Garden glossary
The garden is a subject with whole range of special terms...
Alpine garden
A garden used to cultivate Alpine plants – not necessary from the Alps. Rocks are often used in Alpine gardens as well as succulent plants that thrive in direct sunlight. You can make a mini alpine garden in a stone trough.
Basin
The word Basin is derived from French and signifies a geometrical pool of the type made in Baroque gardens.
Bonsai
The word Bonsai is Japanese meaning literally "bon planted" - a “bon” is a tray-like pot where a tree is planted and then miniaturized for aesthetic reasons through constant trimming.
Colonnade
A colonnade is a row of columns that can support a range of climbing plants. It is a quick way of achieving height in the garden design.
Cultivar
A cultivated plant that has been selected because of its decorative or useful characteristics. The name of the cultivar should be unique, conforming to Cultivated Plant Code).
Espalier
An espalier is a fruit tree, which has its branches neatly trimmed and flattened against a wall.
Eye catcher
An eye catcher is a feature in the garden that attracts attention. A statue, urn, birthbath, etc. can be used decoratively at the end of a path to catch the eye and add character to the garden.
Gazebo
A gazebo is a garden pavilion with a good view – often placed in the corner of the garden as far away from the main building as possible.
Kakei
Kakei is a fountain made of bamboo made to ladle water into basins. These minimalistic fountains have been used in Japanese gardens for centuries.
Maze
A maze is a network of paths designed as a puzzle. Typically, garden mazes are designed by using various kinds of hedges. In the middle of the hedge maze, an eye catcher such as a fountain can be placed. Hedge mazes are ususally a feature in Baroque gardens.
Orangery
An orangery is a green house made for the cultivation of oranges. They were common in baroque gardens and are today often designed as an extension of the house used as a winter garden.
Parterre
A parterre is a bed designed in a decorative pattern using hedge plants (French: par = on + terre = ground).
Patio
Patio is Spanish for an arcaded or colonnaded courtyard. Today the word is used to describe any small paved area in a garden.
Pedestal
A pedestal is a stone block used as a foundation for a decorative element such as a vase, bird bath, statue, etc.
Potager
Potager comes from French and means a vegetable garden.
Shishi-Odoshi
Shishi-odoshi or deer chaser was originally developed by Japanese farmers to scare off animals from crops. Later deer chasers were later used in Japanese gardens as its movement provided an element of change. When water flows from the bamboo fountain a rhythmic knocking sound is created as the fountain fills and spills water as it hits a rock.
Topiary
Topiary describes a shape created by cutting plants, usually evergreens. The shapes can be made to appear like animals. The tradition was popular in Roman gardens and became revived in the renaissance.
Trompe l'oeil
A trompe l'oeil is an illusion which “fools the eye”. For instance, it can be wall-painting which resembles a three-dimensional landscape. In this way the garden is made to look bigger and more exciting. The painting technique was developed in the Baroque, when artists even painted the backside of paintings on the front, but more usually a portrait of various fruit.
Winter garden
A winter garden is an outdoor area used for plants that bloom during winter.
Related articles:
Garden idioms
Gardens on film
Funny flower names
Flower names for girls
|
