"Around the Groeneveld Castle the English garden style prevails. The surrounding area with plots of farmland was laid out according to a geometrical system, as is the layout of the greater part of Holland. The location of the gardens follows this mathematical system. But the style of the gardens themselves is informal and asymmetrical.

I chose this location not only because of its length. The path, flanked by rows of old trees, has a strong perspective - the small rise which can be seen in the distance, between the left trees, appealed to me. The three aged oaks against it evoke Rembrandt's etching three trees of 1643. I planted one hundred willow branches, in a curved line, over a length of two hundred meters. The parabolic curve begins parallel to the axis of the lane on its South end. The Northern end of the arc turns until it is perpendicular to the axis of the three trees. The top of the willows - above my eye level - was whitewashed in order to set them off against the darker background of the forest on the east side. The cadence of the lane's trees is echoed by that of the willows; however their course changes direction in order to focus the attention on the three trees.

Every three years the branches of the willows will be cut and the new, light green foliage will accentuate the trajectory and contrast with the larger and darker forest on one side; in the other direction their specific shapes will distinguish themselves against the lighter background. The specific form of the pollard willow will remain constant through its pruning cycle.
"

Lucien den Arend

three trees - Rembrandt - 1643 - dry point and burin

three trees at Groeneveld

next
Baarn home