“Nothing is more the child of art than a garden.” 

Claude Monet in his garden Many great painters from the past were also avid gardeners who chose to paint their surroundings and families enjoying the garden. Why not? The garden is so full of colour through the months of spring, summer and autumn, with beautiful spaces to view and capture in paint. At this time… Continue reading “Nothing is more the child of art than a garden.” 

“Turn off the news and get into the garden!”

“We all have an idealised picture of the garden that we have carried around in our heads from the moment it became ours and which, I guess, is never the same as the growing reality. Over the years that the garden is coming into being that image carries you forward and inspires you, but when… Continue reading “Turn off the news and get into the garden!”

Le Pigonnet -A garden where Cezanne wandered…

Le Pigonnet is a beautiful Hotel in Aix en Provence, France, tucked away from the town centre, albeit not far away. Le Pigonnet is from the French word Pigeonniere ( Pigeon House). As you enter along a magnificent tree-lined avenue to view the hotel, you would be surprised by the humble entrance. Le Pigonnet was… Continue reading Le Pigonnet -A garden where Cezanne wandered…

The Garden at Billecart-Salmon

Arriving at BilleCart Salmon in the Champagne -Ardenne region of France, I was in awe of the beautiful à la Française Jardin or The French Garden that surrounded the Champagne House. We were early for our appointment to visit the famous vines of Le Clos Saint-Hilaire, the Chais and anticipated Champagne tasting so, we had… Continue reading The Garden at Billecart-Salmon

The Joy of a Well Designed Garden

Gardens of the Architect

To design gardens that look and feel appealing and are a joy to visit think like an artist and use the basic design elements such as colour, line, texture, form and scale.By using the basic design elements and their combinations will provide the tools to create balance, unity, harmony, transition, repetition, accent and proportion for… Continue reading The Joy of a Well Designed Garden

“Potager or Jardin de Curé.

Why does the vegetable garden need to be a separate garden rather than part of the total garden landscape? With this at the forefront of my mind I'm planning a new garden in the style of a French kitchen garden known as Potager or Jardin de Curé. An old French-inspired graceful garden of herbs, flowers,… Continue reading “Potager or Jardin de Curé.

Jardin Remarquable in Epernay

We must cultivate our garden.”Voltaire - Candide ou l'Optimisme Walking around Epernay along L'Avenue de Champagne we came across the Town Hall that sits within the lush greenery of an enchanting French Garden. It is part of the Remarquable series of gardens that are scattered across the country. As we wandered through the garden we… Continue reading Jardin Remarquable in Epernay