If you dream of finding some inspiring gardens, in a beautiful part of the world which you can enjoy with a lovely group of people and leave most of the organising to someone else (apart from booking some accommodation and the transport to France that is)… I think you’ll find that French Gardens Today will be the answer! If you want a totally organised tour they can also cater for this too in association with Cricketer Holidays.
Just over a week ago now, I had the pleasure of working with Clare Whately of French Gardens Today on her new garden tour of some of the most beautiful gardens in northern Brittany. We had a fabulous few days and visted some beautiful gardens - The first was Les Jardins de Kerdalo - created by the late Prince Peter Wolkonsky - and now in the extremely capable and skilled hands of his daughter Isabelle Vaughan and her husband Timothy Vaughan - a truly stunning garden...
The incredible bark of Arbutus andrachnoides 
The interesting trunk of the stunning Exchorda x macrantha "The Bride"
This particular tour is being repeated next year again but in from the 10-11th May 2011, so don't miss out on a real treat. For more information email Clare - mailto:clare@frenchgardenstoday.co.uk.
The next garden we went to was slightly more inland - the Grand Launay - this garden is only open sur rendez vous - a very special garden with some incredible ideas and planting - created by Jean Schalit who has definitely dared to be different - some amazing examples of pruning and topiary too - an inspiration!
A resting place to sit and contemplate and soak in the atmostphere of this special place.
Day 2 of our tour took us up to the coast to one completely private garden which will remain a surprise for any of you booking on the tour in May as the owners would prefer that the garden remain private - a total delight. The other garden which we visited on day 2 was fabulous - and only open on Sunday mornings by prior reservation and is by a guided tour only - The Jardin du Pellinec - the variety of trees and shrubs and perennials is incredible here and especially as this garden was only started just 10 years ago - the setting is very special with views out to sea and you have that sense of being completely cosseted by the rich flora and fauna.
This photo of these beautiful Japanese Anenomes seemed like the fitting photo for the end of this posting!