Small villages perch atop low hills, surrounded by rolling fields of sunflowers, wheat and beets punctuated with blue flax and other crops. This is the Gatinais region, not too far south of Paris. Nestled among the fields are river valleys, punctuated by pine and heather forests growing in almost pure sand interspersed with rounded, weatheredContinue reading “Gatinais landscapes, France”
Category Archives: Travel
Mechoui – the big grill event
Summer in France is mechoui time. The word comes from North Africa, and used to mean an entire barbecued lamb cooked over coals on a spit, constantly basted with flavored butter until it develops a crispy exterior and is moist and tender. The technique works well for chicken, or anything else that’s grilled and bastedContinue reading “Mechoui – the big grill event”
Calepinage
The art of paving patterns Calpinage is something we don’t talk about here in the United States. Maybe that’s because we don’t have a corresponding word. We could say “paving patterns”, but that just doesn’t sound nearly as cool. Calpinage is the art of laying out hardscape patterns, turning boring alleys and streets into texturallyContinue reading “Calepinage”
Go vertical! These gardens in La Romieu, France maximize use of space.
There’s really not much room to plant here. Soil surfaces are small, so there’s no way to create depth or layering in the planting areas. No worry – these gardeners just used the adjacent walls as additional garden space. In the shady alley, a collection of hostas trims the interface between wall and ground. That’sContinue reading “Go vertical! These gardens in La Romieu, France maximize use of space.”
Swimming pools, French style
In France, they build a concrete shell, then – instead of pool plaster and tiles – they install a plastic liner and clips to hold it in place. The deck or coping goes over the top, hiding the clips.
View Restored, lilac saved
Good maintenance can transform an unwanted blob into a thing of beauty.
Municipal flower bed installation, France
Municipal flower beds are a big thing in France. Often, as one enters a town there is a sign proclaiming it to be a “ville fleuri” – a flower city. It seems that every city and town competes to see who can create the most original and extravagant flower beds. By July, these beds willContinue reading “Municipal flower bed installation, France”