Jardin
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Parc Monceau: An English Garden in Paris
Today is the day! The first day of the year where the sun’s strength has warmed enough to remove any residual chill in the air and to release a glorious, earthy scent from the garden. Spring has definitely arrived. And it’s the perfect day to take a stroll through a beautiful landscape. So I thought we would pay a visit to another of Paris’ stunning jardins. And you may be surprised to learn that this one, Parc Monceau, is an English garden. A Royal Commission I first approached Parc Monceau from one of the Art Nouveau metro entrances that I love so much. And from the moment I saw its…
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Marie-Antoinette’s Versailles Hamlet
I recently watched Sophia Coppola’s stunning version of the life of Marie-Antoinette, France’s iconic but ill-fated queen. And while enjoying this contemporary trip into a lavish piece of French history, I had the opportunity to envisage how this Austrian-born queen may have spent her time in the garden that she had built as a personal oasis. Marie-Antoinette’s Versailles Hamlet afforded her a humble retreat from the opulence and grandeur of the Versailles Chateau. The Queen’s House I first visited le Hameau de la Reine in the spring of 2016 and I must admit, I was disappointed. For metal scaffolding covered the Queen’s House that I had been so looking forward…
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Allan Gardens Conservatory: A Winter Oasis
As we approach the deep mid-winter, a light flurry of snow is gently falling, adding to the duvet of white already covering the ground. So, I thought I would add some colour to this wintry scene, in hope of brightening the day. And where better to colour our world than in a garden. In this case, I’m retracing my steps of an early April visit to Toronto’s historic Allan Gardens Conservatory. A Winter Oasis Robert McCallum‘s 1910 Edwardian conservatory is the architectural centrepiece of the Allan Gardens park. And on this day, its classically proportioned glass domes stood shining in the sun, in stark contrast to the high rises beyond.…
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The Lavender Labyrinth of Laveanne
In the shadow of Ontario’s mighty Ganaraska forest, lies a magical respite from the hustle and bustle of Toronto. And within it can be found a mystical lavender labyrinth. I’m referring to Laveanne Lavender Fields. I had the good fortune of spending a wonderful afternoon there this week with my dear friend Carla and her pixie of a grandson, Kaiden. Lush Lavender Upon our arrival, we were greeted by row upon row of gorgeous lavender shrubs, each about to reach full bloom – ten thousand of them in all! A Bee Paradise And we weren’t alone. For, happily buzzing among the cerulean blooms were, among other things, an industrious group…
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A Cycling Tour of Giverny: Monet’s Water Lilies
Having finished exploring the colourful mosaic that is Monet’s house, as I shared in A Cycling Tour of Giverny: Monet’s House, it was time to move on to what I consider to be the masterpiece of his Giverny home, the water lilies. A Secret Garden Surprisingly, the gorgeous garden in which they reside is actually hidden from view from his house. For Monet’s property is divided by what was once a raised railway track. In fact, it was while passing through Giverny by train on this berm that he first spotted the property that was to become his home and inspiration. And because this elevation divides the grounds, you must…
