Flowers enliven any garden, but one interesting use of flowers is offered by Lee Reich who writes about espaliers and other aspects of pruning in The Pruning Book (Taunton Press, 1997). What is an espalier? A tree or shrub that is trained to grow in a flat plane against a wall, often in a symmetrical pattern. Here is a synopsis of Lee’s writing on these unusual flowers:

Mention plants that grow on a wall and you probably think of vines, but in northern Europe there has been a long tradition of training trees to grow flat in orderly, ornamental, architectural shapes known as espaliers. Perfected hundreds of years ago as a way to grow trees in limited space, espaliers (pronounced es-pal-YAYz) work with many different types of ornamental trees, but the technique classically has been used on apple and pear trees. The intricate shapes that espaliers take can add plenty of well-dressed charm to an old-house garden.

All espaliers need some form of structural support, which can be a fence, trellis, or the wall of a house or garage. By spreading branches out over a wide, flat area, espaliers optimize exposure to sunlight. To foster air circulation around espaliers grown on a wall, train their branches onto wires and stakes held a foot or so away from the support surface. Using walls as structural support has other benefits, too. It helps shelter plants from wind and allows them to absorb some of the structure’s heat, nurturing growth and increasing the variety of plants that can prosper in cold climates.

A Low-Maintenance Approach
Despite their orderly appearance, espaliers are charming because they show that someone is keeping an eye on them, visiting often to care for their well-pruned branches. When those branches bear fruit, you have a plant offering superb flavor as well as beauty. That flavor results from an espalier’s leaves bathing freely in the sun and air, as well as the favorable balance of fruit and leaves. Because photosynthesis happens in the leaves, this balance ensures that each fruit gets plenty of sugars.

In the spring, apple or pear espaliers in Europe are thoroughly laden with flowers that later become fruit. Except for northern, coastal regions, much of North America’s climate and daylengths don’t favor extravagant fruit production. The lavish attention that espaliers require may be an additional drawback in today’s fast-paced world, because apple and pear espaliers need frequent pruning-once in winter and four or more times throughout the summer, usually accompanied by carefully considered decisions about what and how much to prune.

One fruit plant, however, offers a less labor-intensive approach to espaliers and grows just about everywhere: the red currant. Ornamental, tasty, and popular in this country a century ago, red currants have been grown across northern Europe for 600 years, but their primary advantage is that they require straightforward pruning only twice a year. The crowning touch is their bright red fruit, which dangle from branches like translucent jewels. Equally easy to grow are gooseberries, which are close relatives of red currants and have many of the same growing and fruiting habits.

Red currant espaliers decorate the fence around my vegetable garden. Each plant is trained to grow in the shape of a simple T with a single, upright, bare trunk capped by two fruiting arms splayed out in opposite directions. If your taste runs to more complex designs, red currant espaliers acquiesce just as readily to form the ornate U’s, double U’s, fans, and candelabras that were traditionally applied to apple or pear trees.

For all you single people reading this, perhaps this story from The Battle Creek Enquirer will inspire you to share your home with plants and flowers!

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — Battle Creek resident Terry Strang lives alone — well, for the most part.

He shares his quarters with what he estimates to be 75 plants. It’s been a lifelong passion for Strang, 44.

“I remember being just in grade school and I planted plants,” said Strang, noting tulip bulbs were his first encounter with gardening.

Plants are included in practically every aspect of Strang’s life. He cooks with homegrown herbs and decorates with personally nurtured flowers.

“The way they grow is what fascinates me about plants,” he said. “There’s always new growth on a plant, there’s always something changing on a plant.”

Strang’s family and friends refer to him as “the plant guy,” which he said is quite flattering.

Terry’s mother, Barbara Strang, said her son used to plant all her flowers for her when he was a teenager.

“I wouldn’t plant anything without asking him,” Barbara Strang said. “I think most of my family is that way, too.”

Ruth Ann Brown, Terry’s aunt and next-door neighbor, said, “I get all kinds of instructions on planting from him — when to plant, when to trim trees.”

Brown said Terry, who holds a degree in horticulture from Michigan State University, probably inherited his interest in plants from his grandparents, who owned a farm.

Strang said flora, herbage and particularly fruits and vegetables always played a role in shaping his affection for the plant kingdom.

When Strang was younger, he said he helped out at his grandparent’s orchard near Coldwater.

Strang said there were always bright, juicy red apples and plump peaches painted across acres of trees. And his grandpa, he said, ran a stand and sold homegrown vegetables for locals and passers-by.

“Every summer I worked there,” Strang said. “That’s how I got it in my system.”

Strang said he gives specific care to each plant and knows them by breed.

He also incorporates his plants into practical uses.

He houses cooking herbs such as rosemary, which he notes can grow in the winter because it doesn’t need much sunlight. Strang said he uses the rosemary leaves when he prepares chicken and fish dinners.

