the iris season

 Another bank holiday in France, (the month of May is peppered with them this year) and for some reason I found myself driving past Giverny early this morning, before the gardens were open.  Realising that ...

1.   The irises are in full bloom
2.   There was NOBODY in the garden
3.   There are a couple of gaps in the hedge at the bottom of the garden , just at camera height!

 I slammed on the brakes and screeched over to the side of the road.   I so hope you appreciate the lengths I go to just to bring you a good picture!  :-)

 So here is Giverny as most of us will never see it, in full mega-bloom and ... totally empty!

a château garden in the Loire valley

Spring really does seem to be just around the corner now that the snow has melted, the days grow longer and the birds are beginning to sing more loudly!  Inevitably  thoughts turn to the garden, ambitious projects are formed, ideas grow like tiny seeds planted in an old clay pot.

Inspiration comes from this beautiful garden in the Loire valley, home to so many châteaux.  This pretty château, called La Verrerie,  was built at the end of the 18th century.  At the time the garden would have been very formal, more shrubs than flowers,   Clipped box and hornbeam would have formed alleys, walls  and paths.

Today the owners of the château have preserved the very French feel, but softened it and made it feel more comfortable with the addition of roses and mixed flower beds.

They have had fun in the potager as well, where fine use is made of a collection of antique glass cloches.  These bells date from the 18th century and were used to protect fragile young plants; individual greenhouses in effect.  They were originally made with a glass button on the top, but most often, as we see here that is broken off to avoid the magnifying effect of the sun burning the plants beneath.

 

I love the next picture because I can so imagine a dinner table laid out beneath this old oak tree (remember that bugs aren't a problem here!) .  These vintage metal hoops, mounted with candle holders bring a touch of modern sculpture to the classic setting.  Just think how beautiful it would look in the evening, with candles lit.

Special thanks to Jerome of Maison du Lin, who tells me that this château is actually a B&B, and that he has stayed there!!  Lucky man!   You can visit their site for all the details but here's a teaser on a couple of the rooms

Voilà!  A beautiful and classical French château setting that has moved with the times to fit comfortably around a family home.  I wish you all a happy weekend, dreaming of your garden plans.

Don't forget to enter the Parisienne Farmgirl giveaway, a magazine subscription and scented candle are there to be won!

all photos thanks to Mon Jardin et ma Maison and also to La Verriere

optimism in the garden

Although this isn't the prettiest time of year in the garden, it may well be the most optimistic.

January is the time to stay in the warm and plan, to dream, to remember what worked well last year, to forget the heavy work and simply enjoy the prospect of things looking good.

 I am not shy to admit that with age I am becoming lazy!  I look for easier solutions.  That's one of the reasons I use so many perennials in the garden: plant them, water them, a few kind words and they are away!

The snowdrops and daffodils are already pushing through the grass ready to flower in February and March.   Last Autumn I was really lazy and didn't lift the dahlia bulbs, but the winter has been so mild that I'm not too worried. 

I have to check my books, but I fear I've left it too late to divide any peonies, so they'll have to stay put for another year too.

Very sadly we have lost this wonderful rambling rose, I planted a replacement nearby at the beginning of the winter, we shall see how that gets on. 

Of course some perennials are a bit too sure of themselves and can easily get out of hand, like the purple flowering sage in the potager;

others are real show-offs, like these perennial poppies; they brag and stand straight as possible, willing to do anything to draw attention to themselves, blissfully unaware that they'll soon die back and leave a space for someone else to move into.

... and do I have a favourite?  well , I try not to let it show, but against our old walls I do love the towering spikes of the delphiniums and foxgloves.  Every year I sow and plant a few more, no doubt this year I'll do the same .... and dream a little longer .....

Hope your week is going well, and you're finding time to dream a little too!

french sunflowers

Normandy is not traditional sunflower country, but the warm summers over the past few years have made local farmers feel brave and we can now enjoy fields of these generous blooms.  Not being abig fan of yellow, I can't say they are my all time favourite flower, but there is something startling in their sheer size and strength, the patterns in their seed heads and the sea of colour they produce.  What do you think, is it a flower you like to have in your garden?

I'm in love!!

A local farmer has made hay for me - while the sun shone - 

and yesterday I drove to his farm to take a look at the goods! 

This is what we do in the country!!

Totally fell in love with his cottage garden, a riot of colour, 

and happy vegetables.  He looked fit to burst with pride 

when I shyly asked if I could take photos.  Aren't you glad I did?!