Our owner and CEO would like to speak to your organization
about gardens in France
Over 2000 photos of popular and unknown French gardens allow her to customize a discussion for your group and their interests. Or chose from the list of suggested topics.
With slides and stories from her trips to France, Esther shows us what motivates a garden visit. What makes French Gardens so special? The long and complex history, the juxtaposition of display and food gardens, the emphasis on the freshest and best in French cuisine, the continuing respect for the tradition of French gardening, all provide insights into a special culture and a people who have a right to their pride of place.
In addition to a survey of what makes French gardens so special, she reviews several different regions of France and points out favorite gardens there. As time allows, she suggests itineraries and places to stay and eat.
The queen of flowers has enjoyed centuries of devotion in
If time allows, Esther will also share pictures from a couple of her favorite modern rose gardens and offer travel suggestions.
Tucked away in sections of the public garden where no one visits until late summer and hidden among the annuals there are several places in France where you will find late summer and fall celebrations of the dahlia in amazing variety and abundance. Hundreds of varieties of dahlias exhibited in their multitude of shapes and sizes can be found in Paris and its suburbs, in Normandy, the Loire Valley and in hidden quiet towns in Central France.
Accompanied by color slides, Esther talks about dahlias: how to grow, their history, their shapes sizes and colors. She talks about some of the gardens that feature dahlias: when to go, how to find them, the garden’s story and what else is in the garden and nearby.
In October, the tourists leave and the sun comes out to welcome a long, warm harvest season. It’s the time to visit cideries and apple brandy makers in Normandy where the small green apples are piled in mountains awaiting their transformation. The fall displays of dahlias and cannas are at their very best and many roses put out one last, cool weather display. The church bells ring through the crisp, long evenings in Berry. Harvest time parties honor the traditions from hundreds of year of French gardens. Fall can be tasted everywhere.
Esther takes us on garden visits in Normandy and the Loire Valley to see the gems of autumn. She tells us the history of the gardens that we visit and what else may be nearby for visiting. She offers suggestions for specific itineraries and places to stay and eat.
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2003