ladymelissa
Shopkeeper
Caught somewhere between sense and sensibility
Posts: 31
|
Post by ladymelissa on Nov 24, 2007 21:16:23 GMT -5
Through the years, I have grown increasingly interested in the topic, and every era seems to have its own irreplaceable beauty. Are there any other fans out there?
Lately, I've been studying the gardens of the Georgian era mostly. I sadly don't have an literal ones of my own yet, but the topic is insatiable. The theories and history are fascinating, and the aesthetics are gorgeous. A complete feast for the imagination and senses.
|
|
|
Post by Mme de Beaufort on Nov 26, 2007 15:16:49 GMT -5
Being a gardener; I am always interested in what you have to share on this subject.
|
|
ladymelissa
Shopkeeper
Caught somewhere between sense and sensibility
Posts: 31
|
Post by ladymelissa on Dec 2, 2007 15:15:24 GMT -5
The ha-ha served as a quintessential component of Georgian/Regency landscaping. Functioning as an invisible fence, this deep ditch literally separated livestock from the main property (that which contained the house) but provided landowners with a multitude of other benefits. Landowners could model their property after landscape paintings, thus increasing aesthetic value. Further, without the barriers of fences, the ha-ha enabled landscapes to go on indefinitely, a concept significant to Romantic values/goals .
|
|
|
Post by Mme de Beaufort on Dec 3, 2007 13:52:05 GMT -5
I always wondered why they had ditches all over their properties. That explains it. Probably works very well as a flooding culvert too.
|
|
ladymelissa
Shopkeeper
Caught somewhere between sense and sensibility
Posts: 31
|
Post by ladymelissa on Dec 8, 2007 18:44:02 GMT -5
The name seems so weird though; it doesn't fit. There are "fenses," but there literally isn't. The illusion is like a joke, a "ha-ha." (I think that's how the name came about; I'm not sure though.) To me, the name just doesn't fit. It just doesn't have a very "romantic"/"picturesque" kind of sound.
|
|
|
Post by Mme de Beaufort on Dec 10, 2007 12:51:55 GMT -5
I suppose not. ::smirk:: But they do provide a romantic, pastoral view; so it's a trade off. Bad name, good function. ::LOL::
|
|
|
Post by hypothermya on Dec 13, 2007 15:57:04 GMT -5
I adore learning more about historical gardens, orchards, mazes, and other related topics. I have to admit that I'm a bit biased towards Victorian greenhouses, since I cultivate carnivorous plants and it was during the Victorian trend of keeping greenhouses that the cultivation of Nepenthes reached an all time cultural high.
I'd love to know more, though, about Regency and other historical gardening practices.
By the way, were Ha-Has common in gardens that didn't necessitate keeping cattle away from the gardens?
|
|
ladymelissa
Shopkeeper
Caught somewhere between sense and sensibility
Posts: 31
|
Post by ladymelissa on Dec 14, 2007 22:46:01 GMT -5
hypothermya -
Good question about the Ha-Has. I'm not completly sure on the answer. But I think the answer is yes and no. Garden protection ended up being their main function, but a Ha-Ha was used anywhere in place of a fence. Fences were a symbol of confinement. The Romantic Movement stemmed largely from the failure of the French Revolution, and many political and theological implications went along with the asthetic ones. No fences brought the landscape and the horizon closer to freedom and God. There were even anti-fence laws.
|
|
ladymelissa
Shopkeeper
Caught somewhere between sense and sensibility
Posts: 31
|
Post by ladymelissa on Dec 14, 2007 22:48:55 GMT -5
hypotherma-
I'm really intrigued about Victorian gardening. I know nothing about Victorian greenhouses or Nepenthes. I would love to hear more!
|
|
ladymelissa
Shopkeeper
Caught somewhere between sense and sensibility
Posts: 31
|
Post by ladymelissa on Dec 14, 2007 22:56:31 GMT -5
During the early Georgian era (pre-Regency), landscape gardening was based on the landscape paintings of Claude Lorrain (1600-1682). People wanted to become part of a painting, and they wanted to turn the temporal real-world into immortal art. The whole concept is so thought-provoking. It is just so wonderful.
|
|