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Overview of the 2 acre Grounds The grounds are divided into a number of different functional zones, an overview of which are shown in this Google earth image. This is absolutely not an ordinary hotel garden.
Source: Google Earth
Scale 1:10,000
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Garden Photo gallery
The grounds are a vast treasure trove of
plants adapted to the Mediterranean climate. It is undoubtedly one of the most
varied gardens in the whole of the Languedoc; countless hours of back breaking
toil have gone into it. Although the layout is formal with an avenue of
trees, paths and pond, this is essentially a naturalistic style of gardening with plants woven
together in a tapestry of forms and colours rather than in a formal planting.
Rainfall is very low or non existent in summer and temperatures high - hence all plants are adapted to hot and dry
conditions. Irrigation is minimal although we do have our own deep well which
never runs dry.
The garden faces due south and the plantings
are influenced by the 'right plant, right place' principle as the aridity and
temperature of each zone is very different, affected by the proximity of trees,
buildings, etc. The south
eastern perimeter of the garden, for example, is particularly hot and arid and has been
chosen as an ideal spot for a sizeable succulent and cactus bed.
Only a very brief overview of the garden can
be described here (please click on the sections for pictures).
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the classic Mediterranean beds;
the true Mediterranean flora is extremely diverse - apart from well known
favourites such as dark purple lavender 'Grosso', sky blue Corsican
rosemary, steely grey Teucrium fruticans and Cistus of many
types, a succession of vivid flowers from bulbs, annuals and perennials
colour these beds all year round: in May the majestic purple heads of
Alliums hold sway backed by foxtail lilies, followed later in the month by
thousands of Californian poppies; in the hot summer, perennial salvias
bloom, followed in September by scarlet Californian fuchsias and dark blue
Ceratostigma. Some of the plants grown in these beds are
described on our blog:
the Mediterranean gardener.
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the cacti and
succulent zone; a substantial collection of
these fascinating, under-appreciated and highly decorative plants has been
gathered over several years. Many Aloe, Yucca and Agave flower
extravagantly. Agave americana is a huge plant, some 3m tall with
giant steely blue leaves and flowers up to 6m tall These beds are inter-planted with grasses
such as Stipa tenuissima, Muehlenbergia dumosa and M. rigens and
are framed with plantings of Pampas grass. Some of the plants grown in this
zone are described on our blog:
the Mediterranean gardener.
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the dry beds;
here we use a selection of the best plants plants for structure (palms,
honey bushes, grasses, statuesque yuccas and agaves) with the best for
succession flowering (thousands of bulbs flowering from spring until autumn,
perennials such as salvias, heleniums, solanums and oriental poppies as
well as colourful annuals).
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the vineyard, about
one third of the garden is planted with mature black and white
Muscat eating grapes. These make delicious eating in September.
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Olive and fig trees; the local 'Lucques' variety of olives, black and green
figs provide a large succulent crop.
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the mimosa avenue; 24 mimosa
trees (Acacia dealbata) are inter-planted with
pomegranates (Punica granatum). The mimosas are a sea of yellow
bloom in March and the pomegranates flower gorgeously in July, fruiting in
the autumn - coppery new foliage in spring turning pale yeloow in autumn.
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the grass garden;
this is a fascinating area of great beauty throughout the year. The
soft shapes, textures, dramatic outlines and flowers of grasses are
essential in a large garden. A range of incredibly beautiful grasses
(Miscanthus, Pennisetum, Sporobulus, Muehlenbergias) combine
fabulously with honey bush and New Zealand flaxes as well as Carmichaelias and
Erremophilas from Tasmania and Australia. Some of the plants grown in
the grass garden are described on our blog:
the Mediterranean gardener.
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the gravelled beds;
amongst many others, cerise red, yellow and white oleanders flower profusely
in high summer, bright pink tamarisk in spring and Maximillian's sunflower
in Autumn.
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the lily pond:
with water sourced from our own well, the pond is a magnet for wildlife and
is planted lushly with water lilies and other aquatics, bordered with exotic
plantings of Riccinus communis, Crinum powelli, Indian lilacs,
dark blue agapanthus, zinnias and rudbeckias.
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the swimming pool: a
veritable sun trap from mid morning until sunset, the swimming pool is
bordered with sun loungers and planted with wine red oleanders, dark blue
morning glories, red cannas, palms and orange trumpets of the campsis vine.
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the formal area, terrace and lawns,
bordered by a hedge of 'laurier tin', Virburnum tinus, New Zealand
flax and spectacular bamboos revel in the partial shade near the gazebo of
the 150 year old maritime pine trees; the terrace is richly planted with
agapanthus and sun loving begonias, aeoniums and other flowering
succulents.
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the front courtyard,
north facing, 2 giant fan palms - more than 100 years old - are
surrounded by mature camellias, whose branches are a covered
extravagantly in red blooms in April, and large hydrangeas.
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