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The Garden Gems of Picardy
If there’s one area where British and French thinking comes together, it’s on the importance of the garden. And, although there’s some divergence on the need for order and the role of the vegetable, passionate French gardeners are beginning to embrace the qualities of the traditional English country garden.
Three gardens in Picardy, all open to the public, are glorious examples of the trend towards displaying nature in a gentler, less formal form.
Les Jardins de Valloires.
Designed by Gilles Clément, one of the best-
One of the most popular features is an avenue of Mount Fuji flowering cherry trees. It’s so popular that, according to Vincent Delaitre (who runs the garden and is a serious admirer of English planting): “People call us from all over Europe asking if the cherry blossom has arrived in case they miss it.” Advance notice is now posted on the garden’s website.
Open every day from 10 March to 11 November, 10.00 – 18.00. www.jardinsdevalloires.com
Les Jardins du Château de Maizicourt
Located not far from Abbeville, this 20 acre garden is in the grounds of a small
18th century château owned by the Guevenoux family. Catherine Guevenoux, the award-
Mme Guevenoux admires both English horticultural style and attitude, reflected in
beds of hollyhocks, foxgloves and astilbe against evergreen shrubs. A variety of
themed areas such as an apple orchard, a walled pond garden, a maze and a Japanese
garden are enclosed by avenues of trees and shrubbery. Fountains, pools and gazebos
dot the landscape. Drawing inspiration from Monet – ‘my finest painting is my garden’
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Open 1 April to 30 October, Monday to Wednesday, 14.00 – 18.00. www.jardinsdemaizicourt.com
Jardin à Fleur d’O
This five acre garden has, at its heart, a large lake surrounded by perennials, shrubs and trees. Odile Hennesbert’s English inspiration shows in the huge variety of species together in unusual combinations, and the mix of wild flowers and native shrubs.
South American and Far Eastern varieties are also nursed through the northern French winters – a trial for Mme Hennesbert, who comes from the Loire. She believes that gardens aren’t just for summer and her solution is a wide range of grasses, shrubs and trees that provide colour over autumn and winter.
The garden, at Davenescourt, near St Quentin, also includes Mme Hennesbert’s vegetable and herb garden (with more than 50 species of mint).
Open 15 April to 31 October, 14.00 – 19.00. http://jardinfleurdo.free.fr
Located not far from Abbeville, this 20 acre garden is in the grounds of a small 18th century château owned by the Guevenoux family. Catherine Guevenoux, the award-
Mme Guevenoux admires both English horticultural style and attitude, reflected in beds of hollyhocks, foxgloves and astilbe against evergreen shrubs. A variety of themed areas such as an apple orchard, a walled pond garden, a maze and a Japanese garden are enclosed by avenues of trees and shrubbery. Fountains, pools and gazebos dot the landscape. Drawing inspiration from Monet – ‘my finest painting is my garden’ -
Open 1 April to 30 October, Monday to Wednesday, 14.00 – 18.00. www.jardinsdemaizicourt.com
Jardin à Fleur d’O
This five acre garden has, at its heart, a large lake surrounded by perennials, shrubs and trees. Odile Hennesbert’s English inspiration shows in the huge variety of species together in unusual combinations, and the mix of wild flowers and native shrubs.
South American and Far Eastern varieties are also nursed through the northern French winters – a trial for Mme Hennesbert, who comes from the Loire. She believes that gardens aren’t just for summer and her solution is a wide range of grasses, shrubs and trees that provide colour over autumn and winter.
The garden, at Davenescourt, near St Quentin, also includes Mme Hennesbert’s vegetable and herb garden (with more than 50 species of mint).
Open 15 April to 31 October, 14.00 – 19.00. http://jardinfleurdo.free.fr
