Question: I remember reading about a formal garden of French design, edged with clipped hedging. It had a special name--do you know what it is?

Answer: There are many types of formal gardens that feature carefully shorn hedges; for example, topiary and knot gardens. "Parterre" is a type of formal garden layout that orginated in France, and consists of a rectangular garden divided into a series of ornamental flower beds, all separated by low hedges.

I hope this helps.