Europe 2011

Loches: Gardens

		Loches had many roses in bloom. These are in a street in the citadel. †
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		And these were in the gardens of the Donjon. †
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		The château of Villandry is famous for its formal gardens. †
		Garden of love. *
		The formal water garden. †
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		An informal poppy. *
		Lavender but not yet in bloom. *
		The herb garden. *
		The vegetable garden. *
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		And, of course, more roses. †
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		The gaardens at Château de la Chatonnière are less formal than those at Villandry, but very enjoyable. *
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		The leaf garden, named for the shape of its flower beds. *
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		The garden had an "osier walk". Osiers are lengths of willow that are stuck into the ground and then interwoven to form the framework for a walk. The willows take root, and grow to form a shady walk. Here are roses growing up the outside. *
		Here is a view from the inside. *
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		A field sprinkled with poppies, outside the formal garden area. *
		Lynn's favourite rose: not easy to photograph because the head is so heavy that it hangs down. *

From Loches, we moved on to the Brittany coast at Quiberon.