Castle and Gardens of Freÿr / Meuse (Belgium)

Watering the orange trees

• Louise de Laubespin has left notes on how to water the orange trees: "In summer, each evening a bucket of water by orange tree thou shall give, in winter, one per month should do".
• Starting in 1977 Gilda, her granddaughter took care of this work. In 1978, the trees yellowed; in 1979, they lost their leaves; in 1980, one decayed.
• The chief-gardener of Versailles was consulted. He burst of laughing: "This is a Belgian joke! Here, we sprinkle once per week whereas it rains less and it is hotter than on your premise".
• Then, we understood that Louise, shrewd like every Norman, had requested from her gardeners a bucket per day to be sure that the trees would receive at least a bucket per week!