Over the next few weeks I'll be introducing you to my new Jardin de Lavande blocks prior to their release in July and taking you on a leisurely virtual tour of France's most beautiful gardens.
Panier
This week we are travelling south west along the Loire valley to visit a contemporary French garden with its roots firmly in the past. Le Prieuré d’Orsan, created in the ruins of a C12th priory just south of Bourges, was inspired by medieval tapestries and is quite possibly the most beautiful potager - or kitchen garden - in all of France.
Parisian architects, Sonia Lesot and Patrice Taravella, restored the crumbling priory and recreated the cloisters with pleached hornbeam. They enclosed the priory with fifteen gardens, separated by espaliered hedges and artfully woven chestnut withies, which have been planted with herbs, vegetables and fruit by gardener Gilles Guillot.
The priory is now a rather stylish hotel and all of the produce from the garden is used in the restaurant. I'm not sure if it's gathered in traditional French market baskets, like our panier, but in such a magical setting I like to think so.
Next week I'll be introducing you to two new blocks and visiting France's grandest garden...
Nicola xx
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