Category: Gardens in France

It is the new year – Bonne année to all! – and the perfect moment to put France on the calendar. I invite you to join me and Garden Specialist Jane Holahan for this year’s very special trip to the Loire Valley and Paris from June 7 to 14, 2013. It is one of French Affaires’…

In France, the word “château” conjures up visions of large stone castles with turrets located out in the countryside. (By contrast, a ‘château-like’ building in a city such as Paris is known as a palais, or palace.) These grand château residences all over France often have deep historical roots tied to the nobility or high…

The French love squash, both in the garden and on the table. And fall is the season when all sorts of colorful winter courges start to appear. This month, our French Affaires’ fall trip-goers were treated to a cornucopia of beautiful squash in ‘pumpkin patches’ around the Loire Valley. At the Château de Villandry, the…

It is lavender time in Provence. At last. Southern French fields and gardens explode with the fragrant flower beginning mid to late June. Then the vibrant violet blooms color the landscape for a few weeks – or until they are picked. Lavender has a good history. The Romans used it to keep linens fresh and…

I often get asked about my favorite places to go in France. With the amazing variety of options the country offers, that is indeed a tough question! In fact, it is said that in France the landscape and cultural character of the place changes every 30 kilometers. For a country about the size of Texas,…

Space comes at a premium in France. There are 64 million people in a geography that is smaller than Texas.     What does that mean? Real estate is high, i.e. apartments and houses are small (in relation to the U.S.). In addition, “renting” a seat at a cafe in France does not come cheap, i.e….

Wherever I am in France, I never pass up the chance to visit a garden. Even in winter, I find French landscapes and gardenscapes enchanting and intriguing on many levels. The Sunday after Christmas, I set out to experience the gardens of the Manoir d’Eyrignac (Eyrignac Manor) which boasts of le plus beau jardin du…