Notes from a French Odyssey

Last week we drove from Normandy to Provence, taking in mountains, rivers, lakes, olive groves, lavender and sunflower fields and vineyards; with regular pit stops for fromage, baguettes and beers. I have to say I’m a little sad to be home.

The landscapes were beautiful, and some so very dry; I have watched with great sadness as some of the places we drove past have been subjected to wildfires in the days since we left.

Back in Wiltshire - and looking out over our own rather crispy garden - I feel more keenly than ever the need to diversify and trial new ways of planting. I am regularly negotiating the want to use as little water as possible with the desire to grow a garden that is both beautiful and sustaining.

But allow me some escapism for a moment longer. In this month’s newsletter I’ve taken the liberty to share some favourite moments from our holiday; all based around beautiful spots, and eating, of course. 2000km with two small children in tow. It was quite wonderful.

I’ve also shared a link to a recent piece for the FT, all about how you can make a new garden feel lived in. And the usual snaps from home.

I’m having August off writing this monthly missive, so see you in September; when we’ll be thinking about bulbs, and breaking ground on projects in Buckinghamshire and London.

Until then,

Tabi x

BEHIND THE SCENES: GOES ABROAD

Our French Odyssey

A row of houses in Lorgues, the local town to where we stayed in Provence. Admiring all the painted shutters and the wonderful blue and sandy yellow colour combinations.

Tim was in charge of our picnics. How does such a simple menu of bread, cheese/pate taste so good on the side of a road?! I think the views helped.

Another watering hole/feeding station, this time at Domaine de Provensol, where we stayed for a night on the way down to Provence. We were very well fed by the owners, who served us dinner and breakfast under this walnut tree, looking out over their own vineyards on the edge of the alps.

Ok so it turns out my photo album is just pictures of Tim preparing baguettes in scenic spots.

Will leave you with this. Yes, another picnic spot.

NEWS - FINANCIAL TIMES

How to stop a new garden feeling ‘new’

This is a topic I’ve touched on here in my newsletter, and something I often discuss with clients. There are certain materials that I avoid and practices which we engage with during the development of the planting that lean into a feeling of time passing. All with the intention of bringing more character to a garden. Allowing space for plants to self seed, leaving gaps in paving, generally just letting go a bit and allowing a new garden and house to acclimatise to each other.

I was lucky enough to speak to two other designers while researching this piece; Charlie Hawkes, who spoke about his brilliant new build project in Suffolk, and Haruko Seki of Studio Lasso, a studio based between Tokyo and London. Haruko shared her insights into how we view gardens in these two different cultures; they were as poetic and poignant.

Read here on the FT

IN MY OWN GARDEN…

AGERATUM AND COSMOS

GOOD NEIGHBOURS

My lovely next-door neighbour kept my pots alive while we were away. It’s lucky we get on so well; her garden door opens directly into our garden. Also very handy when you need to water for each other during holidays!

PINKS AND BUTTERY YELLOWS

BINDWEED

I am having a love affair with bindweed. Those open flowers that just suddenly appear across hedgerows in July. It’s also good for wildlife, so if you’re feeling bad about your own invasion here is your permission slip not to. Pictured is a mediterranean variety, planted by a previous steward in our front garden, making a lovely tangled mess of pinks and yellows.

GRAVEL GARDEN

CREATIVE FREEDOM

The part of the garden which has had the least attention since we moved here, the courtyard (and future gravel garden, which I wrote about last month) has slowly started giving me ideas. I have only sown seeds here (largely cornflowers) but verbascum, papaver and erigeron have made themselves at home too. There is a lack of pressure in this part of the garden - and, crucially, it requires no watering - which is giving me more creative freedom as we plan for what’s next.

TABI JACKSON GEE