Tree Avenues and Allées

I admit to being a complete sucker for allées. You've probably walked under their sheltering canopy of leaves and branches in a public park, on someone's grounds, or on a college campus. These "tree avenues," as the British call them, bring a graceful, often groomed sense of nature to everyday life.

I recently wrote a blog post about southern France's Canal du Midi, parts of which are shaded in the allée style. Today, I was again reminded of the subject while I was reading an August BBC story about the National Trust conducting an allée survey in the United Kingdom. I had incorrectly supposed that the UK's tree avenues would have been well known and thoroughly documented. Not so. The article also points out some unsuspected virtues of allées, including their role as useful habitats for bats. Who knew?

To my knowledge, no one has conducted a similar survey in the United States. However, I know a few places in suburban New Jersey where tree avenues are found. For instance, there's an allée formed by linden trees in a township adjoining the community where my wife and I live. Every so often, we ignore the snotty "private drive" sign and drive along the allée. It's a short, lovely stretch and I never get tired of enjoying the view.

You're welcome to contribute locations and photos of allées here. Perhaps a tree avenue survey can be formed here. Why not?

I'll start, but not with a photo. It's a Gustav Klimt painting called Allee im Park von Schloss Kammer.

France's Canal du Midi to Lose 42,000 Diseased Plane Trees

France's Canal du Midi, a waterway that combines Gallic beauty and extraordinary engineering skill, is facing something of an existential crisis. A fungal disease is mortally affecting the 42,000 plane trees framing the nearly two-century old structure. Every tree must be replaced. According to an article in today's Los Angeles Times, new trees will be slowly be introduced along the canal's 155-mile length. (A story on the same topic, with some French domestic politics noted, appeared in the July 27th edition of the Guardian.) As it happens, plane trees take a long time to mature. Consequently, the historic canal's gorgeous canopy will not have the aesthetic impact it currently does. This is a matter of some poignancy for local citizens as well as the nearly two million tourists who annually visit the canal.

A journey along the Canal du Midi, while cliched, really does provide a memorable "south of France" travel experience. The boats travel around five miles per hour. The bankside towns and cities have largely been spared warfare's destructive impact. Industrial development has not marred the canal's singular charm.

UNESCO recognized the Canal du Midi's unique character and declared it a World Heritage Site. Hopefully, you'll take a leisurely reading voyage and read more about this civilized passage from the Mediterranean to Toulouse. Also, you're welcome to explore another post I've written about allées, both the canal-side styles and elegant, framed walkways.