Crossword clues for espalier
espalier
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Espalier \Es*pal"ier\, n. [F. espalier, fr. It. spalliera, fr. spalla shoulder, the same word as F. ['e]paule. See Epaulet.] (Hort.) A railing or trellis upon which fruit trees or shrubs are trained, as upon a wall; a tree or row of trees so trained.
And figs from standard and espalier join.
--Pope.
Espalier \Es*pal"ier\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Espaliered; p. pr. & vb. n. Espaliering.] To form an espalier of, or to protect by an espalier.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
fan-shaped trellis for ornamental or fruit trees, 1660s, from French espalier (16c.), from Italian spalliera "stake-works shoulder-high," from spalla "shoulder," from Latin spatula (see spatula).
Wiktionary
n. 1 A latticework used to shape or train the branches of a tree or shrub into a two-dimensional ornamental or useful design, as along a wall or fence. 2 A plant that has been shaped in this manner. vb. To train a plant in this manner.
WordNet
n. a trellis on which ornamental shrub or fruit tree is trained to grow flat
Wikipedia
Espalier ( or ) is the horticultural and ancient agricultural practice of controlling woody plant growth for the production of fruit, by pruning and tying branches to a frame, frequently in formal patterns, flat against a structure such as a wall, fence, or trellis, and also plants which have been shaped in this way.
Espaliers, trained into flat two-dimensional forms, are ideal not only for decorative purposes, but also for gardens in which space is limited. In a temperate climate, they may be planted next to a wall that can reflect more sunlight and retain heat overnight or planted so that they absorb maximum sunlight by training them parallel to the equator. These two facts allow the season to be extended so that fruit has more time to mature.
A restricted form of training consists of a central stem and a number of paired horizontal branches all trained in the same plane. The most important advantage is that of being able to increase the growth of a branch by training it vertically. Later, one can decrease growth while increasing fruit production by training it horizontally.
Usage examples of "espalier".
She walked about her little garden, up and down the same walks, stopping before the beds, before the espalier, before the plaster curate, looking with amazement at all these things of once-on-a-time that she knew so well.
Climbing up an espalier, he soon reached the top, and looking down on the other side, to his horror and rage espied the mad laird on the ground, and the very men of whom he had been in pursuit, standing over him and brutally tormenting him, apparently in order to make him get up and go along with them.
Sir Guillaume was scavenging pieces of armour, unbuckling greaves and espaliers and chausses from dead men.
Then came the rerebraces that protected his upper arms, and the vambraces that sheathed his forearms, the espaliers to cover his shoulders and two more roundels that armoured his elbow joints.
As soon as they were alone, Monsieur Lheureux in sufficiently clear terms began to congratulate Emma on the inheritance, then to talk of indifferent matters, of the espaliers, of the harvest, and of his own health, which was always so-so, always having ups and downs.
The scene was not terminated by walls and espaliers, but by the entrance on either side of a wild, meandring wood.
She ordered their breakfast served in a warm corner of the garden where peach trees in blossom were espaliered against the stone wall.
A second wall boasted an espaliered apricot tree, grown immense across it, twining with an equally ancient almond, both in bloom.
The two espaliered trees on the far wall shed dry leaves in the breathless night heat, falling one by one atop a drift of rotting petals.
The garden, longer than wide, ran between two mud walls with espaliered apricots, to a hawthorn hedge that separated it from the field.
Emily led the way, trotting briskly and chattering about herb gardens and bog gardens and espaliered fruit trees.
She spent an aimless morning, exercising the dogs, patiently listening to Franz, explaining in basic Dutch so that she could understand him why the peach trees, espaliered on the old brick wall at the end of the kitchen garden, were being sprayed with Bordeaux mixture to destroy peach leaf curl, and then going to the kitchen to tell Berthe that she would have something on a tray for her lunch and would be out for tea.
To Borenson, the columns looked like black vines espaliered against a stone cliff.
An orchard would be a place to grow up, Palmer thought, an orchard heavy with apples and with espaliered pear-trees growing against a sun-warmed crinkle-crankle wall.
Some of the espaliered fruit trees could be retained, and it will require the attention of a full-time gardener.