As Strang gently plucked a tiny leaf from a branch of a rosemary plant, he explained the herb also can liven up a salad.

Strang said he decorates his home with dried lavender, a thin and narrow perennial that’s native to Michigan. He said by hanging the lavender upside down in rooms like his kitchen, a great flowery aroma permeates through the house.

He sometimes makes potpourri mixes with lavender.

Strang said caring for his plants in the winter can be time-consuming because he has to rotate them so each gets its share of sunlight. But now that the weather is warming, he will take a majority of his plants outside.

Not that he minds sharing his home. Strang said having plants around him brings about better living.

“I think plants are very healthy,” he said. “Plants give off oxygen, and they take away carbon monoxide from our air, so we exchange that. I think the more plants you have in your house, the more air filtration you are going to get.

Strang, who owns and operates Greenhouse Landscaping, said he would like to start a greenhouse once he finds a location he likes.

“I’ll be turned on the whole year with plants,” he said. “It’s a lifestyle.”

There are many flower shows around the country continually draw thousand of visitors. The one in Cincinnati appears to be growing in popularity as seen in this article from the Times Recorder:

Spring fever is in full swing and gardeners are looking for the latest landscape ideas and trendy flowers.

Ideas abound at the 17th annual Cincinnati Flower Show held on the shores of Lake Como at historic Coney Island. This year’s theme is a Garden Party.

“A 5-foot long ivy moose, adorable baby elephants, a giraffe, a stately heron planted with coleus will be among the topiaries in the Loveland Green House garden Everpresent Everywhere,” said Marie Huenefeld, flower show publicity chairman volunteer. “The garden will also feature fruit trees as well as other plant material.”
The flower show is so popular that this year it has been expanded to nine days, April 22- 30. Special events are scheduled each day and speakers from world famous gardens will present programs.

“The Grand Marquee will have more than 25 fabulous gardens and single genus exhibits,” Huenefeld said. “The spotlight garden has an environmental theme. Green Power is being designed by the Cincinnati Park Board and will have a car made of corn, a water feature and is sure to delight visitors. The garden will highlight the power of plants to produce energy.”

More than 60,000 visitors will stroll through 15 acres with more than 200 exhibits of flowers, gardens, fruits, vegetables, container gardens, window box gardens, Amateur Flower Show exhibit, the Plant Market and the Gardner’s Market will delight visitors at the show. This is the only flower show in America endorsed by the Royal Horticulture Society in England.

“Delhi Landscape Design Flower and Garden Center’s Secret Garden will surely be enchanting,” Huenefeld said. “Delhi has won the RHS medal at the Cincinnati show five times. And we are the only show in the United States endorsed by the Royal Horticultural Society and the only show allowed to give this award.”

Five-pound onions, three pound leeks, 3-foot beetroots and huge tomatoes will be found in the vegetable garden installed by Medwyn Williams from Wales, a 10-time gold medal winner at the Chelsea Flower Show, Huenefeld said.

Some favorite displays include the dramatic table settings and Confections in Bloom.

“One of our most popular exhibits, Dramatic Table Settings, will feature tables with theatrical themes from Dinner and a Movie, to A Night at the Opera and Razzle Dazzle; these categories are sure to inspire both the professional and the first time exhibitor,” Huenefeld said.

“Confections in Bloom is a horticultural experience through the use of sugar and icing,” Huenefeld explained. “The cakes will return by popular demand. These works of art are nothing short of amazing.”

Afternoon Teas on the balcony of Moonlite Gardens, Ask the Experts, Candid Cooks, speakers and many other programs will entice visitors to spend more than one day at the show. Some programs have an additional fee such as the guest speakers and teas.

Guest speakers include Michael Weishan from the Victory Garden, Carl Gercens from Longwood Gardens, Dean Norton from Mount Vernon and Jennifer Bartley will present Designing the New Kitchen Garden.

Shoppers will find a paradise of gardening and garden related items in more than 100 vendors’ booths. Everything from garden gloves, hand-painted clothes and accessories, garden tools, outdoor furniture and floral inspired jewelry will be available. An international dealer, Gladstone & Elwyn from Wales, will have botanical and natural history prints both antique and reproductions.

“Don’t forget the plant market where one can find a huge selection of plants to take home,” Huenefeld said. “The Plant Valets will even deliver to your car.”

Gardeners can question experts about problems in their own gardens or find out what plants are best suited to their location, how to care for plants, how to prune fruit trees and any other garden related topic.

“‘Ask the Experts features landscape designers, authors of garden related books, culinary experts giving lectures, demonstrations and panel discussions,” Huenefeld said.

“Ask the Experts’ sessions are scheduled several times a day and are complimentary with admission to the show,” Huenefeld said.