n.
1. A tree or shrub that is trained to grow in a flat plane against a wall, often in a symmetrical pattern.
2. A trellis or other framework on which an espalier is grown.
TIME WARP
Today's saga begins in 17th century France. The serfs are laboring away in the castle's courtyard training fruit trees to grow 2-dimensionally along a trellis or frame. In the midst of burning people at the stake for heresy, espaliering became popular among the upper class because it lengthened the growing season and saved space. They found that if you trained the branches vertically while they're young then horizontally as they age, the amount of fruit produced increases substantially. Allowing the branches to grow horizontally also created a more formal look and interfered less with the open space in the courtyard. Nowadays, people utilize it in their owns yards to hide unsightly walls or to enhance the beauty of a small space. It is considered an art that takes many years of patience and hard work, but the results are well-worth it.
That is how I found myself on an 8 foot ladder all day tying back stray branches from the nectarine trees in the fruit house. I'm sure most people would find the task dull, but I really took to it because it was so relaxing. The best part was stepping back after completing an entire tree to survey the results. There are many different types of espalier, but the trees at Longwood are in what's called a fan shape. This means there is a central stem with many branches coming from it at a 45 degree angle. The main goal is to train each branch so it covers a hole and creates one mass of foliage.
Working in the fruit house has it's perks. Andrew let me try one of the figs he harvested, and when I accidentally knocked a nectarine to the ground, he took out his knife so we could split it. I've finally found someone that knows how to take a decent break!
TIME WARP
Today's saga begins in 17th century France. The serfs are laboring away in the castle's courtyard training fruit trees to grow 2-dimensionally along a trellis or frame. In the midst of burning people at the stake for heresy, espaliering became popular among the upper class because it lengthened the growing season and saved space. They found that if you trained the branches vertically while they're young then horizontally as they age, the amount of fruit produced increases substantially. Allowing the branches to grow horizontally also created a more formal look and interfered less with the open space in the courtyard. Nowadays, people utilize it in their owns yards to hide unsightly walls or to enhance the beauty of a small space. It is considered an art that takes many years of patience and hard work, but the results are well-worth it.
That is how I found myself on an 8 foot ladder all day tying back stray branches from the nectarine trees in the fruit house. I'm sure most people would find the task dull, but I really took to it because it was so relaxing. The best part was stepping back after completing an entire tree to survey the results. There are many different types of espalier, but the trees at Longwood are in what's called a fan shape. This means there is a central stem with many branches coming from it at a 45 degree angle. The main goal is to train each branch so it covers a hole and creates one mass of foliage.
Working in the fruit house has it's perks. Andrew let me try one of the figs he harvested, and when I accidentally knocked a nectarine to the ground, he took out his knife so we could split it. I've finally found someone that knows how to take a decent break!
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