Alluring Allées

The American Gardener, the official publication of the American Horticultural Society, published my feature article, "Alluring Alleés," in their September/October 2013 edition. By traditional definition, the allée (alley, avenue), is a path lined with straight rows of the same variety of trees or large shrubs on each side, sometimes forming a canopy or tunnel effect, depending on the plant species used. A hallmark of the French formal garden style, the allée was usually quite grand in scale. André Le Nôtre, the French landscape architect and principal gardener of King Louis XIV, included allées in his design and construction of the park of the Palace of Versailles.

Nowadays you don’t have to be royalty to have an allée in your garden or have acres of space. And the walkway you create doesn’t have to be meticulously symmetrical and include multiples of the same plant. You can plant an allée in your garden space, even if you think you lack the room. Read all about it, and may the following fine examples of this gorgeous garden structure inspire you even more.

Photo courtesy of Star Apple Edible + Fine Gardening

Photo courtesy of Dallas Arboretum

Photo courtesy of Julie Moir Messervy 

Photo courtesy of Julie Moir Messervy

Photo courtesy of Jared Vermeil