Join us in the garden?

Come in, come in - the gates are open. Can I offer you a glass of wine? Let's take it down to the table at the end of the garden.

Come in - the gates are open

I'm really sorry it's taken me so long to invite you over but with all the work converting the barn and now the house restoration the garden gets somewhat forgotten. Also I'm not much of a gardener, I love having one but I don't spend hours planning and working in it. I know a lot of people buy property in France so that they can get a couple of acres and become self-sufficient but not us, in fact this was bigger than was ideal but it's really easy to maintain. The French call it 'park style' which doesn't necessarily mean acres of parkland but it has a lot of trees and few flower beds.

The previous owner planted lots of specimen conifers which give beautiful shade in the summer. Yes you're right, that is a monkey puzzle tree. I'm not overly fond of it, it's become a little squashed by the other trees so is lopsided, that and it has quite vicious spikes. However it is a perfect place to hang the hammock from!

You didn't expect that view did you! I know it's a surprise isn't it? When guests come in they are drawn down the garden to the seating area and the view of the river (I took this photograph last autumn when the Corrèze was full). It's not until you come back up the garden that you see the view of the medieval village.

View of the River Corrèze

Corrèze town

The garden is an L-shape around the house, to the front and side with nothing at all to the back. The door you can see leads into into the grandly called summer kitchen (although how a room with just a sink and carpet up the wall qualifies for this I have no idea!)

Side garden

We will make it the dining room, in fact I was researching chandeliers when you arrived. We are planning to put a terrace along this side, design and timing is still under marital discussion - although I would love something like this:

We inherited several of these with the house, apparently they are Franco-Roman funérarium, where urns containing burial ashes were put. I have no idea if that's true but they are quite common in this area.

Franco-Roman burial stone? 

The watering can? Yes that's old too, must be at least 60 years and I use it all the time. It belonged to my grandfather who was a keen allotment holder, frequently winning prizes. Behind it is a Victorian rhubarb forcer.

As you will have seen we have quite a lot of wild flowers, I keep some areas unmown until the end of May. You're just in time to see the laburnum come into flower, such a beautiful tree. I remember there were a lot when I was a child but they fell out of favour as the seeds are poisonous, such a shame.

Wild flowers in the garden

Laburnum trees

Seen enough? Let me top you up and we'll go and sit and look at the river. We'd love you to stay in touch, we're here on Facebook or on Instagram

Perfect spot for aperos