Quite outside the turmoil of the 21st Century, is a place still redolent of the Beau Monde. Grace, charm, beauty, paintings, books and above all, continuity. A garden made over the last 100…
There is not a more exotic garden in Europe than Val Rahmeh. As you walk into the garden past the ancient palms you can be in no doubt of this. It is now…
La Serre de la Madone is the garden made in the South of France by Lawrence Johnson of Hidcote fame. I knew of the existence of this garden many years ago and first…
Thank you Monty Don, for making me aware of this garden. Only a relatively short distance away from where I live in France, this extraordinary garden is really unlike any other. Made as…
I went to this garden at the end of August because I had been told it was a garden of grasses. But it is much more than that – it is the most…
Magical, iconic chateau spanning the river Cher The main purpose of going to Chenonceau was to see Diane de Poitiers garden. However, despite the house having a marvellous collection of original drawings, engravings…
Set deep in rural France, Prieuré d’ Orsan is a bastion of restrained good taste, immaculate lawned areas are contained by perfect hedges. Within this framework its planting comprises almost entirely of trained…
I have a great respect for Gilles Clement and have long admired his work. So I made a specific effort to visit Beauregard to see the garden he made in the old kitchen…
The International Garden Festival at Chaumont always provides food for thought. The theme this year was ‘Gardens for the Century to Come’ which I thought was interpreted with more received wisdom than imagination…