Plaza de Geronimo Paez is one of the most picturesque squares in the historic center of Cordoba Spain. Palm trees, bougainvilleas, citrus trees, fountains, and lovely floor designs, make it one of the most pleasant squares to enjoy an afternoon drink at one of the cafes and to people watch. The Archeology Museum is also located here.
This church is at the center of the village square in Crozon, Brittany. It has a small front garden planted with a lush mix of annuals and perennials, including banana trees, brugmansias, lion’s ear, papyrus, erigeron for ground cover, and black eyed susans.
The back of the church is flowered with hydrangeas and mixed arrangements of blooming plants.
This Cordoba patio stands out even in a city where lovely patios and courtyards are the norm rather than the exception. In an old building now used as offices for local government, the mezzanines have been glasses in all around to preserve the views while offering protection from the elements. Note the lovely pebble patio design typically found throughout Andalusia.
The School of Applied Art in Cordoba, Spain, is perhaps best known for famed Spanish artist Angel Lopez Obrero. He was born in Cordoba, and after some time living in Barcelona he returned to his hometown and taught at the School of Applied Arts there. The school, housed in an old building in one of Cordoba’s historic neighborhoods, also has some stunning stained glass. And of course, a lovely walled-in sculpture garden.
Next in my series of posts on French landscaped roundabouts, is this very elegantly landscaped one in Locronan, Brittany. Round shaped boxwoods, bonsai shaped trees, topiaries and assorted evergreens give it year round beauty, while hydrangeas which have a long blooming season in Brittany) add some color.
The Royal Palace in Madrid, or Palacio Real, is Madrid’s largest building and the official residence of the royal family, although only really used for state occasions. It is adjacent to the beautiful Plaza de Oriente, and surrounded by the formally landscaped Sabatini and Campo del Moro parks. Wide alleys lead to the Palace, with round topiaries and satues punctuating the side alleys and borders.
As small towns and villages throughout Brittany and the rest of France try to outdo one another with their floral displays, they put out some stunning and lush container plantings, full of great ideas for inspiration!
The Buen Retiro Park, or just Retiro as it is known, is one of the largest parks in Madrid. Located in the heart of Madrid near the Prado museum, it is the most emblematic of Madrid parks, with a rose garden, formal gardens, a man made lake, statuaries and much more; and of course the fantastic crystal palace now used as a venue for art events. It is a landmark of Madrid and worth reading more about, here is the Wikipedia link.
Next in my series of posts on French landscaped roundabouts, is this very unusual island themed roundabout in Brittany. I never cease to be impressed not only by the amount of work involved, but the sheer ingenuity that goes into the design and landscaping of roundabouts in France.
Each section of this roundabout garden makes an individual vignette to be seen depending on the road entering the intersection: underwater scene with fish and coral, beach loungers, tikki roofs and hammock, or boats. And all of it lushly landscaped in a wide array of mixed perennials that thrive in the climate of the region.
This lovely stone cottage is typical of the architecture of the older houses in northern Brittany. Situated in a small coastal fishing village, this front garden is filled with a variety of roses, from shrub roses to climbing roses on trellises and arbors, in shades of pink, red and white.
Globetrotting Gardener 