ROMANTIC PLANTING

Hortus editor David Wheeler admires the luxuriant planting at Jardin de la villa

Fort France near Grasse, now home of the painter Valérie de Courcel. The terraced garden was created in the late 1920s by Lady Fortescue, author of Perfume from Provence. “Irises and roses seem to spring up naturally in the olive grove,” says David. 237 avenue Antoine de Saint Exupery, 06130 Grasse, 0033 4 93 36 04 94,

valeriedecourcel.fr. By appointment only.