Dahlia Love – Amour de dahlias

Today we cycled to Château de Chaumont and I couldn’t wait to see the dahlia beds. My favourite is still crème de cassis. My own dahlias, after succumbing to slugs when I replanted them are finally producing some flowers. Aujourd’hui nous sommes allés au château de Chaumont en vélo et j’avais hâte de voir les …

Through Another Archway – A travers une autre arche

I had to get my feet wet to see this chateau built in the 16th and 17th centuries – we had to ford a small stream on our bikes. I should have taken my sandals off first. I don’t understand why Jean Michel came through practically dry. J’ai dû me mouiller les pieds pour voir …

Château de l’Islette

And the winner is Kees from The Netherlands followed by Timothy from Australia! This little-known château opened to the public in 2010 is just down the road from Azay-le-Rideau, one of my favourites. It’s construction was completed in 1530. Camille Claudel and Rodin stayed there several times around 1890 and there are many letters and …

Gone to Seed – Montée en graines

I try to eat my lettuces before they reach such heights but I don’t have as many. Now that we go slug hunting twice a day, the population has diminished considerably and even my dahlias, which I dug up and repotted after they were totally stripped of their leaves, are reviving. J’essaie de manger mes …

Water lilies – Nénuphars

We cycled to Château de Chaumont this morning and I took this photo of my favourite pond. By the time we left at midday, the crowds had started to arrive. The gardens at Chaumont are one of my main sources of inspiration but they don’t seem to have slugs. Our main after-dinner activity at the …