The Potting Shed

Peonies in front of the neighbours potting shed. Does the lintle look a little tipsy to you?

Up At The Villa

I hereby bequeath to the Institut de France, for the Academie des Beaux-Arts, the Villa Ile de France, in Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, together with all the works of art and furniture, and the gardens surrounding the villa, for the purposes of creating a museum...To this new museum, I bequeath all my works of art, whether in Paris, 19 Avenue Foch or in the Villa Soleil and the Villa Rose de France in Monte Carlo: paintings, furniture, porcelain, tapestry, etc. it is my wish that as much as possible the museum keeps its current appearance as a salon, and that the valuable pieces are kept behind glass.

A Clause from Beatrice de Ephrussis will.

Young Beatrice

Visiting the Ephrussi de Rothschild Villa and gardens is almost a spiritual experience, you feel like a privileged guest, free to roam round the magnificent house and gardens, whilst your hostess, Beatrice has popped out on an errand...

There are nine gardens in all and they all flow into each other, it's like walking through a series of magical outdoor rooms...

 

 Spanish Garden

Florentine Garden

Views on all sides of the Cote d'Azur and neighbouring Villas
 

 The Stone Garden

 Beautiful stepped passages

Japanese Garden

 View through the Bamboo in the exotic garden

Rose Garden

View From the Provencal Garden

 The Temple of Love

 View from the Temple of Love

 View of the Villa and the French Garden

If this has whetted your appetite, you can read the fascinating story of Beatrice and the Villa Eprhussi de Rothschild, here

Visit the website here

Up At The...Shhh, More Soon!

Wishing You all a Wonderful Weekend.
XXX

When The Jasmine Is High

The Jasmine is out out the moment it is glorious, I love it and have planted lots of evergreen and deciduous varieties in my garden.  The flowers light up at dusk and look like thousands of little stars and the fragrance just wafts all over the garden, with the windows open it is permeating the house.  I have been languid every afternoon as I lie on a chaise longue, watching Wimbledon, I get sudden bursts of it's beautiful fragrance and in the late evening, outside, draining the last of a fine bottle, with friends, the fragrance is still working it's magic on all our senses.

In Persian Jasmine means "Gift From God", enjoying it as I am at the moment it truly is.

Chelsea Flower Show And The White Garden

The Chelsea Flower show In London will be on later this month, I will be glued to the television coverage.  Particular favourites are the big show gardens and the courtyard gardens.  Not to mention all the wonderful plants and flowers on display.

As I post this, designers, plants men, set builders and organisers will be at Chelsea preparing the thousands of exhibits that will be on show.

Every year one colour comes out on top, I wonder which colour it will be this year?

In honour of the impending show I have posted some photos of plants in our garden, I love this time of year, everything is white......

Clematis Montana sprawling over a fence

Pyracantha I love it just before it blossoms, It has clouds of fluffy white buds, and in Autumn it is covered in clusters of beautiful red berries

Spirea, elegantly drooping

White Wisteria, it smells divine

The lovely white pom poms of Boules de Neige

Pretty white Erigeron, the daisy like flowers

start to turn a shade of deep pink as Summer progresses

A Lone Lilly of the valley hiding in the Ivy

Philadelphus also known as Mock Orange, on warm evenings it's beautiful orange blossom fragrance can be detected some distance away