips and melons. When the Romans went as conquerors to Europe, they introduced various plants, vegetables and fruit to different countries, together with their knowledge of agriculture and horticulture.
Enclosed gardens gradually reappeared on a small scale at the end of the Dark Ages, within the confines of monasteries and fortified buildings. The monasteries were laid out on a Roman court and cloister plan and inside the court monks cultivated medicinal plants, herbs and some vegetables. The beds were divided by straight paths and there was sometimes a fish pond too. Within castle walls the ladies also began to grow herbs for medicinal and culinary use, with the occasional raised bed for flowers where space allowed.
Unlike the Italian hillside gardens, the French ones were flat and straight, most of them situated in the fiat marshy areas to the south and west of Paris. The style was still very geometric, as the original pattern of formal beds within a grid system of paths was simply repeated in order to enlarge the garden.
As times became more peaceful throughout Europe the defence walls were lowered, the garden area grew larger and a simple formal design developed.
The central courtyard within a colonnaded peristyle (known as an atrium) became a major feature of the house and was, in effect, the main living area; it still survives today in the cathedral court and cloister. The garden layouts were much on the Greek pattern, architectural and formal and made up of flower beds and paths, pergolas and statuary with fountains and pools for irrigation. Flowers such as the violet, poppy, iris, lily and pansy were popular and, in particular, the rose. Climbing plants were trained up the supporting columns of covered walks and pergolas.
The Romans carried vegetable growing much further in their country homes because it was the main form of sustenance for rich and poor alike. Salad crops were grown and cabbage was said to be the favourite vegetable. Cato also wrote of turnips, beans, garlic, asparagus and radishes and later writers added carrots, onions, peas, lettuce, chicory, parsley, fennel, parsnips and melons. When the Romans went as conquerors to Europe, they introduced various plants, vegetables and fruit to different countries, together with their knowledge of agriculture and horticulture.
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