| In the world of flower gardens, traditional French | | | | excellent specimen for mass plantings. The fragrant |
| gardens are among the most formal. The most | | | | blooms are long lasting and add a nice splash of color |
| famous French gardens surround the palace of | | | | to the border. |
| Versailles. Designed in the 17th century by Andre Le | | | | - Rosemary. This fast growing, fragrant herb has |
| N'tre, the Versailles gardens feature level terrain | | | | insignificant blooms, but grows fast and can be easily |
| planted in intricate geometric patterns, all of it | | | | shaped. |
| meticulously trimmed and maintained. | | | | Using Flowers To Add Color |
| Straight gravel paths, low, reflective pools and | | | | With dense hedge borders and tightly mown lawns, |
| extravagant statuary are all traditional features in the | | | | the French garden looks to flowering plants to |
| formal French garden. If you don't happen to have | | | | provide color. As a formal garden, French flower |
| hundreds of acres to replicate the palatial gardens of | | | | garden design favors pastels in neutral to warm |
| France, you can achieve the same look with attention | | | | colors. Look for plants with a long blooming period. |
| to detail and a plant list designed to copy the famous | | | | Consider boosting the color in your design with |
| look and feel. | | | | annuals. Although you'll replace them every year, try |
| French Flower Gardens Start With Structure | | | | to keep the same spacing and configuration to |
| The precise, geometric layout of a French flower | | | | maintain your formal look. |
| garden is based on a solid backbone of plants that | | | | A Formal and Functional Garden |
| provide mass, yet are easily shaped. Hedges are | | | | As herbs take trimming and shaping well, they are |
| often used to define the borders of the French | | | | often a standout feature in French gardens. Carefully |
| garden. These hedges can be created from a number | | | | manicured and geometrically spaced, herb plantings |
| of different pants, including: | | | | can give you a formal look while providing tasty |
| - Boxwood. A classic hedge bush, boxwoods respond | | | | treats for your kitchen. Consider sage, marjoram, |
| well to trimming, and their small, dense leaves create | | | | thyme and sweet bay, planted in a radial or |
| a perfect backdrop for other plants. | | | | checkerboard pattern. |
| - Lavender. A thick, woody herb, lavender is an | | | | |