Your other correspondents (especially ‘Johnny’) have very efficiently covered the theoretical ground re: the Parabola.

At this stage placing the walled garden (WG) in a sensitive, unrigid relation to the rest of the property would be my concern. The problem is trying to place a fine large but awkward object into a scheme that has been altered over the years by various people, so that it relates to other objects and spaces, but retains it’s peculiar impact without impeding the ‘flow’.

One way of doing this (and knowing what a keen tree planter you are) might be to frame the WG with a fluid and varied surround of trees weaving them alternately inside and outside of the walls, veering them off the walls at strategic points toward the house, ponds, exits etc. using them as freewheeling allèes which both tie the WG to the rest and subtly function as direction signs. One might use fruit trees for example inside the WG and whatever the gardener elect sees fit elsewhere.

As to the WG itself, the design produced by FOA might if very well maintained (see ‘Johnny’), and seen from above be interesting, but I would endorse the view that walking through the maze of paths at ground level could be irritating and disorganizing. I would suggest that the paths be made much broader, the beds less acutely shaped, and leveled, scalloping them into the slope with stonewalls in a kind of terracing effect. This would relieve the flatness of the design and, so to speak aerate it, as well as offering interesting planting opportunities.

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