It is not commonly known in South Africa that a “Linden” is in fact a tree. Linden trees are part of the Tilia species, though you may recognize them by their other names: Basswood and Lime. The former is native to North America and is a stately tree that grows very slowly. Meanwhile, the later is commonly found in Europe where it is called "Lime," though that is not a reference to the citrus fruit. Rather, "Lime" is an altered form of Middle English "Lind."
Tilia is a genus of about 30 species of trees native throughout most of the temperate Northern Hemisphere. They are generally called lime in Britain and linden or basswood in North America. The greatest species diversity is found in Asia, and the genus also occurs in Europe and eastern North America, but not western North America.
Room Names
Most of the room / suite / and cottage names of Linden Place carry reference to the Linden tree for example Tilia, Basswood, Silver Linden, Cottonwood, etc.
Romantic symbols
A mediaeval love poem by Walther von der Vogelweide (c. 1170–c. 1230) starts with a reference to the Linden tree:
Under der linden an der heide, dâ unser zweier bette was, dâ mugt ir vinden schône beide gebrochen bluomen unde gras. vor dem wald in einem tal, tandaradei, schône sanc diu nahtegal.
Under the linden tree on the open field, where we two had our bed, you still can see lovely both broken flowers and grass. On the edge of the woods in a vale, tandaradei, sweetly sang the nightingale.
