Posts Tagged ‘bagnoles de l’orne’

Jardin Retiré at Bagnoles-de-l’Orne

Posted in garden, normandy, sights, visits, tagged bagnoles de l'orne, garden, jardin retiré, normandy on October 4, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

Jardin Retiré at Bagnoles-de-l’Orne

Tucked away in the Southern Normandy spa town of Bagnoles-de-l’Orne is a delightful little private garden that opens to the public at weekends from mid-April to end of September.

“Le Jardin Retiré” is a beautiful garden that exploits its shady character as a virtue rather than a hindrance – if you’ve a spot in your own garden where the sun rarely shines then this one is full of ideas to inspire you. We visited it on a rainy day in July this year but despite the damp it was a wonderful garden visit.

Despite its mature appearance the garden has been entirely created over the past 15 years by Lawrence and Annie Blanchais, and though it only covers 2500 square meters it is packed to the gunnels with all sorts of shade-tolerant plants.

In this secluded setting surrounded by shrubs and trees you can see roses, clematis and flowering perennials but most of all plants that are valued for their foliage – hostas, bamboos, heuchera and interesting shrubs.

This intimate little garden is enriched with many decorative and creative touches – arches, fountains, statues and so on – which enhance the magic of the place. Part of the garden was designed by James Priest, the new head gardener at Monet’s garden in Giverny.

Before you leave check out the conservatory where you can buy garden ornaments, metal trellises, plant supports and sculptures (not dissimilar to some of those to be found at the nearby Le Jardin Boutique, Champsecret, Bagnoles-de-l’Orne which we suggest you visit if you want a reasonably priced souvenir for your own garden.

Practical Information for Le Jardin Retiré

The Jardin Retiré is located in Bagnoles de l’Orne, the famous thermal spa in southern Normandy. The garden is situated a couple of hundred metres up the road from the Casino by the lake in the town centre. There’s an information board outside the garden gates – go in and wait by the front door and the owner should eventually appear!

Open 15 April to 30 September 10 a.m to 6p.m, Friday-Saturday-Sunday plus public holidays.

2011 prices 3€ per person, duration of visit approx. 1 hour.

CONTACT:

Tel : 02.33.37.92.04.
Address: Jardin Retiré, 14 avenue robert cousin, 61140 Bagnoles de l’Orne

ACCOMMODATION

Bed and breakfast in Southern Normandy at La Basse Cour

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Garden Plant Festival at Bagnoles de l’Orne

Posted in garden, tagged bagnoles de l'orne, fete des plantes, garden plants on May 26, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

Garden Plant Festival at Bagnoles de l’Orne

Following great success in previous years, the garden plant festival and sale takes place this June at Bagnoles-de-l’Orne in southern Normandy.

The garden show attracts nurserymen and plant growers from afar – last year we bought hostas and ornamental grasses from exhibitors hailing from Holland and Belgium, as well as plants and roses from growers across France.

This year there are forty exhibitors (plantsmen, nurseries and garden designers) and entry is 2€.

The fête takes place in the wonderful setting of the grounds of Château de la Roche-Bagnoles, with its superb arboretum on a rocky outcrop overlooking the main town of Bagnoles de l’Orne.

Make a note of the date – 11th and 12th June 2011.

Bagnoles is 40 minutes from our B&B near Alençon.

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Le Jardin Boutique, Champsecret, Bagnoles-de-l’Orne

Posted in arts and crafts, normandy, tagged bagnoles de l'orne, champsecret, french garden furniture, jardin boutique on May 17, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

Le Jardin Boutique

Location: Champsecret, Orne, Normandy

At the beginning of April we visited one of our favourite gardens locally, the Jardins de la Mansonière at St Saint Céneri-le-Gerei.

While we were there we asked Michèle (Manson) where she got all the lovely wrought-iron pergolas, tables and chairs which have appeared in the tea garden since last year. She explained that she bought almost all her garden furniture, pergolas etc. from Le Jardin Boutique at Champsecret, near Bagnoles de l’Orne. We determined to visit it next time we were over there as it’s not far away, about 40 minutes, and close to a couple of other gardens that we like to visit now and again.

At the beginning of May 2011 the occasion presented itself after a visit to the garden of la Pellerine, Mayenne.

What a great place Le Jardin Boutique is – gorgeous, spectacular “gloriettes” (imagine if you can circular, wrought iron pergolas direct from the Garden of Eden!), wrought iron tables and chairs, and loads of novel ironwork plant supports and garden decorations in the form of flowers, insects, birds, fancy trellis etc.

For the house interior there are wonderful lamps, candelabras, statues, statuettes, screens and so on in two separate showrooms each side of the entrance to the garden area.

The big bonus is that all of this wonderful, hand-crafted garden furniture and the interior decorative items are well below the prices you would pay in most French outlets and shops – this is definitely a place to note.

As for us? We bought a number of their smaller garden items (and some unusual plants) but we’ll be back later this year with a trailer to collect a lovely heavy, wrought iron table and chairs in white to furnish our new summer house – just as soon as I’ve finished building it! Brico Depot – here we come this week.