E.2 A STROLL AMONG PARTERRES AND FLOWER BEDS

Although the current state of this stretch of the terrace on the south-west gallery does not allow us to see what it was like originally, the testimonies compiled through the archives and from people involved in the collective memory of Punta Begoña have revealed that this terrace was designed as an area for enjoying the juxtaposition of building and garden.

Based on a rectangular area of around 600 square metres facing south-west, the layout involves three flower borders along the walls and six geometric parterres in the middle, as an invitation for a stroll. Different finishes have been chosen depending on the feature: the ornamental finish on the flower borders imitates the technique of bush hammering, while the sides of the parterres are finished with pebbles. This play on shapes is compounded by another decorative feature: standing at each end of the terrace are two concrete flower pots designed to look like tree-trunks. Can you imagine what this area looked like a hundred years ago with all these features described?

In order to restore it to its original state, the first step involved clearing away the weeds and dead plants and identifying the individual species. Agaves and Carpobrotus Edulis are the two species that are to be preserved, and will be planted in the parterres and flower beds once the terrace has been refurbished. The shrubs –Pittosporum Tobira and Cotoneaster Salicifolius– and the ferns are to be removed, as their seeds seem to have arrived here through wind or bird pollination.

If you would like to identify these decorative features and the plant species, keep on reading and we will show you around the terrace. Come on with us!

Parterre (OED): A level space in a garden occupied by an ornamental arrangement of flower-beds of various shapes and sizes.

[1] We are beside the original entrance to the south-west gallery. This small construction is delimited by a flower border, just like the wall that separates Punta Begoña from the adjacent plot; notice its bush hammered finish. Although now covered by vegetation, we are beside the round parterre. Can you make it out?

[2] Thanks to the first clearance of undergrowth we have undertaken, we can see the flower border at the entrance to the south-west gallery, which continues along the perimeter wall that separates this terrace from the garden above. We are very close to the next half-moon shaped parterre. Can you see it?

Standing next to this parterre and near the concrete balustrade is the first concrete flower pot shaped like a tree-trunk. Although this one is badly damaged, try to imagine its original shape. At the other end of the terrace there is another one in a better condition. Let’s move on!

[3] We are now more or less in the middle of the terrace, at the point where the concrete balustrade straightens out. If we look closely, we can see a star-shaped parterre with eight points. Most of the points on this star contain an Agave, which is one of the species to be preserved.

Next to this parterre there is a stairway that disappears into the undergrowth. It is part of the lane that ran beside the walls and paths leading into the garden in the family home; it is now long-gone.

[4] In this last stretch, it is easier to identify the decorative features and the plants on the terrace. Let’s go!

• Flower bed: it runs around the outside, along the wall. It has the same finish we saw earlier.
• Parterres: they vary greatly in shape (ellipse, cloud or a quarter circle) and are identified by their borders decorated with pebbles or small round stones.
• Plant species to be recovered: besides the aforementioned Agave, we are also going to keep the Carpobrotus Edulis, which is a similar plant but smaller.
• Concrete flower pot: to the left of the three steps leading up to the next level, we can see another trunk-shaped flower pot. If we look closely we can even make out the rings of the tree on the bark.

This walk among parterres and flower borders has enabled us to discover the garden’s layout, the plant species chosen and the techniques used. Enjoy this little haven because it is unique in the galleries!