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 “Start where you are. Use what you have.Do what you can.”
“If it’s hot, it’s hot. If it’s dry, it’s dry. If it’s raining, it’s good.”
Happiness reigns because it is raining at last in the garden and the topic on everyone's lips in the country this week will be "How much rain did you get?" Unseasonal rain sounds like music. There's no angst about it because crops are harvested, so it's all about filling water tanks and dams or watering … Continue reading “If it’s hot, it’s hot. If it’s dry, it’s dry. If it’s raining, it’s good.”
A Country Garden
“In all the recipes for happiness I have ever seen, ‘something to look forward to’ has been given as an important ingredient. Something to look forward to! How rich the gardener, any gardener, is in this particular integrant! For always he [or she] looks forward to something, if it is only the appearance of the … Continue reading A Country Garden
“There are always flowers for those who want to see them”
Winter has struggled to take a firm hold this year. The usual severity of the white, crisp frost has been light around the garden this winter ( so far) The cold nights and early morning chill is followed by the warmth of bright sunshine on most days. If no sun then welcome rain has fallen, … Continue reading “There are always flowers for those who want to see them”
Carla Fineschi Rose Garden
“But he that dares not grasp the thorn, should never crave the rose” Ann Bronte Our long-awaited day to visit the Rosa Botanica -Carla Fineschi Gardens in Cavriglia Italy, an hour south of Florence, arrived. (Visited May 29th, 2019). We were met by a lovely Italian woman sitting in an old garden shed out of the rain … Continue reading Carla Fineschi Rose Garden
“I’ve always felt that having a garden is like having a good and loyal friend. ”
I love inspiring quotes. At times I'll come across a quote that rings so true to me, and is exactly the sentiment I had thought of but not quite been able to express. This quote by garden author C Z Guest says it all, and in a similar vein to columnist and landscape designer Ann … Continue reading “I’ve always felt that having a garden is like having a good and loyal friend. ”
The Joy of a Well Designed Garden
“Art is the unceasing effort to compete with the beauty of flowers — and never succeeding.” Marc Chagall, 1887-1985 Think like an artist when designing a garden and use the basic design elements such as colour, line, texture, form and scale to help create a garden that looks and feels appealing and is a joy … Continue reading The Joy of a Well Designed Garden
“Life is itself a school, and nature always a fresh study.”
It's pretty tough in the garden sometimes even though Spring's colour and fragrance have replaced the cold and frosty days of winter. We have experienced extreme weather this Spring with long days of high winds, heat and dust storms that have created havoc. Many plants are struggling from wind damage and the ground, despite my … Continue reading “Life is itself a school, and nature always a fresh study.”
As rosemary is to the spirit, so lavender is to the soul”
“The air was fragrant with a thousand aromatic herbs, with fields of lavender, and with the brightest roses blushing in tufts all over the meadows.” William C Bryant Lavender blooming at Bona Vista 2019. Header Image is a view through the lavender hedge in the Luberon France 2019. I love growing lavender in the garden. … Continue reading As rosemary is to the spirit, so lavender is to the soul”
Gardens to visit- Al ru farm
“Gardening is the art that uses flowers and plants as paint, and the soil and sky as canvas.” -Elizabeth Murray If you love Gardens then Al ru Farm at One Tree Hill in South Australia is a must visit. The property is owned by Ruth and Alan Irving since 1979. It is a working farm and … Continue reading Gardens to visit- Al ru farm
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
Gardens by the Bay
Singapore is a destination well worth a visit just to see The Gardens By The Bay. The gardens showcase plants and flowers from across the world. Singaporeans are proud of their gardens which are a fantastic drawcard for tourism but also for education and aim to be a model for sustainable development and conservation. Their … Continue reading Gardens by the Bay
Jardin Majorelle, Gueliz Morocco
“For many years, the Jardin Majorelle has provided me with an endless source of inspiration, and I have often dreamt of its unique colours.”Yves Saint Laurent Sometimes when travelling out of the blue one can find hidden gems that you may not have been aware of at all but end up being the highlight of … Continue reading Jardin Majorelle, Gueliz Morocco
