Explore the beautiful gardens of the Poitou-Charentes with 'Rendez-vous aux Jardins’ - June 4, 5 & 6, 2010
The first time I attended an open garden weekend I saw my very first bluebell wood and was so inspired by the elegant branches of the viburnum plicatum, heavy with beautiful plate like creamy flowers, that I went out and bought one myself. Now, three years on, it looks every bit as beautiful in my garden as I hoped it would be.
So if you’re in need of some green-fingered inspiration or simply like wandering around beautiful gardens then this weekend’s ‘Rendez-vous aux Jardins’ event is just the thing.
Now in its eighth year, the national event on June 4, 5 and 6, sees 164 gardens opening to the public in the Poitou-Charentes, many of them doing so for the first time, or once again only for this weekend. These range from the grand gardens of fine chateaux to those of keen amateur gardeners; the latter may be smaller but they can be every bit as inspirational. About half of those opening will be free – those that do charge tend to keep the sum asked for fairly small.
This year there will be 32 gardens open to the public for the first time. Among them will be the garden at Magneraud, Saint-Pierre d'Amilly, in the Charente-Maritime, belonging to INRA, the national body of agricultural research. Guided tours will give visitors access to its latest experiments. In the Charente the garden of the Nanteuillet mill in Voulgézac, you can see a splendid vegetable garden. The theme of this year’s Rendez-vous aux Jardins is ‘the gardener and his/her tools’ and 41 gardens will put on some kind of exhibition or extra attraction following this theme.
To find our which gardens are open and at what time – don’t do as I did my very first time and turn up at lunchtime do disturbing the family barbeque! –pick up this year’s booklet at your local tourist office. It will give you all the information you need including a brief description of the garden and the cost to see it, if applicable. Or follow these links which take you to a pdf of the booklet, according to department.
Charente
Charente-Maritime
Deux-Sèvres
Vienne
The gardens opening only for Rendez-vous aux Jardins 2010:
Charente :
● Parc et jardins du château de Balzac
● Jardin de couleurs assorties à Beaulieu-sur-Sonnette
● Parc de Bosseau à Chalais
● Jardin de la rue Pascal à Cognac
● Parc du château de Bagnolet à Cognac
● Fleurope à Dirac
● Fleurs de Lartige à Jarnac
● Le jardin de Georges à Jarnac
● Jardin de la Renaissance à Ventouse
Charente-Maritime:
● Le Domaine à Charron
● L'Azur Garden à Rioux
● Le jardin de la Maison de Pierre Loti à Rochefort
● Serres municipales de la Rochelle
● Jardin du Plantis à Saint-Germain-de-Marencennes
● Site de l'INRA à Saint-Pierre-d'Amilly
● Jardin où l'on s'attarde à Saint-Romain-de-Benet
● Le jardin du Vivier à Saintes
● Le jardin du château de Ransanne à Soulignonnes
● Les Fusains à Tonnay-Charente
Deux-Sèvres:
● Le Jardin du Vieux Beaurepaire à Terve (Bressuire)
● Jardin du Verger Beau à Bressuire
● Parc de la Bressandière à Châtillon-sur-Thouet
● Un jardin anglais à Clussais-la-Pommeraie
● Jardin de Cistus à La Coudre
● Jardin du Lavoir à Lhoumois
● Jardin familaux de la société d'horticulture des Deux-Sèvres de Niort
● Parc de la société d'horticulture des Deux-Sèvres de Niort
Vienne:
● Jardins du logis de la Bussière à la Bussière
● Jardin de Jean-Emile à Cissé
● Le Courtil Septentrion à Fontaine-le-Comte
● Jardin de Maviaux à Journet
● Domaine de Malaguet à Migné-Auxances
● Propriété de Salvert à Migné-Auxances
● Parc de Péroux à Payroux
● Jardin de l'Atelier des quatre roues à Poitiers
● Les jardins secrets de Poitiers
● En Vert et Bleu à Tercé
● Jardin du tilleul à Ternay
By Rachel Loos
Garden pictures: Jardins du Chaigne in Touzac, Charente