Noisette's before and 'after' pics

The original field towards the NE
The first border. No design, just a home for the UK plants that were suffering from 2 years in pots!

T The second border. Things improved after that, a lawn was sown, for a start!

 

The UK garden. 'You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone'

 

Good morning Noisette,
you are obviously a skilled and knowledgeable gardener and I would dearly love to own your UK garden - it's beautiful.
But, were I a lot, lot younger and fitter, your piece of French earth looks absolute bliss. All that space in an area if France that I love,a blank canvas and a south facing view.
Many thanks for showing us these pictures. Looking forward to watching your garden grow,
Jenny

 

Oh boy. Did you have to dig up your UK garden and wilfully destroy it in order to move? How did you bear it?

I'd love to create a brand-new garden but first I'd have to lose the old one. Couldn't face it!

I love the lines of the French landcape, the flow of the plough lines and the curve of the hills. Are you somehow going to continue those into your domestic garden? I'm thinking sinuous rows of interesting textured stuff!

 

Thanks Jenny and madahhlia, I do regret my former garden, especially in winter, but yes, the plus side is space, views, reasonable soil and a (very) blank canvas
What I didn't know was that ornamental gardening is practically non-existent here, because it's so expensive! The French approach is a lawn with a few trees and shrubs planted in it, and the rest is formal, practical and edible.
The other big difference is that you simply can't see the garden from the house, because of the slope. Preferable to having the house at the bottom, when everything is immediately visible, but design is far more of a challenge! Especially deciding whether to incorporate the garden into the surroundings or create shelter and be able to grow a wider range of plants.
And finally the climate....verrry extreme, can be colder than UK in winter, a lot hotter and sunnier in summer with a longer growing season but endless watering...
Will take some more pictures when the weather warms up next week Meanwhile, I'm looking forward to drooling over your gardens and admiring your expertise!

 

Noisette,
I would love to see pictures of the view you have from your house please. I hope that from one place or another, you can enjoy what is to come,
Jenny

 

There you go, Jenny That's what it looked like until last night, anyway. Two days and nights of 100kmph winds might re-arrange things a bit

 

Amazing noisette, what a vista,
thank you for showing me this today,
Jenny

 

You have beautiful gardens, what views you have too.

Gorgeous flowers around your house!

I'd love to see some more pictures when everything is in bloom.

 

That's kind, Penny...it's still very much in the making, but will update the thread through the year, as the iris and roses make a big difference

 

Yes, John After so many years of looking out onto other people's TV aerials, sat dishes and rooves, it's luxury to have so much space! We designed the house so the master bedroom faces east across the valley, to be able to enjoy the lovely sunrises. They're not quite so attractive at 5am in the summer, though

 

if we had those views you'd never get me away from the window.

fabulous flowers

 

Hi honeybunny I do find myself working a lot slower here.....

 

Now that i would love to see!!