the garden of artists
May 4, 2018
An invitation by Mediterranean Gardening France to see the garden of 2 artists in St Remy de Provence. The view from M. Joseph Bayol’s studio on the first floor of his house across the wisteria to the bassin . . .
. . . just a small area of his studio packed with canvases, collections, materials and a few palettes with one below . . .
. . . the bassin formally positioned with three cupressus at the far end and two very large and well proportioned metal structures on either side to support climbing roses. Scale and proportion are exquisitely handled in this garden superbly maintained by Mme Bayol. I use these superlatives in acknowledgement of both horticultural and aesthetic prowess. A garden to delight – purely personal and imaginatively handled. It shows love.
An informal pond inhabited by noisy frogs is well hidden but a charming discovery and typical of the elements and spaces to find unexpectedly on the journey around the garden . . .
. . . roses in full glory here in Provence at the start of May. Either clambering up an immense cupresses or a single bloom in a shady passageway.
The wisteria – gentle, elegant, discreet + certainly not the blowsy form – has a sculptural woven + twisted trunk. The finials on the rose pergola – are equally underplayed . . .
. . . roses framing the entrance to the green house and quite wonderful cross views across the garden sheltered and hidden within a Provence town. One of the best gardens I’ve seen for a long while. Personal and poetic – a dream.
a few other days out to gardens with the MGF (I’m a tad smitten with this group):
https://juliafoggterrain.wordpress.com/2017/09/23/at-the-ecological-garden-au-jardin-ecologique/
https://juliafoggterrain.wordpress.com/2017/06/20/un-jardin-anglais-but-is-it/
Summer: for a few days
you lay around with us
breathed in pollen,
counted aphids,
watched us drop
one by one on to the path
where the scent
was especially heavy. Rose multiflora Jo Shapcott
terrain 
May 4, 2018 at 19:02
What bliss, Julia.
Saw my first rose here today but there are still daffodils about – which I have rather lost interest in….
How lucky you are to be in France!
May 6, 2018 at 12:56
yes, lucky and fully appreciating it all. lots of love. x
May 5, 2018 at 07:53
Truly inspiring Julia. Thank you.
May 6, 2018 at 20:42
What a treat royale