DENDROLOGICAL LANDSCAPE VALORISATION OF THE COMMON FIG (Ficus carica L.) IN THE GARDENS OF ŠIBENIK Dendrološko-krajobrazna valorizacija smokve (Ficus carica L.) u vrtovima Šibenika

The culture of breeding figs (Ficus carica L.) on the area of town Šibenik is greatly connected to rural areas, and in the town system it is rare and sporadic. Its decorative ability is reflected in decorative gray bark, tree tops, fragrant leaves and smaller or larger fruits black or green, which again depends on the cultivar. It is also decorative in the winter period when comes to the fore an interesting shape of the trunk. Because of these decorative characteristics and cultural value of the fig, it is necessary to give fig the meaning in landscape architecture which it belongs considering its contribution to the visual gestalt in authenticity of space. To achieve real aesthetic value of a given area fig should not be used with non-typical Mediterranean species. The aim of this work is to execute landscape valorization, inventarization and to demonstrate esthetic grade of garden landscape with figs. A taxonomic analysis of fig gardens with a spatial accent was completed in Šibenik area. According to the results of field research and considering the habitus type (according to EHHARDT et al. 2002.) it is obvious that gardens are dominated by decorative plants with bushy forms (18 families), followed by tree shapes (8 families). Based on gained results of visual gestalt research and survey interviews we can conclude that citizens experience park spaces with figs as pleasant, and that it really has a great meaning for landscape, which can be used in branding of Šibenik and surrounding areas.


INTRODUCTION -Uvod
The common fig (Ficus carica L.) belongs to the mulberry family (Moraceae) and is one of the oldest cultivated fruit trees. It is native to the Middle Eastern area between eastern Turkey and northern India. The life span for the fig tree is 50 to 70 years (VEGO et al. 2008). Recommended for cultivation in Croatia are the following cultivars of fig: Petrovka white and black, Bjelica, Šaraguja, ficodella Madona, Zamorčica, Bružetka white and black and crnica (PRGOMET and BOHAČ 2003, As a typically Mediterranean culture it is not sufficiently represented in the system of municipal vegetation of Šibenik and its surrounding region. The problem of the rare usage of this fruit tree can be tied to the increasing use of allochthonous and exotic species in the second half of the 20 th century. Although even then there was a tendency towards preferring autochthonous species over allochthonous, the latter were chosen significantly more often. In accordance with its decorative and adaptable characteristics, the fig is ideal for usage in certain areas of urban landscaping and green avenues of piscatorial rural landscapes. The latter can be noted in Raslina near Šibenik. Here the fig is also a symbol of the place.
Lately, the fig has been recorded in the more contemporary landscaping of residential buildings in Šubićevac as an individual tree at certain localities of green areas. The problem in choosing fig in landscape architecture and planning is the fact that the ripe fruit falls off in late summer and dirties the streets. Its patchy leaves are not adequate either. The fig also requires a certain measure of plant protection, without which individual trees have been known to lose their decorative function in municipal vegetation. The common fig is an economic and decorative species, mostly used as a central emphasis in the shaping of private utilitarian or utilitarian-decorative gardens. Its decorative quality is best observed in the decorative grey bark, the tree top, the patchy leaves and the recognizable smaller or larger fruit that is either green or black, depending on the choice of cultivar. It remains decorative in the winter period when the interesting shape of the trunk becomes prominent, especially in older trees. The common fig is an indispensable culture to most private gardens in the Šibenik area, as well as the outskirts of Šibenik. In order to achieve the full aesthetic value of a certain space, the fig should not be used in conjunction with atypical Mediterranean species. The aesthetic value of the Mediterranean garden is dependent upon the landscape design being as simple as possible. High aesthetic value is achieved in the synergy of the common fig with aromatic herbs, cypress trees and vine. An example of this can be seen in the medieval Mediterranean garden of the monastery of St. Lawrence in Šibenik. In the past, figs were the preferred food of the poor populace, usually dried and stored in wooden chests for the cold winter days. Although not as significant for the economy of Šibenik as the vine or the olive tree, even this decorative fruit tree can serve as a potential brand of Šibenik. The purpose of this paper is to achieve a landscape valorization and inventarization and to submit an aesthetical evaluation of garden landscapes including the common fig tree.

