Spain
many species have yet to be obtained. The mature
form of each phytoepisode relies upon the newly
obtained species replacing some of the initial plan-
ting and the final result is not technically specified; it
very much lies in the hand of the gardener.
To meet the tight deadline of the 1999 inaugura-
tion, within the constraints of a very low budget,
and in order to avoid ridiculous scenes involving
the extensive planting of very small plants, which
would also have caused serious difficulties for sub-
sequent maintenance, it was proposed to combine
strategic tree and shrub planting with the ploughing
and hydroseeding of parcels of land. The aim was
to create a quick first impression of the garden.
This scheme would give the garden the appearance
of a ‘harlequin’ traditional terraced Mediterranean
landscape, with ochre milled fields and green fields
from seven agriculturally referenced weed mixes.
The strategy for the opening had a second objec-
tive. To create convenient conditions for the esta-
blishment of certain phytoepisodes, more climatic
variability was required, in terms of shade and pro-
tection from the wind. For this reason, priority was
given to plantations of trees and tall-growing shrubs
in the first phase. Some 1,170 trees were planted
primarily in the phytoepisodes of the perimeter of
the garden, together with 8,285 shrubs of avail-
able species. Complementary planting of mature
specimens – which the designer called ‘Picassos’
- took place in the squares along the main paths.
Ultimately, from the goal of 4,000 species to be
shown in the garden when mature, 400 species
were represented; 300 were available in the nurse-
ries and 100 were especially produced for the JBB.
By December 2003, around 28,000 plants had
been planted, representing 1,250 species. Of the
71 phytoepisodes, 11 had more than 50 per cent of
the required species, 51 had been planted, but with
less than 50 per cent of the potential species and
nine had not been planted at all. By 2010 the struc-
tural planting for all of the phytoepisodes should be
complete.
Soil preparation
Before planting, the ground was cleared of sto-
nes and scrub and ploughed to a depth of 30cm.
According to the ultimate character of the planned
phytoepisode, the soil was improved, to adjust the
texture, organic matter content and pH value. The
existing soil was mostly sandy, with an average
pH of around 8.0, and the percentage of organic
matter was very low, below 1 per cent. The origi-
nal soil conditions, together with contamination in
some areas from the former rubbish dump, and the
acidic nature of many of the phytoepisodes to be
represented, required some significant adjustment
of the soils' conditions. It was also necessary to
