Chateau de la Brosse

We arrived on bicycles and wandered round the chateau in a clockwise direction.

Then to the garden having already spoken to the new proprietor, an American  who fluent in French bought the house from his deceased English friend's brother.  Chickens and geese were in a fine pouallerie.

 Tomatoes.

 Strips of land being ploughed.

 Vines.

 Kiwi plantation.

There were several strips of raised beds or bordered beds with one crop in each.
Their website will explain all as I didn't quite understand the concept when it was discussed.

 A strange little opening in one wall of the chateau.

 A tall thin door nearby.

 Barns and buidings in which was a tea shop.

 Is this an unusual architectural structural joint?

 We cycled away for a distant view from a privet hedge where brown butterflies gathered.

We had to walk home as we foolishly cycled down very grassy tracks which were not really for randonnée or cycling.  The grasses caught in the gears causing damage  - now three cycles need attention!

 A lovely hot hot hot afternoon!

How the garden was

I am proud that the garden has achieved this level because five years ago it was ghastly!
Like this, with a view of the neighbours' only garden and a view from the rear of the garden towards the house.... not a plant in sight! The photos were taken in January 2010.

Not a Show Garden View 4

Paul's Himalayan Musk - this virulent rambler should not be on this pergola I now realise... its scented fairy roses are looking white in the photos but are pink. In a few weeks the blooms will be over. There is a clematis struggling too. The Boxwood border behind the pergola surrounds what was once a herb garden overtaken by Sage.

This is what I call my Aunty Ivy lily...she had lots by her garden and I took a root... and I keep taking a root from wherever it gets established for the next garden ... and so she lives on in my memory.

 A lone rogue poppy seeded itself near the house by the wild spring bulbs sector.

And the Potager  - there are now four quarters and it has taken four years to dig out the sections... and I still have planted half as potatoes! Next year, only one quarter Madame! But it does need manuring!
That pile at the back will go once the tree and wall are attended to and then I think I shall build a proper composting area... and a place to grow courgettes and pumpkins... a wilderness...

Not a Show Garden View 3

My ONE Digitalis Purpurea (Common Foxglove - is there one that isn't common?) has thrived (there used to be some by the stone wall) ... it looks resplendent in front of a movable Van Gogh picture frame. Sometimes called fairy fingers, fairy gloves, fairy bells, floppy dock,  tod-tails!  I would like to see a field of them!

Who nibbled the lower bell?

Beneath the Breezeblock wall is bedrock which I scraped clean five years ago. It was covered in chicken muck, bones, oyster shells, metal nails and things and blue string.  I exposed the rock and scraped out soil and started to plant seeds or sprigs of rockery plants.... some died, some survived. I have been planting 'iris roots'  which have grown abundantly. I can never keep the stems from flopping over.

Unfortunately in this area grow nettles, buttercups, brambles and other wild neighbours!

Above and beyond the wall is wild, wild, really wild orchard land belonging to my neighbour. I absolutely love that she does not tend it.  BUT that acacia tree has to go! It has been pushing the breezeblock wall which is now about to fall over. She says she takes full responsibility. I presume the deed will be done at the end of Autumn! I shall weep for the Acacia, the sky, the land and I don't know how long the roots will take to die.

The tree roots spread into my garden and this is why my potager is drained of nutrients. I let four others grow because they were beautiful when young, their leaves providing visual interest and shade... but have since cut them down. 

Their root system is phenomenal. The wood is very hard. It can be burnt but gives an acrid smell. There are different varieties of Acacia. Lovely in the correct setting! I don't want the tree to come down as it provides a lot of interest for me but the boundary wall has to be rebuilt at one end. I don't wish it to topple on anyone!

Not a Show Garden View 2

The rose/lavender border was measured and dug about four years ago before the lawn took hold and the concept/size has developed over time.  Last Autumn I widened it from 1m but ran out of energy only being able to dig for 30 minutes at a time. I got about 10m along,  so the Italians finished the last 15m length for me1  It is now 1.50cm wide.  BUT I must keep the edges straight!
Nearest the house is Sorrel which I dislike but make myself eat occasionally in an omelette!
This year I managed to find a beautiful rose that I had in the previous garden called Tequila Sunrise, still small but should reach about 1.50cm height and spread.
Then this year I put two Gaillardia plants

before the  David Austen Rose: Benjamin Britten - pink

 after which is a deeper hued David Austin Rose - Chianti  - I adore the rich dusky hue.  In this photo it is looking too bright.

After that are two blue Ceanothus bought at different times. I can't work out if they are the same variety. I know they are too close together so will risk moving them in Autumn. Must dig in old horse manure. Must learn to prune so they get bushy.

Then sandwiched between three (looks like two)  Laurel which E. told me to hard prune or dig out, is a small Choisya being dwarfed by it's neighbours. I intend to move this further up the garden. Waiting for rain to penetrate the soil.

Originally, the three Laurel were the start of a hedging plan when I could not afford to do the 25m length. I wanted to conceal my neighbours.  I realised a fence was required in front of the dwarf stone party wall with a wire fence on top.  I quite like the evergreen element and maybe that is good for birds so these unsightly hedge plants which grow like topsy may have to be constantly pruned into spheres as they are more or less central to the length of this border.  After the Laurel is a series of much smaller roses. I had no idea what to buy! I purchase roses by name, colour and try to get ones that are 'remontante', which flower profusely and repeatedly throughout the spring and summer season!

The first is Peter Beales Shrub rose - Hybrid Musk 1928 - 120cm - Francesca ... my grand daughter's name! Funnily, it is very wayward and straggly! I wonder who the lady was that it was named after! Not my g.d.!

then for my daughter Felicity, Peter Beales Shrub Rose - Hybrid Musk 1928 - 120cm - Felicia neat in the pink when it buds!

Then

Peter Beales Shrub Rose  Hybrid Tea 1984 - 75cm
Remember Me
 yet to bloom and looking poorly

David Austin  Hybrid Tea 80cm  

Freedom - yellow
next to
Peter Beales Floribunda Cluster Rose - 60cm 
Sexy Rexy 

Unknown  name  - maybe better in a pot.

David Austin - Olivia Rose Austin 80cm
pink when it blooms

David Austin Boscobel 80cm
red when it blooms

Unknown name

After that are Buddlieas at the wild end of the border...essential for butterflies. I had a splendid one in the Mediterranean styled courtyard at my old house in England.  The main stem was pruned about two feet of the ground and so every Autumn we pruned it back hard... it was a sheer delight every year!  Before the buddleia is a plant whose name I can't find which has a beautiful scent...flourishes well in French towns and stays flowering for a long time.

and after that is a Lamprocapnos spectabilis or Dicentra ( called also Bleeding heart, Dutchmans breeches, Lyre flower, Lady in a bath!)
Must get photo

About here in the border I abandoned the rose and lavender plan. I squeezed in some wild flower seeds, transplanted self seeded poppies, and homed a rhubarb plant. Also have put some sweetpeas to train up an old wine rack...had to attach string to get them to climb.
Must get photos later.

In front of the roses are different varieties of lavender.   I must take cuttings as evidently one should annually to ensure continuation. Lavender gets straggly and can suddenly die off. As they are at least 4.50e a plant I have to make savings! For two years now I have made lavender bags using the coloured bags for putting wedding almonds in!  A 'no sewing' gift! Everyone loved them and they were easy to post!  French Lavender even though Lavender is English!
END OF GARDEN VIEW 2