MATERIALS AND METHODS -Materijali i metode
Interviews, terrain research, floristic research and a survey in the Šibenik area were used as sources of primary information. Archival material, publications, scientific and professional papers were used during the drafting of this paper as sources of secondary information. The goal of the survey was to determine the effect of spatial and structural relationships -criteria which affect the aesthetical experience of a locale. The survey employed a questionnaire that contained questions of open and closed types, grouped into two blocks which concerned the perception, preference and stance of the participants towards the aesthetical experience of the common fig in parks or green areas. The survey was conducted during April and May of 2014 on a sample of 50 participants from the Šibenik area (19 women and 31 men). The age distribution of the sample was: 17 participants between 20-30 years, 8 between 30-40 years, 3 between 40-50 years, 13 between 50-65 years and 9 participants above the age of 65. The selection of participants was random. The survey utilized a five degree scale (for measuring the benefit and the landscaping value of fig) with values from 1 to 5, and a seven degree Likert scale (for measuring the stance, perception and preference of the participants) with answers from -3 to 3 with the following values: -3 very unpleasant; -2 mildly unpleasant; -1 unpleasant; 0 neither pleasant or unpleasant; +1 pleasant; +2 mildly pleasant; +3 very pleasant. The processing of the data was conducted according to the measure of central tendency; that is, on the basis of calculating the arithmetic mean and standard deviation. Statistical processing of the data was accomplished in the SPSS 16 software for Windows OS.
The research of garden dendroflora dominated by the common fig was published during the year 2013 and pertained to 5 gardens in the area of Šibenik town. The following florist literature was used to determine the plants: HORVATIĆ andTRINAJSTIĆ, (1967-1981) The division of species to deciduous (L), evergreen (V), as well as the data on geographical origin, was taken from ERHARDT et al. (2002). Dendroflora is classified in either autochthonous or allochthonous species, based on the family origin. Autochthonous species are classified as the ones that grow wild in the researched area (Da), the ones that are cultivated (Db) and the ones that grew wild during cultivation (Dab). Allochthonous are categorized by their level of domestication in accordance with the suggestions of MITIĆ et al. (2008), in the following categories: species exclusive to cultivation -kult, undomesticated species -cas, non-invasive speciesnat, invasive species-inv. The garden has elements of a terrace. In the upper part of the garden on the northern side, a mid-height hedge of cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus L.) was planted, which at the western part ends in a larger bush of the same species. A metal canopy was built by the hedge with common grape vine (Vitis vinifera L.), common ivy (Hedera helix L.) and Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia (L.) Planch.). To the left there is a small boxwood plant (Buxus sempervirens L.). By the boxwood, one can notice an old olive tree (Olea europaea L.). Near the lower side of the wall there are two smaller bigleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) Ser.), and closer to the middle Japanese pittosporum (Pittosporum tobira (Thunb.) ex Murray W.T. Aiton), shrubby germander (Teucrium fruticans L.), rose (Rosa hybrida L.), an 8 meters tall Arizona cypress (Cupressus arizonica (Green.), two large olives (O. europaea) and two common yucca shrubs (Yucca filamentosa L.).

DISCUSSION AND RESULTS -Diskusija i rezultati
The lower part of the garden is decorated by several citrus fruit trees; lemon (Citrus limon L. Burm. F.) and mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco), magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora L.), two common figs (Ficus carica L.) and two large yuccas (Y. filamentosa). The plot is maintained and beautifully formed. The choice of species is not completely satisfactory.        The participants experience green areas that include fig according to the offered scale of -3 to +3 (Table 2)  Based on the presented results, the clear conclusion is that the common fig has great value to the landscaping of Šibenik and surrounding area, which can be used when branding the aforementioned areas.

CONCLUSION-Zaključak
Analysis of gardens of Šibenik that include the fig (as a spatial accent) by growth habit (according to ERHARDT et al, 2002) shows a dominance of shrub forms (18 species), followed by trees (8 species). Of 20 families, two are most represented with more than three species. The families with the largest number of different species are the families Cupressaceae and Lamiaceae. A survey was conducted whose purpose it was to research the perception of citizens on landscaping valorization of the fig in gardens, parks and green surfaces.
Based on the achieved results, the conclusion is that the citizens perceive park surfaces which include fig pleasantly, and that the fig carries great value to the landscape of Šibenik and its surrounding area, which can be used in the brand management of the aforementioned areas.
The aforementioned research gives valuable guidelines for future aesthetical and functional enhancement of certain surfaces with park greenery. It can also serve in the popularization during the selection process and planting of typically Mediterranean and autochthonous dendrological species in city parks and green areas. Pomologia Croatica, Vol. 14, br. 2: 73.