The making of a country garden

I believe that we never escape our past.... I grew up in the vineyards region of the South West of France, lived in a big family house with parents,grand parents, uncles and ants and cousins, surrounded by gardens. From a young age, I was always in search of the next adventure, excited by the unknown. My fascination with America became an obsession and indeed this is where my life is, between New york, Connecticut and France. What have I done for the past few years? ... trying to recreate the country garden where I grew up...in a much more modest way though.

" Let us cultivate our garden" Voltaire, Candide

Roses are my passion and I spend a great many hours taking care of them.I have more than 50 different varieties but my favorite are the fragrant antique roses from the old gardens of Isphahan.

The working garden

Relaxing after a hard working day

A dog's rough life

A Bientôt,

Francine

If you would like me to create your personal and ideal home, contact me about our Interior Design Services

The epitome of a country garden

Here in Connecticut, we have been blessed by a sunny beautiful summer. Working in New York during the week, I treasure my week ends and my country garden. So much time is devoted to  planting, feeding, pruning but the rewards are so worth the efforts.
I love a simple country garden filled with flowers, trees, places to day dream, places to sit and read, places to relax on a rainy day, places to entertain, swim and play.
I will share my  ingredients for my ideal country garden.

A place for breakfast

A place to sit

A place to read

A place to nap

A place to lounge

A place for conversation

A place for lunches and dinners

A place to cool off

Old english roses for their perfume

Fresh vegetables

Fresh laundry dried in the sun

Hope you are enjoying a great summer!

Backcountry France: Eyrignac, the Gardens

Hidden in the hills of Perigord, lies a secret garden that epitomizes the art of French Gardens. I have always admired the French tradition of working by hand (my manicure - or rather lack of - would testify to the hours I spend digging and trimming by hand), the precision of pruning, the control over the trees and the plants.


This garden, which has been in the family for more than 500 years, was re-designed in the French manner by the 22nd generation owner, Gilles Sermadiras de Pouzols de Lile. Today his son and his family continue the tradition. The garden was elaborated on the basic elements of French style: lines, vistas and repetition. This gardens use clever tricks and optical illusions for which French gardens have been so famous since the 17th century. The discipline with which this garden is designed exudes a sense of perfection and simple beauty. The palette is restricted to fewer than ten basic species such as boxwood, hornbeams, yews, cypress, apple trees....which give the garden absolute harmony in all subtle gradation of green. 


I hope you enjoy the tour of these 10 acres of impeccable lawns and 9 miles of hedges. On a perfect June day, my parents and I lost ourselves in thoughts and spirit, in awe of the extraordinary creativity of man in arranging God's creations and gifts.

These outbuildings can be rented for a night, a week end, or one may wish to stay forever....

Hornbeam walk

Trimmed apple trees

At the center of this rotunda, an eight pointed star allows one to get one's bearing and each window offers vistas of the field

The owner's residence: Manoir d'Eyrignac

Cottage to rent

The white rose garden

The owner's idyllic pool

vistas...

At the end of the path, an unexpected red chinese chippendale bench

Suggested Books:

Eyrignac: The Gardens  Buy Here

"The garden of the Manoir d'Erignac is the best known garden in the Perigord. Redesigned last century and maintained with rare precision, it represents the archetype of French formal gardens, but on human scale. At Eyrignac, they aim for simple shapes-and absolute perfection!"

French Garden Style - Georges Levecque  Buy Here




The French Garden - Jean Pierre Babelon Buy Here