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Furcraeas

Thanks David,
	For your help. Are you saying these beautys at Villa Noailles MAY have
been Furcraeas after all? But which one? I have only seen F. foetida
'Mediopicta', so the leaves were variegated green and cream. There was
no flower scape and my reference does not describe it. The plants I saw
at Villa Noailles had tall (8' and rising) rusty red scapes. They had
not branched or flowered yet.
	Please don't rummage in the attic for my idle curiosity. But I must
tell you about this wonderful garden which has "gone over" terribly in
spite of the efforts of a single young gardener. He labors alone to try
to keep it in some kind of order, but it is just too large! Apparently
the young Viscount has no interest in maintaining this once magnificent
garden, spending his time and money elsewhere.
	It is built on the side of a hill that has been terraced down the side.
A natural spring originates at the top entrance courtyard and courses
down through ingenious water troughs, filling basins, underground
channels and small water falls. These irrigate each terrace as well as
provide fascinating water features. Each terrace has the remnants of a
different garden theme. From traditional double borders to naturalistic
meadow planting, rose arbors looking out over the lovely valley, an
enclosed garden room all made with cedars (I think) and near the bottom
the strangest garden of all. The whole terrace is planted with
santolena, green and grey, precisely patterned to an arrow shape. Each
plant is clipped into a ball, each separated by bare earth. A path runs
through the center to a small pavillion at the end. Very cubist!
	Sorry to run on, but this garden affected me very much; it was so
different, romantic and overgrown. I kept thinking someone should shoot
a film there.
Jan Smithen
Upland, CA
Sunset zone 19
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