Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
broderies en buis
English translation:
box embroidery / embroidery of box hedges
Added to glossary by
Tony M
May 30, 2013 09:40
10 yrs ago
French term
broderies en buis
French to English
Other
Botany
"Sur ces miroirs d'eau, Le Nôtre démultiplie à l'infini l'espace rythmé par la géométrie des margelles, celle des parterres de gazon ou de broderies en buis (trop hautes, la plupart sont à replanter)."
From: http://www.lemonde.fr/culture/article/2013/01/10/400-ans-apr...
Can anyone explain the use of "broderie" here? Thanks in advance for any help...
From: http://www.lemonde.fr/culture/article/2013/01/10/400-ans-apr...
Can anyone explain the use of "broderie" here? Thanks in advance for any help...
Proposed translations
(English)
Change log
Jun 2, 2013 13:53: Tony M Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
+3
11 mins
French term (edited):
broderies en buis
Selected
box embroidery
When you look at Le Nôtre's fabulous gardens, the thin lines of neatly-clipped box do indeed look like embroidery — or some kind of lace.
Just look at the image on this page:
http://www.hauts-de-seine.net/actualite/domaine-de-sceaux-de...
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Note added at 12 mins (2013-05-30 09:53:10 GMT)
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Sorry, that links is truncated, here it is again, properly:
http://www.hauts-de-seine.net/actualite/domaine-de-sceaux-de...
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Note added at 16 mins (2013-05-30 09:57:00 GMT)
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This is 'poetic' language, and beautifully describes the intricate shapes found; it's just like describing an agricultural landscape as 'a patchwork of different crops'
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Note added at 18 mins (2013-05-30 09:58:58 GMT)
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In EN, we use lots of textile metaphors like this, I think it's very appropriate: 'the silver ribbon of a river weaving its way through a patchwork of fields'
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Note added at 3 days4 hrs (2013-06-02 13:51:50 GMT) Post-grading
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Asker, do please note that this type of low decorative hedging is really created using box bushes; I wouldn't recommend using 'tree', since that conveys the idea of something taller, as used for topiary, for example. I think the idea of a 2ft high 'tree' would be a little odd...
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Note added at 3 days4 hrs (2013-06-02 13:53:00 GMT) Post-grading
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'box hedges' seems to be widely used.
Just look at the image on this page:
http://www.hauts-de-seine.net/actualite/domaine-de-sceaux-de...
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Note added at 12 mins (2013-05-30 09:53:10 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Sorry, that links is truncated, here it is again, properly:
http://www.hauts-de-seine.net/actualite/domaine-de-sceaux-de...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 16 mins (2013-05-30 09:57:00 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
This is 'poetic' language, and beautifully describes the intricate shapes found; it's just like describing an agricultural landscape as 'a patchwork of different crops'
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 18 mins (2013-05-30 09:58:58 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
In EN, we use lots of textile metaphors like this, I think it's very appropriate: 'the silver ribbon of a river weaving its way through a patchwork of fields'
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 days4 hrs (2013-06-02 13:51:50 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------
Asker, do please note that this type of low decorative hedging is really created using box bushes; I wouldn't recommend using 'tree', since that conveys the idea of something taller, as used for topiary, for example. I think the idea of a 2ft high 'tree' would be a little odd...
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Note added at 3 days4 hrs (2013-06-02 13:53:00 GMT) Post-grading
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'box hedges' seems to be widely used.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "My main concern was whether on not to use the literal "embroidery" in English. This has been confrimed by Tony, so I'm awarding the points in his direction. The idea of using the word "patterns" is good too, though. I prefer boxtree to box in context, so I'll probably end up with something like "boxtree embroidery patterns". Sincere thanks to everyone who contributed."
-1
2 mins
could be patchwork of boxwood, rather than embroidery
IMO
Peer comment(s):
| disagree |
Tony M
: Box is used in lines as edging, so doesn't form a patchwork as such; it may be used to outline a patchwork of other plantations, but I think 'embroidery' or 'lace' is a much more appropriate image. / Not in EN, it doesn't; maybe in FR, then?
8 mins
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embroidery sounds quaint... for a garden.
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12 mins
Catcressie
Native in French
Legal & Business Translations
Native in: French 
Works in: English to French, French to English
fine boxwood topiaries
-
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Tony M
: 'topiary' is of course the technical term for pruning shrubs into specific shapes; but I can't help feeling it is less 'imagé' here.
