[Ania]

Does anyone know what sort of gardening elves do? Okay, this sounds so stupid but I'm really trying to picture the grounds of Rivendell, are there any maps or anything, all I've gone on is Alan Lee's art which is amazing but I'm not sure if it's in accordance with what Tolkien created.
Do elves:
-Have flower beds?
-Artificially grown flowers?

[sindohte]

Those are some interesting questions that I had not thought of before. Although I am far from being a gardener, I would say that there would be flower beds in Middle Earth. This is just a wild guess, but I would think that Elves would prefer a less structured flower garden arrangement. So they wouldn't have all their roses grouped in one section, tulips in another, etc., Instead it would all be mixed together in a beautiful arrangement.

What are you saying exactly when you say artifically grown flowers? Do you mean raised in a greenhouse?

[BittenBuggy]

Hey, now you're talking to the obsessive flower lady! I love gardening... Yet I know nothing about 'Elvish gardening." I don't quite know what you're asking...

As for whether they are artifically grown (greenhouse) that would seem unlikely since the climate would be sufficiant enough that they wouldnt need it. Plus, Rivendell has a ruling ring. Can you make your question a bit more specific please?

[Ania]

Sorry, I meant stuff like cultivating flowers (growing new species (?) don't know if that's the right word) and whether they'd prefer a more natural, and also the Loudwater (can't think of its other name) does it run through the grounds or does it run along beside the house?? Does this help?
I also mean like the order with which they are grown but sindohte answered that for me, but mainly would they be more ordered or obviously neat, or would they let the grass grow or cut it?
That kind of thing, I always imagined a subtler, tasteful, harmony to an elvish garden, like, everything had a place but appeared to have grown naturally there, if that makes sense!

[Thuriniel]

I'm not a gardening freak, but after three months of seeing only white (snow, snow, snow), I'm dying to start planting flowers!

OK, to the question. I don't think that Elvish gardens would be very formal or stiff. I think they would go with the flow and imitate mother nature in a smaller scale (no topiaries, no laberynths, or other such things I don't know the names to ... the joys of English !).

[Ellbee]

I think you could make a case for any type of garden; after all, elves are as varied as humans, and it would be hard to justify saying "all elves like this." That said, I picture Elrond bas a more formal type myself, so I can certainly see formal gardens in Rivendell. But that wouldn't preclude more casual, less structured areas in the valley. Now Silvan elves I can see liking a much more natural environment, especially in a place like Mirkwood, where they'd have to be satsfied with whatever wildflowers might grow in a rare stray patch of sunlight.

But those are only my own off-the-cuff opinions. Like so much else in Tolkienfic, it's pretty much open to whatever you like and can present plausibly.

-Ell

[Haleth]

delete

[Viv]

This is sort of related... do you supposed elves would cultivate food gardens? I mean, I've read fics where they have these lavish banquets, but I don't think I've ever read of Elrond poking around in a vegetable patch (can't you just picture it). Thoughts?

[sindohte]

I would say yes they would have vegetable gardens. Elves don't strike me as being big meat eaters. Elves - the original vegetarians.

[JennnLee]

Hmm, I guess I just figured that there was a kitchen staff of some kind who would tend a vegetable and herb garden. I don't really see Elrond out there spreading mulch either...

[Ellbee]

I dunno, I can see Elrond out there puttering with the soil, when the kids have gotten on his last nerve...

-Ell

[JennnLee]

Pulling weeds, muttering under his breath, that sort of thing?

[Viv]

[Haleth]

I can easily see Elrond in an herb garden, tending the plants he used for healing. Herbs smell heavenly in the summer sunshine.

I believe they had vegetable gardens and cultivated grain.

There are many references to elves hunting in Tolkien's work. The Mirkwood elves were on the hunt when Bilbo and the Dwarves were going through Mirkwood. Orome, the Vala, was a hunter.

In an urban society, we tend to see hunting as a blood sport. But when you're trying to keep your family fed and don't have enough lifestock, it's a absolute necessity.

Elves likely hunted out of necessity; I can't see them killing for pleasure. I can see them enjoying the chase itself, though.

This brings up another question. Did elves raise livestock?

[sindohte]