This was one of the first gardens that I visited in France. My first trips took me to the Loire Valley, along with many other visitors to the chateaux that dot the country and line its rivers. Although I’ve visited many other gardens in France with more horticultural interest, this is still a place where I return when I can. It has heart.
For one thing, it has a lovely vegetable garden, which is not well visited, btw. If you look carefully, you may find artifacts of intensive gardening, for which the French deserve so much credit. Many of my pictures were taken there, including the rampant flowers. Probably for cutting. Crafty products and flower arrangements are sold on the property. The Orangerie Restaurant is conveniently located near to the food gardens and I’ve enjoyed several really great meals on the patio, looking out over the lawns.
Another reason I may be soft on this place is the influence of women. There are many other sources for its history but all of them agree about the powerful and influential women who held and nurtured the buildings and gardens.
Note the pictures of the knot garden. The knots appeared to be lavender, cut close. That part of the garden was dressed in white that visit, with climbing white roses around the walls.
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