Guide to Imperial Gardening

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Spoiler

 

 

Guide to Imperial Gardening

 

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The Retired Archchancellor, The Duke of Azor outside of his Greenhouse in Outer Arentania, 1864

 

 

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Upon my retirement from matters of state it took me several days to decide upon what I should do, for over a decade my home had been the Imperial city of Providence and more nights spent within my office than my own bed. After much debate I decided the best course of action in which to settle for my golden years was to retire to Azor with my dear wife and take up gardening once more, a pastime once highly enjoyed by myself prior to my tenure as Archchancellor. 

 

Riding down winding country roads across the Empire as I traveled home, made clear to me something I thought all peers and landowners understood, the establishment and maintenance of a good Imperial garden. Thus as I tend to my vast garden, I shall endeavor to provide good advice so that you too may be able to establish an Imperial garden of your own, be it a vast estate, or the side of a farmhouse, by heeding this advice, you too can become an Imperial Gardener. 

 

 

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Flora

 

Perhaps the most sought after answer to one attempting to take up gardening, is what to choose beyond the vast selection of flora within the world, properly choosing, locating and planting the flora of your garden is key to developing your own garden and the tastes in which you choose to employ, be they Roses, lily's, Astrantias, Tulips, Violets or Daisies. Within the purpose of this guide I shall lay out the main flora of the Duchy of Azor and the reasons for my choices. 

 

Orange Trees

 

The warmer climate of Southern Outer Arentania possessed a unique opportunity when building my estate and gardens in what trees or fruits I wished to grow, every good Imperial Estate ought to have at least one fruit bearing tree in order to provide fresh juice or jam. I personally decided upon oranges, and instead of one tree, an orchard, providing oranges in abundance any who visit Azor can expect to be offered a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, or in luckier cases a slice of orange pie. These sturdy trees help provide shade as well as a tasteful addition to the garden's perimeter. 

 

Paeonia Mairei

 

Paeonia Mairei, or translated from easterner directly ‘beautiful peony’ is a plant of special quality that I had imported from Oyashima in Aeldin, carefully tended to on a chartered ship, the voyage to deliver these live plants was one of tense longevity, preferring to be near water these pink flowers tend to produce large blooms and require a healthy dose of sun, such being in abundance upon the cliffs of Azor. Originally being one of my mothers favored flowers, the Viscount Julianna browsing for hours within the Augustine gardens to view the common peony varieties planted there, I knew when tending to my estate that she would have wanted a large selection of peonies thus the basis of this choice. 

 

Augustine Roses

 

One simply cannot have any respectable garden in The Holy Orenian Empire without including the commonplace but no less beautiful, Augustine Rose. Named for their abundance within the Imperial gardens of Old Providence, these hearty roses produce a bright red bloom and grow best in large patches of bushes, usually supported by either earthen berms or structure walls. A common sight within Azor, they border the edges of the main building as well as serving as a backdrop for the estate's water square. 

 

Southern Almaris Desert Bluebell

 

The Southern Almaris Desert Bluebell is a quite uncommon flower I initially discovered during a diplomatic mission to the Admiralty of Freeport in the 1820s, this stunning blue flower is more used to warmer climates, requiring less water than its normal bluebell cousins and producing a much darker blue colour. Originally brought back and given to the then, Lady Philippa Antoinette Fitzpeter, her love of the flower following our marriage led me to bring back a fair amount of the flower to stock within our greenhouse for memories sake. 

 

Rimeveld Glacier Lily

 

The Rimeveld Glacier lily is another example of a rare flower kept within my greenhouse, originally picked during the 10th Nordling war upon a reconnaissance mission of Fieldmarshal Iskander Basrids force, I brought the flower back for my then courtship Coraline d’Arkent. Despite the flower being subjected to a much warmer climate than it is meant to be grown in, It seems to thrive within my greenhouse producing a light blue bloom during the winter months. 

 

Red Tulips

 

The Red Tulip is a common flower that I simply find enjoyable, a low bed plant these tulips tend to fare better when implanted directly into natural well irrigated soil compared to pots or planter boxes, a must have for any garden these seasonal bloomers bring great colour and variation to any garden they are planted within. 

