Le Jardin Extraordinaire

.....that's the name of a favorite song, sung by Charles Trenet that played on the Home Page of SabletHome.com for some time.

It will come as no surprise then, that our courtyard garden at Maison des Pelerins is a place that we spend a lot of very happy hours.  From breakfast on a cool crisp morning by the fountain to lunch under the cool shade of the large umbrella on a hot summer's day -  let's not forget an early evening aperitif as the sun sets and then dinner in the light of the old church steeple until the last bells chime at 10pm. 

 

I just love "pottering" around the garden, trimming here and there, cutting the dead flowers, tying back the wisteria vines, training the bright orange Bower Vine on the wall around the fountain and making sure the herbs are "happy".

Here is a little pictorial "Sablet - Provence garden tour" that I hope you will enjoy.


                                
                                 

The back wall of our courtyard is also the back wall of the old Church of St. Nazaire .........  Wisteria and Roses climb - on the wall and  around the windows. On warm days, when a window is open, we can sometimes hear the sweet sound of the children singing at their Catechism class.

From late Spring to late Summer, Hollyhocks pop up in different spaces all around the garden ..... wherever the wind has blown the seeds .... they happily stand up, their faces smiling to welcome visitors .....              

What is this creature???? No it is not the escaped Monster from the Ouveze River!! During Winter 2009/2010 we had a  heavy snowfall and were very sad to lose the old, old Rosemary bush that had grown near the front door of Maison des Pelerins for a long time.  Our thoughtful gardener saved the root and the large ball at the base of the trunk, which now decorates the base of the Olive tree!

 

Monsuieur Lyon (the old cast iron fontain)...... roses climbing agianst the old stone wall


                                 
                             

                                       Anyone for Dinner?


                                
                            
Potted Geraniums - a must in any French Garden ....... Spring blooming Lilac ..... Wisteria vines....Oleander ....... Lavender ...... Herbs - Bay Laurel - Sage - Thyme - Mint - Rosemary - Tarragon - Basil (of course!) - Chives - Parsley (in season) ...... 
a welcoming Provencal Cypress Tree       ..............

C'est,  Mon Jardin ....... Extraordinaire ......