Restorative regeneration of woody ornamental plants in the historical gardens of Peleş Royal Castle, Romania

Abstract

Historical gardens’ restoration is a complex process including not only built features of the layout, but also vegetation. Climate changes, air pollution, new pests and other factors have an important impact on vegetation and make sometimes impossible to restore the garden to the original model. Therefore, vegetation restoration requires investigations, to establish the tendencies, dynamics and resilience of different species in the garden, and decisions to adopt sustainable solutions. Woody plants from Peleş Royal Castle Gardens (Sinaia, Romania) were investigated to reveal the diachronic transformations of the vegetation and to establish an objective starting point in garden restoration. Despite of decades of neglected maintenance, historical events and changes in building function, the garden has a considerable number of old valuable trees and shrubs. Woody plants located on terraces were in a significantly poorer condition compared with those planted on the lawn. Natural forest surrounding the garden and native species cultivated in the garden acted as a source of landscape regeneration. Climate changes, affecting the mountain zone, allow the cultivation of woody species of warmer climates. Results of present study will be essential for all the future decisions about woody vegetation and gardens restoration.