All posts by Globetrotting Gardener

Nantes “Jardin des Plantes” Part 3: the Botanical Gardens

October 10, 2014 Globetrotting Gardener 1 Comment

My first post on the Jardin des Plantes in Nantes was about the hothouses and scientific garden, the second one was on the art and statuary, this one focuses on the theme gardens and plantings.

Meandering through the park, from the scientific garden, I first came across the shade garden, ferns and hostas surrounded by an amazing variety of evergreen shrubs and trees.

The theme garden “the Mountain” is inspired by 19th century gardens such as Kew garden in England, and was installed in 1847 by the then director of the Jardin des Plantes. A labyrinth of plantings guides a circular ascension to the top and a lookout point to the Loire river.

Water features dot the park.

Thousand of annuals, perennials and shrubs create lush borders year round. Photos below show just a small sampling and include gunnera, pennisetum, gingko, silk tree, hydrangea borders and mixed borders throughout the park.

Cottage gardens

Fairytale Cottage Rose Garden in France

October 7, 2014 Globetrotting Gardener 1 Comment

Climbing roses and purple clematis cover the arch at the entrance to this stone cottage straight out of a fairy tale in a small fishing village of northern Brittany, France. More climbing roses cover the front of the house, although they have finished blooming for the summer, and yet more roses, old fashioned knockout roses, cover the hedge. Hydrangeas flourish in the shade of the side wall.

The photos above were taken in August. The ones below were taken in September when the roses were reblooming in a stunning display of color!

Cottage gardens

Roscanvel, Brittany Garden with Outdoor Fireplace

October 3, 2014 Globetrotting Gardener Leave a comment

This is a very traditional French country cottage garden with such features as climbing roses trellised over the hedge, hydrangea borders, mixed perennial borders, a collection of potted floral arrangements throughout the garden, and a brick outdoor fireplace.

Theme gardens

French Wash House Basin Converted into Aquatic Garden

October 1, 2014 Globetrotting Gardener Leave a comment

As already mentioned in one of my previous posts, every French village had one or more communal wash houses, many of them just a fountain filling a basin to wash clothes in.

This one on the edge of the village of Roscanvel has been converted into a lovely aquatic garden basin with papyrus and other aquatic plants, and assorting plantings of ferns, erigeron … around it.

Cottage gardens, Kitchen gardens

A Seaside Kitchen Garden with Raised Beds

September 26, 2014 Globetrotting Gardener Leave a comment

I happened upon this lovely seaside garden in the village of Roscanvel. The plants and flowers in the raised beds are all carefully labeled. The beds are arranged in a grid pattern with grapevines and apple trees growing along the back wall. When the vegetables in a raised bed have been harvested, wildflowers are planted as cover crops. The ocean view of course is beautiful!

Botanical gardens

Nantes “Jardin des Plantes” Part 2: Art at the Botanical Gardens

September 23, 2014 Globetrotting Gardener 1 Comment

My first post on the Jardin des Plantes in Nantes was about the hothouses and scientific garden, this one focuses on the art installations and statues.

Art ranges from classic to modern with planted “totems” and an installation by Claude Ponti. Also dotting the park are other features, some quirky, such as a bird house, wavy benches, or a lookout point with a frame for photo taking.

Not only are the planting stunning, but this garden offers unexpected and delightful surprises at every turn.

Cottage gardens

A Narrow Orchard Garden Overlooking the Ocean

September 19, 2014 Globetrotting Gardener Leave a comment

If I had visited this garden somewhere in the countryside, I would merely have thought it was a pretty garden like many others. What makes this one truly exceptional is its location on the coast of Roscanvel in Bittany. It is on a narrow stretch of land overlooking the ocean and the edge of the garden plunges straight down below to the water.

Some of the plantings include apple and pear trees, a hedge of fuschias (a variety common to this coastal region which is winter hardy there and will grow over six feet tall), blue agapanthus, and oleander. Box hedges on the ocean side open to narrow stairs leading down to the water. Just imagine puttering around the garden in such a setting!

Cottage gardens, Other gardens

Xeriscape Oceanfront Garden in Northern Brittany

September 16, 2014 Globetrotting Gardener Leave a comment

This truly exceptional garden was created in the small village of Roscanvel, in Brittany, overlooking the ocean. It is terraced to accommodate a hilly lot and also affords some protection from the sea spray and wind, and of course winter storms that are commonplace in the region.

A variety of hardy and low maintenance shrubs and evergreens add visual interest with different shapes and foliage colors. A few flowering shrubs and perennials such as pink oleander or lambs ear add touches of color. The grey foliage of the lambs ear by the garden remains when they are finished blooming.

Cottage gardens

A French Wash House and Cottage Garden in Roscanvel

September 12, 2014 Globetrotting Gardener 1 Comment

I came across this lovely cottage garden and old stone wash house or “lavoir” in French in Roscanvel, a small village on the coast of Brittany (I will be posting about other gardens in this area of the coast as well).

This is an example of a very simple wash house with a stone fountain going into a wash basin for women to do their laundry. Similar ones can be found all over French villages.

Note the extremely tall viperine, which in Brittany can grow well over 10 ft tall for some species. The valeriane growing on the side of a wall thrives in the poorest conditions and will not live as long in a garden border and richer soil.

Botanical gardens

Nantes “Jardin des Plantes” Part 1: The Scientific Garden

September 9, 2014 Globetrotting Gardener 2 Comments

The Botanical Gardens (Jardin de Plantes) in Nantes have been awarded the title of “Jardin Remarquable” (garden of exception), and are also one of the four largest in France. They showcase 10,000 species/varieties, 800square meters of hot houses, and over 50,000 flowers are planted each year.

The collections have grown over the past 150 years, and are renowned worldwide, for camellias in particular. The Jardin the Plantes also strives to protect and reintroduce rare plants.

A portion of the Gardens is dedicated to the green houses as well as a showcase for organizing, labeling, and experimenting with many species of plants.

Several greenhouses, both humid and dry, house tropical plants. There is also a conservatory style café and a welcome center.

A lawn arae is divided up to showcase individual flowering plants, all of which are labeled and referenced, lantanas, Buenos aires verbena, geraniums, begonias, etc