[Haleth]

[NancyBrooke]

My father always told me that the purpose of a good garden was to give a little order to nature. I always imagined the Elves would feel more or less that way, that while they might create gardens where nothing but grass or rock existed before that those gardens would immitate nature, just a little more organized.

For example, rather than having a bed of tulips they might have tulips "naturalized" in a field; roses mixed in with other plants, trees, shrubs and flowers all arranged together. Perhaps they are more like plant tenders than plant planters, if you see what I mean. Even their purposeful gardens for food and herbs etc. could be very natural - herbs mixed in among rocks, etc.

And, as for your other question, the Loudwater, or Bruinen, makes the valley that is Rivendell, therefore we can assume it flows through the bottom of it. THe more important question, I think, is where was the house ... The Hobbit might have the best description.

Hope this helps.

[Ania]

Thanks a lot guys that was really helpful, finding it a lot easier to picture Rivendell and the grounds now, also good to see that other people have similar views to how I picture the elvish gardens

[Elb]

I would think that the elves would use a lot of trailing vines and flowers, which would definitely add a flowing feel to the garden. I especially see them using night-blooming flowers such as Moonvine and European Jasmine. I see most herbs being grown, especially calming, soft-scented ones such as lemonbalm. I also see Elrond tending his own little patch with herbs like mookshood, henbane, hemlock, cowbane and mandrake. Also, in HoME X, the Maidens of Yavanna tend the corn used to make lembas, so it can be assumed that Elves grew crops. There would obviously be a lot of trees, and on the latitude of Rivendell, I especially expect weeping willows, elm, beech, oak and some evergreens. Also, in LotR we are told that the elves marked their baths with white stones and green beryl. Hope that helps!