2 mins
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yes, I agree, the poetic side is somewhat lacking...
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+2
20 mins
Claire Cox
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
Works in field
United Kingdom
French & German Technical Translations
Native in: English
Works in: French to English, German to English
Related KudoZ points
:
39
box knot gardens
This is what they are usually called. Box planting or box ribbons in the first example below might also work if you want to be more creative!
Topiary / Royal Horticultural Society
www.rhs.org.uk › Gardening › Advice
Jan 27, 2011 – The knot garden was formed from different coloured box planted in crisscrossing patterns so that it appeared that the ribbons of hedges had ...
Knot garden - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knot_garden
Most knot gardens now have edges made from box (Buxus sempervirens), whose leaves have a sweet smell when bruised. The paths in between are usually ...
Topiary / Royal Horticultural Society
www.rhs.org.uk › Gardening › Advice
Jan 27, 2011 – The knot garden was formed from different coloured box planted in crisscrossing patterns so that it appeared that the ribbons of hedges had ...
Knot garden - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knot_garden
Most knot gardens now have edges made from box (Buxus sempervirens), whose leaves have a sweet smell when bruised. The paths in between are usually ...
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
GILLES MEUNIER
10 mins
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| agree |
liz cencetti (X)
: yes, and the right term for the period too, though Le Nôtre was slightly later than Elizabeth!
16 mins
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| neutral |
Tony M
: But if you read that Wiki article, this only refers to one very specific type of garden that just happens to have box hedges (though it even says 'nowadays', implying it dodn't always). The example by Le Nôtre I cited at Sceaux is not a 'knot garden'
35 mins
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+4
1 hr
boxwood embroidery patterns
From a description of the garden designed by Le Nôtre at Vaux le Vicomte :
"From the stepped terrace at the back of the house, the "frame" of the great Oriental rug-garden is delineated by white pathways punctuated with mercilessly pruned conical topiary and statues of lions and tigers, the Graces and various deities. Within those borders, low hedges weave embroidery patterns that echo the curves and angles of the house itself."
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Note added at 3 days4 hrs (2013-06-02 13:52:19 GMT) Post-grading
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The Asker's choice is almost identical to my suggestion. A good choice!
"From the stepped terrace at the back of the house, the "frame" of the great Oriental rug-garden is delineated by white pathways punctuated with mercilessly pruned conical topiary and statues of lions and tigers, the Graces and various deities. Within those borders, low hedges weave embroidery patterns that echo the curves and angles of the house itself."
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Note added at 3 days4 hrs (2013-06-02 13:52:19 GMT) Post-grading
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The Asker's choice is almost identical to my suggestion. A good choice!
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Tony M
: As W/E says, the shrub is called 'box', 'boxwood' is the wood we get from it.
26 mins
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Thanks, I didn't know that!
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| agree |
EirTranslations
32 mins
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thanks Aquamarine
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| agree |
Alison Sabedoria (X)
: But I'd favour "box" rather than "boxwood" while it's still alive.
1 hr
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Thanks Wordeffect
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| agree |
John Speese
: I think this is on the right track; I've had the good fortune to see Le Notre (or Le Notre-style) gardens and that is indeed exactly what it looks like.
1 hr
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Thanks John
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| neutral |
philgoddard
: I don't see how this is different to Tony's answer.
2 hrs
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The difference is the addition of the word 'patterns' which is a feature typical Le Nôtre-style gardens
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Reference comments
1 hr
Reference:
Via Wiki:
Parterres are the low embellishments of gardens, which have great grace, especially when seen from an elevated position: they are made of borders of several shrubs and sub-shrubs of various colours, fashioned in different manners, as compartments, foliage, ***embroideries (passements)***, moresques, arabesques, grotesques, guilloches, rosettes, sunbursts (gloires), escutcheons, coats-of-arms, monograms and emblems (devises)
—Traité du iardinage selon les raisons de la nature et de l’art, pp 81–82 (quoted by Laird)
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Note added at 1 heure (2013-05-30 10:44:26 GMT)
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parterre
—Traité du iardinage selon les raisons de la nature et de l’art, pp 81–82 (quoted by Laird)
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Note added at 1 heure (2013-05-30 10:44:26 GMT)
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parterre
Peer comments on this reference comment:
| agree |
Tony M
: Precisely!
47 mins
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| agree |
Alison Sabedoria (X)
1 hr
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