Schonbrunn garden

In accordance with the principles of Baroque garden design, gardens were an expression of a ruler's status and as such were closely related to the architecture of the palace, being an extension of its magnificent interiors. The central axis of the palace formed the backbone of the gardens whose symmetry was determined by orthogonal and diagonal axes. Behind the garden façade of the palace the Parterre occupied the largest space with its strictly symmetrical beds. The beds consisted of formal patterns made with strips of box and coloured stones or sand and were known as "broderie" parterres since these formal motifs were mostly taken from embroidery patterns. To either side of the parterre were boskets or formal plantings of severely clipped hedges forming passageways, small openings and hidden enclosures. Schonbrunn garden

Vienna Photo