New features this spring in the Val de Loire gardens

On 10 April 2009, La Chatonnière (Azay-le-Rideau) officially opened the Jardin de la danse, an ephemeral garden of 40,000 narcissi and 4 branches climbing freely, which will decorate the south façade of the Renaissance château for two months. It blossoms before the spring only to disappear under a thick lawn in May.

On this occasion, la Chatonnière won the Villandry Prize, awarded by Henri Carvallo, for the creation of its 12 gardens and restoration of its vegetable patch.

http://www.lachatonniere.com

 

The International Garden Festival has got under way at the Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire on the theme of Colourful gardens. Bright red, deep blue, white and black fill the 20 gardens with bold or unusual displays: you'll be quite amazed!

http://www.domaine-chaumont.fr

 

The park and Château de Valencay breathe new life into a French-style garden that existed in the 18 ^th century and had since disappeared. Past tradition has been preserved by combining its rural nature with a contemporary opening onto an English-style park.

The result is a 66-square draughtboard, comprising giant, multicoloured mosaics of specially selected country flowers. 30 turfed alleyways criss-crossing the garden give visitors of all ages the chance to wander among a floral maze, a pastoral and romantic stroll evocative of the 18 ^th century.

http://www.chateau-valencay.fr