More Spring garden stories from the Potager du Roi, Versailles.
I didn’t inherit my mother's green thumb but who doesn't love PEONIES?
These are from a fleurist in Versailles, Arbre à Pivoines on 19, rue Hoche.
The past weekend was the annual 'Esprit Jardins' at the Potager du Roi in Versailles
70-80 venders selling plants, tools, landscaping design, garden antiques and jam
Simply lush and the perfect day with temperatures in the high 70s. Sunhats and sunglasses required.
A shop on the square was selling proper 17th century outfits though everyone was mostly wearing jeans.
Endless jars of jams in unusual flavors like pears with chocolate and lemon Cointreau. I am a jam fan since moving to France, though I mostly browse…*Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturday morning you can buy fresh organic produce fom their gardens.
Rose 🌹 soaps along with rose syrups, scents & jam.
After walking around the huge square visiting tents You must go into the kitchen gardens.
Designed and constructed by Jean-Baptiste La Quintinie from 1678-1683 at the request of Louis XIV. The 22 acres was originally a swamp completely unsuitable to be a kitchen garden. Drained and with fresh soil brought in, La Quintinie produced: 50 varieties of pears
20 varieties of apples
16 types of lettuce.
Parsley, rocket, mint, tarragon & violets were grown for the king's salad. He developed ingenious methods for producing fruits out-of-season with sunken gardens.
A parapet walk was created, so the king and his entourage could survey the team of 30 gardeners at work.
RER C Train takes you back from Versailles -> Notre Dame-St Michel in a mere 25 minutes. Yesterday was glorious. Everyone was out enjoying the good weather & eating ice creams🍦 Yours truly included (pistachio).
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