Impressions of Eremko I.A.                                                                                                                                     

About the seminar "History of the classical garden art: from France to Ukraine":

I think that I will not be far if I say that all the seminars on landscape design that take place in Ukraine are business projects. It is fair enough that the main goal of organizers - to make a profit. But who and how would be able to wade through the education, development and look above and beyond the business interests? Do you know many charitable or social projects in the Ukrainian modern landscape industry?

 We are very glad that our seminar "The history of the classical garden art: from France to Ukraine," organically grown from the landscape and architectural event to the all Ukrainian cultural and educational one. The remarkable is the fact that due to decision of the IULC Board, members of the National Botanic Gardens, the leaders of the historical and cultural reserves, teachers and students of specialized schools had an opportunity to be guests at the seminar.

 Many participants pointed out that they received even more than they expected from the seminar. The presence at the seminar of Oksana Melnychuk, who is an adviser to the Minister of Culture of Ukraine, was not only formal, but was sparked by her own interest. The fact that the seminar was opened by Alexander Sidorenko - a representative of French economic mission "Ubifrance" in Ukraine, confirms the importance of this event for the development of Ukrainian-French cultural and field-oriented relations.

I would like to dwell on those moments that have pleased and surprised us the most.

What wondered us so much?

- an incredible and touching example of a great and real aristocratic family of Princess Marie-Sol de La Tour d'Auvergne, in which all four generations care together  for the preservation and growth of their ancestral castle and historic gardens;

- a real example of cultural elite of European society,

- a highly cultured, intelligent and enthusiastic people, who despite their "noble" origin, really love what they do and implement their projects by their own efforts;

- a real example of preservation of cultural and spiritual traditions of the country in one family over a distance of 500 years;

- a good example for imitation of preservation and development of the national heritage which is financed and supported from the side of the private individuals;

- the ability to conduct a real informative and educational work among the children and youth, people of different ages and social levels, using parks and gardens;

- possible variants of invalidity support programs' realization by means of gardening;

- some aspects of the cooperation between private and state gardeners;

- a great experience of working with volunteers:  on the one part students get environmental knowledge, healthy nutrition, improve their cultural level, and on the other part, the owners of the gardens get a well-done job;

- the high level of classical landscape art;

- a deep respect of French colleagues to Ukrainian experts in landscape and garden architecture, culture, spirituality and the property of Ukrainian people.

National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine                                 

Assistant professor of landscape gardening and phytodesign, candidate of science Dzyba A.A.

On the 27^th of October, the seminar "History and Modernity of classical park and garden art took place: from France to Ukraine" took place. It was organized by the "International Union of landscape creators", one of the ranges of activities of which - is educational. As part of Union programme "Environmental education and education of children and youth" and thanks to our sponsors: to "Pervotsvet" company and personally to the director - Svetlana Volkova, to garden center "Divnyy sad" and personally to the director - Duritska Іrina Volodymirіvna and to the Board members of the "International Union of landscape creators" who gave an opportunity for students to attend the seminar, for what we are very grateful.                                                                                                  

 The value of the seminar is that the first time we were able to communicate not only with experts in their field, but also from the successors of the castles. On the territory of France in the Loire Valley there are about 30 gardens that are located around the castles. At the seminar we could "project" in some of them. Castles with their own gardens were presented at the seminar by their owners. Princess Marie-Sol de La Tour d'Auvergne introduced a history of family of the Ainay-le-vieil castle and told a detailed story about garden restoration and techniques that were used by her while it was on renewal. She gave more detailed description of some parts of the garden.                                                

The Countess Alix de Saint Wenan, who owns the gardens of Valmer's castle, intended to expand on the theme of vegetable gardens' construction and growing of herbaceous plants. Countess Alix de Saint Wenan also presented her new project which was implemented by her in 2012 at the Festival in Chaumont-sur-Loire. Through the example of such an object we could partially see the current trends of landscape architecture development in France.

Kiev College of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Design.
Kizilova Miroslava, landscape architect, the teacher of the Kiev College of Construction, Architecture and Design

International public organization the "International Union of landscape creators" invited all us, students and teachers of Kiev College of Construction, Architecture and Design on the first in Ukraine VIP-seminar with the maitres of landscape art in France. The lectures, which we have listened at the seminar, brought a great pleasure and were very helpful for us.                                 

The report of Princess Marie-Sol de La Tour d'Auvergne on restoration of the garden and its ancestral castle mentally transferred us in the atmosphere of the Renaissance. For students it was a great lesson on the history of landscape architecture and topiary art. The princess cleared a mystery of an ancient mastery of fruit trees balling (palisazh) that is another important link in the "chain" of knowledge that we have obtained on practice in botanical garden named after Grishka (Department of the garden formation). Report of Princess Marie-Sol, illustrated with photos of the castle and garden, enchanted all us. Now the students dream to visit this place.  It became possible due to, organized by the Princess, garden training courses and internship to the Ainay-le-vieil castle. The "International Union of landscape creators" with the cooperation of French specialists is going to develop a new program, which will make this internship available for Ukrainians.                        The report of the Countess Alix de Saint Venant on the ecologically clean gardening has become another page in the approval of environmental thinking of future specialists. The main mission of the landscapes creators - "Do no harm!" That is why it is really important to get know more about the possibilities of organic gardening, to master the technique of plant adaptation and careful usage of natural chains of garden biocenosis.                   

Presentation of the submitted to the competition projects of the Ukrainian landscape designers, their analysis, comments, evaluation and projects of the Countess Alix de Saint Venant, kindly demonstrated at the seminar, became an essential addition and a real lesson of creative mastery and creative landscape thinking, allowing us to summarize: "It was one of the best professional seminars!" Many thanks to the organizers of the VIP-seminar Volkova Svetlana Vasilyevna, Duritskaya Irina Vladimirovna and members of the Union Board, for the provided opportunity to touch the high gardening art of France and the warm atmosphere of live communication with the Princess Marie-Sol de La Tour d'Auvergne and the Countess Alix de Sen Venan.

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