As in 2015 the first day in France included a visit to the Parc Botanique de Haute Bretagne. But unlike 2015 this was a more selective visit – I didn’t try to see everything in the garden.

The entrance to the Parc is down the Alley of White Pearls, a path lined with Hydrangea Paniculata and the beginning of the Garden of Arcady. The three sets of gardens are apparently meant to evoke the three seasons of Life – Spring, Summer, and Autumn.

The Walled Garden or Cité Antique looked rather dry and somewhat neglected this year, but there were still some pretty things to see and enjoy such as the Greek Theatre and some of the flowers. But overall it was crying out for attention.

Jjust outside The Walled Garden were two beautiful flowering Hibiscus, and a Persian Silk Tree (Albizia Julibrissin). The tree is lovely but seems to be regarded as an invasive pest in many parts of the world, with recommendations not to plant it.

I liked the shaped bamboo cones in the Lotus Pond, but on this day there were no lotus flowers.

The Secret Garden was absolutely wonderful! The Hydrangea Paniculata were still white, and abundant. It is apparently based on a Mediaeval idea of a secret garden for quiet contemplation.

In the Garden of Dionysus there were these wonderful plants – a variety of Hedychium Coccineum – sorry, that is all I can manage! And I also found some beautiful blue mop head hydrangeas.

The Jardins Romantiques and Crépuscules will follow in the next posts!

Further information
Brief commentaries on the different ‘rooms’ in the garden