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GARDEN VISITS IN SW FRANCE
Are you a garden enthusiast? Perfect your holiday at Moulin de Saquet with some visits to a diverse selection of gardens, the majority of which are within an hour's drive.
For example:
Le Jardin d'Iris, Morizes (20 mins)
A garden only of iris - over 2000 varieties.
For viewing during the flowering period, end April - early May.
Lusseau, Entre-Deux_Mers (30 mins)
A superb garden, cultivated by Ginette Nadal over a period of 55 years amidst an ocean of vines. Old roses, herbaceous borders, orchard and kitchen garden, shade-loving and Mediterranean plants. Photo exhibition. Personal welcome from Ginette guaranteed.
Les Jardins de Sardy, Vélines, Dordogne (approx 1 1/2hrs)
Set around an 18th Century house, these romantic gardens are of English and Florentine inspiration. Pools framed by hedges and Cyprus trees, mixed borders and rock gardens. In July, August and September lunch is available on the shady terrace, by reservation.
La Commanderie, Sallebruneau (10 mins)
Reconstructed by an historical society from Bordeaux, this tiny herb garden, full of aromatic, medicinal and culinary herbs, accurately echoes the original. Now in ruins, the Commanderie was home to the soldier-monks of the Hospitaliers of the Order of St John of Jerusalem whose expertise with herbs was legendary.
Le Chateau de Belloc, Sadirac (25 mins)
The return of the forgotten vegetables!
Try a tasting session at the farm and guess the ingredients in your aperitif, quiche, wine, jam, chutney and sweetmeat. All of them are plants which constituted the bulk of the medieval diet. Next, buy the seeds, jams and wines from the farm-shop before viewing the gardens themselves. A delicious experience!
The above are a selection of the many garden visits available in the Gironde. Steph and Suzette will be happy to give you more information and to provide directions to your chosen destinations.
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