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?!

Spring at my favourite chateau

When I last spoke to you about the Château de Miserey, it was June and Madame de Roumilly's rose collection was in full bloom.  Yesterday I crept into the grounds early to enjoy the first spring flowers.

A few years back the Château was chosen (along with Giverny!) by Dutch bulb producers to receive a gift of almost 30.000 spring bulbs.  Most people would faint at the thought of planting 30.000 anything, but not Madame de Roumilly.  Never short of a good idea, a smile and contagious energy, she enrolled the help of all the pupils in the small village school and planting became their autumn project!

In a property of this size there is always something to be done.  Restoring and maintaining the château has been a labour of love for over half a century.  When Monsieur de Roumilly's father bought Miserey from a local farmer, the main (20' ceiling) salon was used for storing hay, and one of the smaller salons was where they made cider.  The floors were only beaten earth, and most of the windows had long been bricked up.

same shot, different season!

The very first buds on a beautiful white magnolia

and primroses allowed to self seed in gravel (I'm going to copy that one!)

Madame de Roumilly used to be a fine horse woman, this water pump and trough
linked to a well is a reminder of the days when her horses were in the park.

I thought that the gardeners among you would appreciate this 'before and after' of 

a climbing rose, - a lesson in curving branches to maximise blooms!

This summer I will have the pleasure of taking people to visit the rose gardens  of Miserey.  We'll probably bump into the owners, pruning, labelling and generally loving this charming property - just the way they have done all their married life.

jardin de curé

Since this is the time for good intentions, I have started thinking with the very best intentions about my potager this year.

My vegetable garden is not big.  Four squares each measuring 10 foot by 10 foot.  I am notoriously ill disciplined in keeping it perfectly tidy.  My bohemian rhubarb is allowed to flower and my salads rarely grow in straight lines. 

I like the slightly gipsy look to it all, but if I were honest I would admit to longing for the order and calm created in a real jardin de curé (priest's garden)  such as these examples elsewhere in Normandy.

I know many of you have potagers, what do you think are the best ideas for planting?  your favourites? Your tips.

Photos 1;4;5 Google images -  photos 2;3;6 my garden

french brocante tours

Wandering away from the holiday season for a while and thinking aloud about a project I have for next summer.  I'd love to have some input please.  

I'm thinking of offering brocante tours here in Spring and Summer 2011.  Along the lines of long weekends including brocantes, good food and wine, private château and garden visits, country walks, possibly a trip to Giverny.  Never straying further than an hour away from our valley.  Accommodation either in our cottage or in nearby  B&B's in friends' châteaux or country homes.

Of course there are companies out there offering this sort of thing already.  Mine would be low key, small groups, never more than I can drive around in a large car.  Personalised and pampered.

I know I can always count on you for an honest opinion and loads of good ideas, so tell me, what do you think I should be offering?

Thank you so much for your help.

Autumn colours and quince jelly

My friend P, whose house is up for sale, has a cognassier in his garden.  A what?!  .....  a quince tree, a tree to covet if ever there were one.  The quince is elegant, old fashioned, sweet smelling, pretty in flower and über generous in fruit.

I had permission to go up and raid the tree this week, and I took along my camera because the sun was shining and I knew the colours would be worthwhile.

Some people use quinces to perfume their linen cupboards, we prefer the jelly!  A subtle, flowery flavour carried by a beautiful pink jelly.  I'd like to tell you it's really quick and easy to do, but I'd be lying, so instead of sharing the recipe I'll simply share photos of P's garden in autumn, the beautiful quince and a finished pot of jelly.

The first frost -la première gelée

First heavy frost of the season caught us unprepared.  I better spend some extra time this weekend putting the garden to bed for the winter, I thought I still had a week or two .  At least the sedums don't mind the cold, some roses are resisting as well, and the box can take the frost, but my lovely dahlias have admitted defeat and said goodbye until next year.

jardin plume

I have just found a new favourite garden to visit, and as a bonus to it's beauty it's not far from us in Normandy.

Le Jardin Plume is modern and yet romantic.  It plays upon the juxtaposition of shapes and textures.  Clipped box, square parterres, a strict sober right angled pond giving way to foamy grasses, bright colours and a fairly tale potager.

 The garden was created twelve years ago in a Normandy orchard, by a husband and wife team, Sylvie and Patrick Quibel.  Today it is held up as a shining example of creative and original garden design.  Soon it will be copied, now is the time to see it!

 If you come to Paris, you could rent a car and drive out to Jardin Plume.  It would take about 90 minutes.  Alternatively you could come and have lunch with me, then we could go together!

If you don't get to visit,  I warmly recommend a stroll around their website where there are many more beautiful pictures, or asking Father Christmas to put this lovely book into your stocking!