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Before + After: A French City Garden and a Plant Collector’s Exotic Gateway

François Simonaire has been working as a gardener in France for more than 25 years, but it was just seven years ago that he turned his skills to his own plot where he wanted to create a portfolio for a budding French landscape design business, as well as a personal retreat and city garden filled with treasures from his travels.

Growing a wide variety of plants in  a french town garden makeover
The Garden of french garden designer François Simonaire in Normandy, France.

François lives in Evreux in Normandy, France, and does not assign any particular style to his garden, but it is a mix of things exotic: Asian, Indonesian, and whatever pleases him.

Even though he has worked as an independent garden designer for the last four years, his approach to his own garden resembles nothing like that of an organized pro. I assume it is like most professional garden makers’ gardens, a place for creative and horticultural experiments to take play out.

clematis vine. Growing a wide variety of plants in the a french town garden makeover
Clematis grows over an outdoor sink.
Opuntia cactus. Growing a wide variety of plants in the a french town garden makeover
Opuntia Cactus with its bright yellow blooms.
Growing a wide variety of plants in the a frech town garden makeover

“I do not make any plans; I plant according to my purchases of plants and my inspiration,” says François.  This is the garden of an ever-passionate plant lover who constantly needs just a little more space to fit in something new and interesting.  

The French City Garden’s Details (Size, Location, etc)

The garden is about 600 square meters (approx. 6400 sq. ft.) and is located within the city of Evreux, France.  It isn’t a small space, but it can be a space challenge for a plant collector trying to fit it all in.

Lilies in a french town garden pond.
Water lilies and other plants grow in a small pond in the garden.
Travel inspired details in a french town garden makeover
Travel-inspired design details (in the form of a trickling garden fountain) are all over this French town garden.

The house disappears among plants that have been collected from four continents and many more countries. François also has a greenhouse on site where he sells rare plants and garden sculptures that he has imported. (His garden is open a few times a year for plant sales and tours).

The garden is an ecological haven (in English, we would say “organic”). He employs simple techniques such as encouraging birds for insect control. 

There are many bird nests in the garden. François boasts a large population of Eurasian blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus), which are fun to watch as they are quite colorful and famed for their skilled acrobatics when feeding.

clematis vine. Growing a wide variety of plants in the a french town garden makeover
A white flowering clematis vine scrambles through other garden plants.
Japanese maple in the fall in a french town garden.
The patio table features a Japanese maple.
Lilies in a french town garden pond.
In addition to the larger garden pond, there are also smaller containerized water gardens.
Growing a wide variety of plants in the a french town garden makeover
Curving paths and obstructed views create a sense of a larger space.
Growing a wide variety of plants in the a frech town garden makeover
Lambs ear, roses and cactus.

“I do not make any plans I plant according to my purchases of plants and my inspiration”

François Simonaire
Travel inspired details in a french town garden makeover
Potted Equisetum hyemale (a perennial fern that is also known as scouring rush, snake grass, and horsetail) is part of a potted container garden collection that also features Hakonchloa and an olive tree.
Growing a wide variety of plants in the a frech town garden makeover
There are a wide variety of plants growing in the a french town garden.

One of Simon’s biggest challenges is the size.  He wants it to feel bigger than it is, and he uses curving paths, obstructed views, and hidden areas to create an illusion of something more sizable.

“My pond is one of my greatest successes. I wanted it very natural and well integrated into the garden with carp, koi, frogs and especially water lilies.  When you are in the garden you are immediately removed from the city and all you can hear is the sound of water.”

Growing a wide variety of plants in the a french town garden makeover
This is a no-rules garden – all sorts of unexpected plant combinations mix and mingle. (Heuchera, Agave, opuntia cactus, allium, among others).
Cute shed in a french town garden. See the makeover.
A cute shed at the back of the garden is surrounded by plants and the cloud-pruned Larix tree.

 

François’s garden-making advice:

“Mix it up!  Don’t be a slave to a style, personalize your garden to make yourself happy.”

François Simonaire

 

The most notable plants in this town garden in Normandy:

  • A Larix that has been pruned into a cloud shape.
  • A Persimmon Tree (called a Kaki in French) with a superb trunk that sports orange fruits on bare stems in late autumn.

François regularly changes up the garden, and some visitors come at least monthly as there is always something new to see.  He has also used the garden as a gallery space, inviting artists to place their sculptures among the plants to create an even more magical and curious place.

If you are traveling to Normandy, this is a great garden to visit in France. For information about events and open dates and to arrange a visit, see François’ website at Passion-jardin. The Garden and nursery are open regularly throughout the year.

Before + After of a French Town Garden in Normandy:

A garden makeover in France. Before - click through to see the after.
Before #1 – Rubble, building debris, and poor soil are strewn across an empty lot.
Growing a wide variety of plants in the a french town garden makeover
After #1 – A Bright yellow wall provides a backdrop to a garden pond and a huge variety of flowering plants.
A garden makeover in France. Before - click through to see the after.
Before #2 – Almost a complete blank slate – the only advantages being a healthy hedge for enclosure and plenty of space.
IMG_3020
After #2 – This patio area relies on the many varied textures of the plants to create a space where you feel encompassed by plants.
A garden makeover in France. Before - click through to see the after.
Before #3 – Long views are a great opportunity to create a more expansive feeling in a garden.
IMG_3029
After garden makeover #3 – A shed at the end of the garden path gives a great focal point and is an enticing destination.

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  1. Delphine says:

    Une belle découverte. Rochelle, you make me discover some French gardeners !

  2. Cathlyn says:

    It looks absolutely amazing! I think I will start liking french type of gardens.

  3. David Moore says:

    Your pond looks great! I like so many water lilies in one place.

  4. Very beautiful design of the garden.

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