Ostankino Park (gardens) were first constructed three centuries ago,
at the end of the 16th century. The park was planted with Fruit trees,
Oaks, and Siberian Cedars. This land was originally owned by the
Schtelkalov family and this park was restored by Knyas' (Knight) Cherkasky
in 1646. After 1745, the park was redesigned with paths, and a geometric
design that had a perspective view. Considering that linear perspective
was not yet consciously understood in Russia, this use of "perspective
view" most likely meant a "beautiful view" (not a scenographic
'linear-perspective' view). The main path led to an orangerie, with a
geometric network of side paths, designed and completed by Karl Rainert
in 1754. By 1761, there were five orangeries, including hothouses (glass
greenhouses) and hoop-greenhouses (polytunnels)
that supported apples, plums, grapes, pineapples, nut trees (including
almonds), lemons, Seville Orange trees, Bay trees, olive trees, melons,
flowers (including thousands of roses, daffodils, jasmine, flox, stock,
carnations, tulips, aloe, and medical herbs). The paths were lined with
berries (barberries, gooseberries) and cherry trees. In addition, there
were furrowed green-vegetable gardens, which also included strawberries,
raspberries, and many currants. These gardens provided vegetables,
conserves, wine, etc. Indeed, later, Sheremetev gave holiday gifts from
these gardens to Imperatriza (Empress) Catherine the Great, and Knyas'
(Prince) Potemkin, and other officials.
In 1795, under serf-architect Mironov as directed by Sheremetev, the
garden design changed from a geometric design based upon linear lines and
circles (Renaissance), to an English landscape garden style (very
naturalistic) similar to the gardens of Capability Brown, populated by
Elm and Maple trees, and the previous Oaks and Siberian Cedars, all among
grassy swards, the paths also lined by Elms and Maples. The vegetable
gardens having been removed. Also, a pond was created with fingers of land
projecting into the pond, the earth from the pond being used to create a
"mount" or "Parnassus"
with a kiosk in Classical Greek style with columns. A small river named the
"Kamenka" was created with several springs, and six decorative ponds
surrounded by many beautiful plants.
Elizarova, N. A.; "Ostankino", Art publisher, Moscow, 1966, pp. 47-53
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