Picturesque Gardens
"TERRACE, (Garden) work of raised earth with a high wall, serving to join together an un-level terrain. Masonry work is not always required, however, when making a terrace. If the earth is strong, it is enough to make taluds and glacis, cut at each extremity. A slight slope is left on the terrace, so that the waters can run off, which measures around an inch and a half in height, depending on the size of the terrace, and is always lengthways. Terraces are decorated with shrubs, yews and lean-to arbours, plus vases, crates and flower pots, placed on stone cubes. Figures and fountains still contribute a lot to their decoration...".
Denis Diderot
On this illustration dedicated to the vegetable garden, we can see walls supporting espaliers, layers, fruit trees planted in staggered rows or in a chessboard pattern, and domes made of glass, straw or panelling...
In the village of Cohons, the "Jardins de Vergentière" gardens, be they English-style or terraced, delight visitors with their elegance and majesty. They stretch over several hectares, along the water's flow and through the undergrowth, in direct contact with the dry limestone and its famous spiral stone mounds, the "Escargots" ("snails"). These charming places and walks remain colourful throughout the season, thanks to their variety of vegetation. A garden of white fruits and flowers, a wind-exposed, 18th-Century espaliered orchard, a conservatory of hybrid Haute-Marne vine stocks, and a box-hedge maze all adorn this unusual place that is so close to nature.
