http://www.metafilter.com/tags/Espalier Posts tagged with 'Espalier' at MetaFilter. Mon, 17 Sep 2007 01:52:33 -0800 Mon, 17 Sep 2007 01:52:33 -0800 en-us http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 60 http://www.metafilter.com/64762/Bent%2Dfruit An <a href="http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/quickref/general/espalier.html" title="pronounced es-PAL-yer">espalier</a> is a plant trained to grow flat against a wall, fence, or trellis. Developed by the Romans, they were popular in Middle Age Europe as a <a href="http://gardenline.usask.ca/trees/espalier.html">source of fruit</a> in castles and monasteries because they could be grown against the keep's stone walls leaving open space unencumbered. Now they are an excellent choice for apartment and condo dwellers with <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/basics/techniques/growfruitandveg_espalierapple1.shtml">small</a> <a href="http://flowersandweeds.blogspot.com/2007/05/spring-trimming-of-espalier-trees.html">yards</a>. For larger yards <a href="http://www.scenicnursery.com/archives/002422.html">espaliers</a> can be used as a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:DSCN3598_espalieredpeartree_e.JPG">decorative</a> <a href="http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/gt/espalier/espalier.htm">feature</a>, to provide <a href="http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/hooker79.html">shade</a> or to increase the <a href="http://www.rarefruit-sa.org.au/Espalier/Espalier.htm">variety</a> of trees under cultivation. University of Florida <a href="http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/MG/MG27300.pdf">PDF</a> detailing the technique. tag:metafilter.com,2007:site.64762 Mon, 17 Sep 2007 01:52:33 -0800 Espalier fruit gardens history trees Mitheral