Castle and Gardens of Freÿr / Meuse (Belgium)
Watering the orange trees
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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".
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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.
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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".
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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!
Aude watering the orange trees
Photo : F. Bonaert