Tour architectural hedges with Lee F. Mindel
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The Phipps family originally owned one-third of the town of Palm Beach and donated to it one of the most significant gifts in county history: an oceanfront-to-lakefront property that is now known as Phipps Ocean Park. A hedge trained into architectural arches stands in front of a classical balustrade.
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Side view of the Phipps estate’s arched hedge reveals curvilinear plantings that soften the base.
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Climbing vines at the Phipps estate create the illusion of a hedge house.
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The current headquarters of the Phipps property, which has now been subdivided into large estates.
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Phipps-estate hedges and trees form sculptural shapes that define a neighborhood.
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Hedges along South Ocean Boulevard screen a sprawling estate.
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At a home on Chateaux Drive, a sculpted spherical tree is foreshadowed by hedges that surround rows of royal palm. Diagonal-planted grass set into the axial approach elongates the perspective.
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Stand-alone spherical trees mirror counterparts surrounded by tall rectangular hedges. The homeowner, Dr. Marvin Rosenberg, calls them “gumdrops.”
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The gumdrops create a buffer and forecourt to the residence.
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Classical geometric design on Chateaux Drive.
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South County Road boasts a stucco wall that neatly encloses its manicured hedges, creating a dramatic entry drive.
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A banyan tree that envelops a stucco wall on Middle Road creates an artistic, hedgelike effect.
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Sculpted bowls veil symmetrical houses on Regents Park Road.
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Hedges reveal an entry gate, address, and mailbox on Brazilian Avenue.
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When Henry Flagler’s estate was completed in 1902, the New York Herald described it as “more wonderful than any palace in Europe, grander and more magnificent than any other private dwelling in the world.” Today, the mansion, with its hedge-lined property, is a museum open to the public.
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During the day you can see Palm Springs’ hedges being trimmed by crews of gifted gardeners—many of them from Guatemala—who are equal parts sculptor, botanist, and daring acrobat.
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Patterned plantings form tiers of hedges framed by shadows from large palms on South Ocean Boulevard.
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Layers of plants create artful hedges along the entry drive to the Breakers Hotel.
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Hedges and palms line the entry to the Breakers Hotel.
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The pedestrian walkway at the Breakers features a series of colorful hedge combinations.