Tag: Gardens of Versailles

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Gardens of Versailles

IMG_1399 IMG_1403{The Queen’s Hamlet- Marie Antoinette’s private cottage and gardens on the grounds of Versailles}
I have been passionate about flowers my entire life. Growing up my mom was a prolific gardener and would plant beautiful flowers as well as vegetables around the house. And, when the weather warmed I always enjoyed picking the floral arrangements that would decorate the table for family dinners. It was a euphoric feeling seeing the various colors and textures laid out within the garden. So, when I studied drawing it seemed natural that my eye focused on the leaves and stems to the blossoms for which I had a great affinity. Pouring through art books on Boucher, Chardin, Fragonard and my absolute favorite artist: Anne Vallayer-Coster who was painter during the Court of Marie-Antoinette with her exuberant still-life paintings.

 As I continue to pour through books reviewing the details in drawings and paintings of flowers and herbs grown during the eighteenth century plus, remembering the sweet smell of lavender; mimosa and violets from the Versailles gardens with camellias used as decorations in several of the rooms. These scents and flowers are my continued inspiration for the upcoming gardens at Heath.

 Plant stylishly,
K

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French Theme

105_0511 105_0509 {Bronze sculpture of Neptune in the Versailles gardens and a bronze urn in the formal gardens}
I have many passions in life, but do love all things French. My devotion to eighteenth century art history and architecture is unwavering and I can remember while studying painting in college, it just felt right to focus on this period with all it’s toile, gilt and candelabra’s.

105_0508As I pour through garden catalogs and seed books, I have decided to lay out the gardens at Heath in a similar fashion to that of Versailles. Of course, I have no intention of moving vast amounts of earth or hiring a team of gardeners to work with me to create this vision. But, I do admire the details that have gone into the layout of the flowerbeds, fountains and the Orangerie. Remembering the botanical grounds and attempting to relay this beauty into my own garden will be a definite challenge. Envisioning the strong colors and textures of the flora, I cannot wait to get into the library to research the herbs and vegetables that were grown in the Court{s} of Madame de Pompadour and Marie Antoinette.

Stay tuned and garden stylishly,
K

 

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