Summer Gardens - Giverny ou Parc de Bagatelle

A few years ago I was blessed to be able to visit Paris in June. 

 

We normally plan our international trips in spring or fall to take advantage of travel sales but we really lucked out for this one - I won an all-expense paid trip!   In planning this Paris visit I wanted to take full advantage of seeing some of the gardens in full bloom so of course one of my first stops (after Musée Rodin) was Giverny.   I just couldn't wait to see the garden so we hopped the train and headed north.   We stood in line and waded through the crowds to see the house and the garden.  

 After seeing it all and spending the day, I decided the poppies were the one thing I enjoyed the most.  They were everywhere.   On the inside I felt a bit disappointed and I could hear Peggy Lee singing, "Is That All There Is?"   

The next day a good friend who lived in Paris suggested we take a half a day to enjoy his favorite park, Parc de Bagatelle and I was so glad we did.  If you are going to Paris during the blooming season and you haven't visited before, you might like visiting Parc de Bagatelle.  Here are some photos to inspire you (by the way, there won't be a crowd, unless you count the peacocks-they seemed to be everywhere). I developed the film into slides so apologies in advance for the tint in the scans.  The first rose competition that was ever held, was held at PB and the international competition for new roses is still held here each year in June.   The history of this garden (or should I say gardens because it's huge) is fascinating so you might want to click here to learn more http://www.discoverfrance.net/France/Paris/Parks_Gardens/Bagatelle.shtml

Natures Patterns

Nikon F801s, Nikon 50mm F1.8D, Ilford XP2 Super 400 C41 process B&W film. Scanned on a CanoScan 5600F. Edited with the GIMP.

Slowly Drowning In A Sea Of Red Berrries

X IS FOR?


EXTRAORDINARY!

Yes I know that I am cheating again when it comes to x but try as I might I could not come up with the genuine article.

Last year I diligently planted some innocuous little strawberry runners kindly given to me by my allotment neighbours. This month we have been eating these delicious berries until they are coming out of our ears ~ what an extraordinary harvest it has been. They have been eaten at almost every meal it seems and passed along to neighbours and friends. Still they keep coming and coming, although I think that production and therefore consumption have now peaked. I have been scouring my cookery books and the internet for recipe suggestions other than the inevitable strawberry jam and strawberry ice cream. I am particularly tempted by Patient Gardener's post featuring a most delicious looking strawberry pavlova - oh get thee behind me temptation!

You will find more on the letter X over at ABC Wednesday kindly hosted each week by Denise Nesbitt.

Donuts anyone?

It just grabbed me.

Some more of the work of Steven Gambrel

for your viewing pleasure…

Have a happy day.

Oh... you have a little smudge of chocolate on your cheek.

yep…right there.

you got it.

Atlanta Bloggers Get Together Again

The past few work weeks have been insanely busy but I was determined to make the Atlanta bloggers tea that was held last Friday.  It was great to take some time off to join other bloggers in Atlanta for lunch, great conversation and some shopping!   Stop in to visit Sue at Rue Mouffetard to see the pictures from our time together.  Sue organized the event and what an organizer she is!  Hats were optional but Sue donned a hat that suited her sundress perfectly. 

 
Over lunch we held a white elephant gift swap and I was so lucky.  I selected the gift that Rose from Wonders of Life brought and it just happened to be 2 beautiful doilies hand made by her mother!!!    Just can't wait for the next outing!

537

Nikon F801s, Nikon 50mm F1.8D, heavily expired but frozen for years Kodak Ektachrome EPR 64 ISO film.  Scanned on a CanoScan 5600F. Edited, and desaturated, with the GIMP.

A Soft Spot

Are there any plants in your garden that you have a soft spot for? In my case this philadelphus is one of them. It was one of the first shrubs that we planted in the garden and has been a sad victim of my lack of discipline when it comes to pruning. It has now reached a substantial height but it is oh so gangly and leggy. Although its flowering period is so brief, when it is covered with a cloud of midummer scent it is definitely worth tolerating its rather drab foliage for the rest of the year. Note to self ~ think about planting either a late or early flowering clematis to climb up it which will perhaps hide some of the limbs ~ maybe even both? Any other suggestions would be welcome.

537 (with graffiti)

Nikon F801s, Nikon 50mm F1.8D, heavily expired but frozen for years Kodak Ektachrome EPR 64 ISO film.  Scanned on a CanoScan 5600F. Edited with the GIMP.

Old Kitchen

Taken at the Fort Klapperkop Museum in Pretoria, South Africa.

Nikon F801s, Nikon 50mm F1.8D, heavily expired but frozen for years Kodak Ektachrome EPR 64 ISO film. Sigma EF 500 flash hand held to my left on a Nikon flash extension cord. Scanned on a CanoScan 5600F. Edited with the GIMP.

Old Bottles

Taken at the Fort Klapperkop Museum in Pretoria, South Africa.

Nikon F801s, Nikon 50mm F1.8D, heavily expired but frozen for years Kodak Ektachrome EPR 64 ISO film. Sigma EF 500 flash hand held to my left on a Nikon flash extension cord. Scanned on a CanoScan 5600F. Edited with the GIMP.

Clean and green….

Sustainable + functional + art

= Ducky!

I dig.

A surfboard shower!

Who’d a thunk?

Love these!

Check'em out Here

Will and Jane Fowler…

Too cool.

From Blogging to NY Times!

