Laurus Nobilis - Flemish laurel

General

Flemish laurel, more than just a plant….

Since Daphne was turned into a laurel, on the run from the advances of Apollo, the laurel has not disappeared from everyday life.

What the Greeks and Romans had known for a long time, they have turned into a true culture in Belgium – Flanders.

Laurus nobilis, laurel, indispensable for true chefs and kitchen princesses in the kitchen and herb garden, has been elevated to a true pruning art in Flanders since the 17th century. The laurel in pyramid, sphere on stem, corkscrew, imperial crown, shrub, etc… provides the finishing touch to any party. The crown on a wedding, reception or for the successful and victorious.

If you remember that the laurel symbolizes eternal love, for the sweetest, and because of its permanent green leaves it stands for imperishable and eternal life. May the laurel in your presence keep you from ghosts and devils. Then it should come as no surprise that there are still more than 14 laurel growers in Flanders who continue to practice the pruning and cultivation (topiary) of the laurel with passion and tradition.

Laurus nobilis, can therefore rightly be called Flemish laurel.

What is Bonsai to Japan, the Flemish laurel is to Belgium.

The art, after years of pruning and shaping, to obtain the plants that charmed many emperors and kings is Flanders' pride.

Then keep in mind that with a little green fingers, proper care, and pruning on time, the Flemish laurel accompanies you for years in the garden, kitchen or as a green life companion.

Then it will come as no surprise to anyone that the laurel has also earned its laurel wreath.

Laurus Nobilis - Flemish laurel

History

Mythologically, the supreme god Zeus is said to have turned the priestess Daphne into a laurel bush. This is because Daphne wanted to escape the sun god Apollo. (According to Ovid).

The plant probably comes from Asia Minor, from where the Greeks brought it to their country. From there the laurel went to Italy where it won many a head laurel with the Romans.

We can say that the laurel has been used for making wreaths for three thousand years. This makes the laurel one of the oldest known crops.

We will never know exactly how the plant ended up in Belgium. It is suspected that the laurel arrived and was cultivated in Bruges as early as the 17th century. The Bruges cultivation owes its origin to Mgr. Sad.

A heyday that we know more about started at the end of the 19th century. At that time, Bruges was world-famous as a court building center alongside Ghent.

Plants were exported to Imperial and Royal courts. Every year, dozens of wagons of laurels with enormous dimensions were transported. Plants with an age of sometimes 100 to 200 years. Pyramids with a height of 6 m and crowns with a diameter of 150 cm were no exception. There were companies such as Vincke-Dujardin, NV Flandria, Sanders&Fils that ensured fame all over the world.

The Flemish growers suffered enormous losses as a result of the world wars, all the more because there was not enough coal in the very harsh winter of 1916-1917. Many old plants were then lost.

Yet, through all the adversities, there have always been laurel growers.

There are still 14 laurel growers in West and East Flanders (Belgium). They love their profession and still grow high-quality laurels. Sometimes still traditional, adapted with modern means. But the cultivation of the noble plant is still alive. Since it takes years to go from a cutting to a pyramid, the laurel growers have to exercise a lot of patience. Prune every winter, trim in summer to achieve a full and stylish plant.

Laurus Nobilis - Flemish laurel

Symbolism

Since ancient Greece and Rome, the laurel has "launched" the heads of deserving poets, athletes and soldiers. The laurel is full of symbolism: nobility, victory, ... The leaves of the laurel wreath on Caesar's head came from the sacred laurel tree.

The Laurus Nobilis is also associated:
  • for my love (everlasting love),
  • for victors (the Romans already made a laurel wreath),
  • for someone who has passed (Baccalaureate),
  • as a status symbol,
  • as a defense against evil spirits (on either side of the door),
  • the noble plant would also ward off lightning

In short, a laurel plant as a gift, an idea, you just have to think about it.

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