 

Cattails

 

Cattails are a common water plant that I recommend for any who place their gardens near rivers, streams or ponds, helping to cultivate a good waterline. These plants serve to shelter animals which might call your garden home in colder weather, offer nesting areas for birds, as well as a more visually appealing architectural plant for your water features. Cattails are what I would consider almost mandatory for any with water on their property.

 

Grapes & Vinyards

 

A derivative of the common grape vine discovered in the hills of Arentania, these grapes are key to the famous Azor Merlot, the vineyards in Azor producing a healthy quantity for Azor vintners to draw from in the production of the classic Imperial red wine. A staple of Imperial culture, vineyards have long been considered a necessity when it comes to developing a proper estate. 

 

 

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Miscellaneous Garden Considerations

 

Yard Placement

 

Yard placement is important when considering where to plant, while well manicured gardens are important for visually appealing building facades, it is the recommendation of myself that the exterior gardens of your estate or property consist of unevenly planted bushes, flowers and ferns in a random manner to help spur natural growth and aid in the creation of a wild landscape. 

 

Irrigation

 

The most important part of any Imperial garden remains water, without a source of water your garden will not grow, you will not enjoy having to haul up bucket after bucket from a well and you will consider long and hard why you did not heed the Duke of Azor’s advice to properly irrigate your garden. Built atop a set of mountain springs which are common within Outer Arentania, small scale rock shaping and creek digging allow my garden to have a large stream flowing from the mountain to the base of the vineyard, allowing ample water for the many plants that dwell within the garden. 

 

Apiaries & Bees

 

Almost equally important to irrigation and water flow is that of apiaries and bees, the workhorse of any garden these common insects can be seen throughout the world helping to pollinate and spur flora growth, while bees will come naturally to smaller gardens it is my strong recommendation that any estate maintain its own apiary, both for the shelter and encouragement of more bees as well as local production of honey. While one may find bees vengeful when aggravated, the vast majority of these buzzing insects simply wish to go about their day. 

 

Garden Borders

 

Garden borders are key to helping protect your garden from larger animals, troublesome vagabonds and the elements of the world. Residing atop cliffs in Outer Arentania the Duchy of Azor can experience strong winds at times and an almost universal breeze, It is for these reasons that the Duchy of Azor features a bramble and hedge wall along the western edge of the cliffs, helping to protect the flowers and plants that call my garden home. Various hedges, bushes and small trees prove effective in this role. 

 

Greenhouse

 

Last but not least, a greenhouse. Any gardener worth their salt has a workspace, be it a table in their small garden, a shed with rooftop windows or in the case of Azor, a large glass greenhouse. Serving as my gardening headquarters, It is here that I plan my campaign of potting plants and waging a war of weed removal. The storage of supplies as well as helping to shelter some of the more rare and temperamental plants makes a greenhouse an absolute necessity for any large 

garden. 

 

 

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Such concludes my guide upon Imperial gardening, a basepoint for any to start on, this guide should surely occupy the bookshelves of any reader who finds gardening fascinating, or simply wishes to spruce up their estate. While your garden will likely be vastly different, it is these differences of flora and location that prove interesting for gardeners, and the challenge of planning and maintaining such in whatever location one chooses. 

 

I wish you luck upon your adventure if you choose to take up this hobby and bid you to write should any good Imperial have gardening questions and I shall endeavor to do my best to answer. 

 

His Grace, Joseph Ledicort d’Azor, The Duke of Azor

[annabanana1014 2084]

The Viscountess Diana Vuiller would let out a small laugh as she read through the missive, “Dear brother, I knew you spoke of gardening but dear me! I did not know you were so passionate. Perhaps I should send a letter for you to help me with my garden.”

[colovian fur 8360]

“Ten years Joe d’Azor.”

 

[Shmeepicus 4213]

“Wake up, Joe d’Azor… wake up.” Ivan whispered to Joseph as he left the courtroom a week prior.