I've been following My Shabby Streamside Studio for a while and I've enjoyed and been amazed at her work on her studio.  Then all of a sudden she stopped posting and her blog was pulled.   It was odd because a few weeks ago I saw a post about Sandra's studio on Chez Fifi.   Then yesterday I understood why Sandra pulled her site.  Her work and studio was featured in the New York Times!   What a fantastic story and a beautiful cottage!  If you've never visited her blog you are in for a treat.  Please tell Sandra that Jojo sent you.

Red and white toilets on Kodak Ektachrome EPR 64

Nikon F801s, Nikon 50mm F1.8D, heavily expired but frozen for years Kodak Ektachrome EPR 64 ISO film. Scanned on a CanoScan 5600F. Edited with the GIMP. I got given about 30 rolls of this fantastic, historic film.

Daryl - Portrait

Nikon F801s, Nikon 50mm F1.8D, Fuji Superia 200 ISO film. Scanned on a CanoScan 5600F. Edited with the GIMP.

Another Senior Moment

W IS FOR?



WHY DID I THINK IT WAS X THIS WEEK?

I have been wracking my brain all week thinking that we are up to X and was just about to post when I wisely went over to ABC Wednesday! So here is a last minute post - a photo of my variegated weigela which was very floriferous this spring.

Why don't you wander over to ABC Wednesday for more on the letter W?

So…I have some art

maybe too much art.

but…can one have too much art?

and am trying to place it in the newly painted and happy Living room

It’s just that I don’t know what to use…and not to use

So... up went the gallery shelves

just easier for me than a gallery wall…cause it will change. a lot.

Then I found this great brass wall light at

Habitat Homestore

Missing a little knob

So I got online to Neeson…the manf.

and looked this baby up…in hopes of finding a knob

what I did find is that it sells for $900 clams!

It’s all brass…heavy.

I paid 10. Say it with me

Yippppeeee!

This door/art will find a new home in the room maybe on the wall…who knows

It was done by the daughter of a friend

“adore” series.

and it does not look grubby in real life…trust.

I also have a HUGE B&W/sepia horse photo that is being framed

it will go over the little desk and replace what is currently there

I think.

The other side of the room is looking like a gallery

with the work of Ginny Piech Street …quite luminous!

Embrace art….better yet

hang it...give it a real home!

Now back to the hundreds I have laying around waiting for a home.

Join our Cult!

Join the Olympus Trip 35 Cult at my new blog here: Olympus Trip 35 Cult!

You can have your own Olympus Trip 35 photos published on the cult blog as well!

It's the Porch Party

Come on up to the front porch!

I hope you will spend a little time just enjoying some time on the swing and taking in the view.

We've been repainting and adding a few architectural details.

And nothing like recycling some old balustrade to make a side table.

Add some art by Christine Sibley

A window box

And friends,  and you've got a PORCH PARTY!

Thanks for stopping by.  Hope you enjoy all the great porches joining Rhodi's Third annual Porch Party!  

Making Babies

Now there's no need to getting the knitting needles out - those of you who have met me know that I am well past childbearing years. The title of this post refers to a most interesting morning I spent towards the end of April at Lodge Lane Nursery, which is my local nursery. The nursery is run by Sue Beesley who won the BBC Gardener Of The Year Competition in 2006. Sue set up the nursery following her competition victory. Adjacent to the nursery is a one and half acre constantly developing cottage garden which opens to the public as a Royal Horticultural Society partner and also under the National Gardens Scheme.



This was the second propagation workshop that I have attended at the nursery. They run three times a year and emphasis varies according to the time of year. The morning started with a chat from Sue about propagation which touched upon not only seed sowing but other techniques including division, basal and stem cuttings and other weird and wonderful ways by which plants reproduce themselves. I liked Sue's advice that if you look carefully at the plants they will tell you what you need to do to propagate them. During this session I decided that my method of dividing plants needs some rethinking after all these years. Sue laid down plants on their side before dividing them which makes it a lot easier than my diving in from the top technique.




After a coffee break and cake we headed out for a quick tour of the nursery's propagating area including the greenhouse where we saw Sue's homemade sand bench. Then time for some hands on stuff in the potting shed where we were able to put the morning's techniques into practise on some plant material. I am unable to lay my hands on my notes at the moment but I am fairly sure that Sue's mix was peat free compost, horticultural sand and vermiculite or perlite. Once we had performed surgery on our victims we watered and labelled them. Those that needed it went into plastic bags with an elastic band secured round them before we took them home. Sue also demonstrated the RHS recommended method of filling a seed tray prior to sowing. Needless to say if I had not been following this method and will probably continue my bad habits. Before the morning finished we had a guided tour of the garden stopping to look at various plants and methods of propagating them.





You can see some of the fruits of my labour above - potentilla atrosanguinea, nepeta 'Six Hills Giant', anthemis 'E.C.Buxton' and a leucanthemum whose label had gone awol. I am pleased to say that nearly two months later they are still alive and now putting on new growth almost before my eyes. All in all a most inspiring, informative and enjoyable morning. I returned to the nursery last week for another workshop - more on that very soon.

Finishing the Livingroom/foyer today. Meanwhile…

A certain someone

Has decided that he is indeed from the zebra tribe

and maybe the king

of said tribe

I cannot put this rug down anywhere…

without him claiming it.

You can see I’m moving at such a stellar pace…I have not done a thing

with the door/window paint or not paint issue.

and…yes… that would be a drop cloth on the desk…still a work in progress. oy.

I’m finishing it all today. More pic’s to come.

promise. { ish.}

Happy Father’s Day to my hus… a true king of men…

and all Dad’s. You rock.

and…could’ja move the Piano for me? someone???

pretty please cherry on top?