Plantaholics

[Cottage Garden]

Are there any plantaholics like me out there in the south west of France?   I live just south of Bergerac, have a lovely garden, although not huge, a very good collection of plants but I don't meet many people who are as mad about horticulture as I am.   In England there were many groups that got together to talk about certain types of plants e.g. Alpine Society, Fuchsia Society, Hardy Plant Society but I haven't heard of any here.   If anyone is interested in discussing plants in general or something more specific I'd like to hear from you.

[Clair]

You might be interested in this: Jardiniers de France

[Cottage Garden]

Thanks Clair.   I do know of this society and belong to one in Aquitaine.   I had hoped that there might be someone like minded who lived nearby but never mind.   I'll carry on talking to the flowers.

[deb]

Hi there.  Yes I would be interested in discussing plants with you.  I have recently moved to Entre-deux-mers (near Pujols) and have a smallish garden (about 1/3 acre) with an orchard and veg plot.  I want to grow a wider range of plants than is there at the moment but I think I will have to do it all from seed, as there doesn't seem to be the range of plants that I would want in the garden centres that I have visited so far, and I can't find any on line nurseries.  I am commuting between england and france as well, so I need things that can survive for a week or two without me!  deb

[Tony F Dordogne]

Hi CG - there is a Brit community gardening club which was mentioned extensively in Connexions last month I think and I've been emailing the contact address there asking for the appropriate form but with no success, not even getting the messages bounced.

I belong to a couple of online forums to have somebody to chat to - and there is a gardening club belonging to a multicultural group round this way which may interest you.

In the meantime, pleased to chat about plants, gardening, technique, plant types, French gardening mags, anything and everything gardening in fact.

[chirpy]

MY WIFE IS LIKE YOU IN BEING A GARDENOLIC!!

We live near coussac bonneval and found a club with french dutch and english members-meets monthly ,second wednesday at 8.30.p.m.

We have talks ,visits to members and public gardens -but there are not many in France.

It may be too far for you to travel but if interested you can come free for first meeting and yearly subs. are only about 12 euro.

It is held at JUMILHAC LE GRANDE and we try to translate meeting into English and French and everyone is very friendly.

If you want copy of next week,s programme then i will send it to your private e-mail if you like.

Meanwhile we have founf that there is a garden selling rare plants etc .tomorrow 6km. south of Vertg AT BRANDE on D21.

 

 

[Cottage Garden]

There is also a plant fayre at Neuvic sur Isle today in the grounds of the chateau.   You have to pay an entrance fee but it also allows you to walk around the botanical garden.   It's west of Perigueux just off the A89.  

Thanks for your replies.   I'm off to the above now but will reply to them tomorrow.

[Cottage Garden]

I went to Neuvic yesterday and came home with quite a few plants.   Nothing unusual particularly but new to me.   There were about 25 exhibitors so not a huge number and probably less than last year but it was OK.   I also stopped at the one in Brande on the way home.   Although I bought a few plants this one was a bit disappointing in that there weren't that many exhibitors, not as many as last year.

This is the time of year for me when I have visions of what the garden will look like in the spring and summer.   I always buy lots of bulbs and expect the garden to look brilliant in spring.   Somehow bulbs never seem to go very far even if I plant them in large drifts.   I am also starting to split plants up for regeneration or dig them up and move them because I didn't like them where they were.   Lots of home made compost also gets put onto the beds and the plants love it.  

Deb - I have sent you an email. 

Tony F - I belong to the ACFAA which is based in Eymet.   I think that might be the group you are talking about.   Their website is www.acfaa.org where you can find information about each of the clubs.

Ab - Thanks for letting me know about the club in Jumilhac but to be honest I think that might be a bit far even for me.   I think it would take me nearly 2 hours to get there.   Maybe if I'm visiting our friends who live close by I might just visit.

If anyone wants to discuss anything though please email me.

[foxyloxy25]

Hi,

 I know what you mean, I so miss trawling round Nurseries. I went to England for the Malvern Flower Show on the 29th, found that even there, there were more craft stalls now then plant stalls.  I believe there is a big plant show in the suburbs of Paris around the 20th October, but I have not looked it up as yet.  Like you I mostly miss chatting about all the plants and finding unusual plants, or sharing.  I do not know of any gardening clubs near me in Albi, but I occasionally come to Eymet to visit  friends. I would love the opportunity to share views, information, cuttings and seeds with like minded gardeners.

j.

[chirpy]

The  show is 19-21october at  Courson withinfo onwww.domaine-de-courson.fr and my wife is pressing me to stay overnight nearby.She has been to Chealsea show and this is supposed to be a nar equivalent .See you there I expect.!!

p.s. take an empty boot and cheque book.!!!!!!!!!!!!![:D][:P]

[Russethouse]

[quote user="foxyloxy25"]

Hi,

 I know what you mean, I so miss trawling round Nurseries. I went to England for the Malvern Flower Show on the 29th, found that even there, there were more craft stalls now then plant stalls.  I believe there is a big plant show in the suburbs of Paris around the 20th October, but I have not looked it up as yet.  Like you I mostly miss chatting about all the plants and finding unusual plants, or sharing.  I do not know of any gardening clubs near me in Albi, but I occasionally come to Eymet to visit  friends. I would love the opportunity to share views, information, cuttings and seeds with like minded gardeners.

j.

[/quote]

The Malvern autumn show is much more craft/other products (read QVC rejects [;-)]) than the Spring show which is much more plant centrered.

[foxyloxy25]

Ab, thanks very much, you have saved me a lot of time, I am hoping that we can stop on the way there and the way back, preferably near a wine region, that my oh will enjoy, then he won't complain so much about 'what more b****y plants'!!

 

[chirpy]

I  WAS ALLOWED TO WATCH RUGBY MATCH LAST NIGHT AND IN RETURN HAVE BOOKED HOTEL NEAR COUSON FOR GARDEN FAIR!!!!!!!!!!!

DAMM IT -AM I WEAKENING!!!!!!!!![:P][:D]

[foxyloxy25]

who are you kidding, you are really looking forward to it, while my husband is still thrilled about the rugby, I am going to arrange our trip, make sure he thinks it is his idea!! super time for gardening and planting all those gorgeous plants, we can buy.

[Cottage Garden]

There is also the last plant sale of the year in this area on Sunday 22nd.   It is held by Salicaire at Saint Nicholas de la Grave which is near Moissac.   It's probably about an hour's drive for you foxyloxy25.   I've bought some good plants there and it's quite a nice setting with the sale being held in the centre of the town.

[Tony F Dordogne]

And there's a tree sale at La Bugue in 24 on Sunday next.

But I'm not allowed to buy anything until I plant up what I already have waiting to be planted - including the over-wintering veggies.  Off to get them in and make some covers from small gauge ?gaine and fence wire, eventually to be covered with winter fleece.

And to find the 'safe place' that I put the garden hoover, only problem with living in a wood is the trees at this time of year.

[mossie]

I am sure there must also be loads of french people interested in gardening too.  I say this because this year in June I went to a weekend gardeners fair in the grounds of a chateau in Le Lude (72 I think).  It was heaving with stalls selling lots of interesting plants and is an annual event.  It was quite heavenly with beautiful weather and in such a lovely setting.  Perhaps they just don't get together into clubs but the interest is definitely there.  I also enjoyed watching people leaving at the end of the day, rushing to bag the best bargains and then struggling out under all their glorious plants.  It was like the last day at Chelsea but of course on a much smaller scale!