Country Garden
Inspired by French rosarian André Eve, the owner of this superb rose garden has transformed farmland on the banks of the River Loire into a fragrant, colourful paradise
Romancing the rose in all its glory on the banks of the Loire.
Visiting Stéphane Chassine’s garden on the southern banks of the River Loire is, in modern parlance, an immersive experience. Follow the grassy paths that wind through the Rose Cloister, walk beneath the pergolas, arbours and tunnels that lead through the garden, sit on the rustic benches and, throughout, and you will be surrounded by more than 500 varieties of rose. They festoon the trees, cascade from walls and enshroud their supports, taking on a near-wild appearance and enveloping you with their delicious scent.
In 1999, when Stéphane and his wife, Aline, bought their farmhouse, just a field away from the south bank of the river at Meung-sur-loire, the buildings were derelict and there was no garden, just a flat, six-hectare field with a few mature walnut and acacia trees. Restoring the farmhouse was the priority but once that was finished, Stéphane’s focus moved outside. ‘It was realising how fertile the land was that made me want to create a garden,’ he explains.
‘In 2002, I took the hectare of land behind the barn and began to make plans. I was not a gardener, but I had worked for André Eve, a famous rosarian and the French equivalent of David Austin. André taught me everything I know. In his own garden, he mixed roses of every shape and form with perennials, and this was my inspiration for the Rose Cloister.’
On such a flat site, it was essential to add structure to give the garden shape and definition and to create height,
as well as a sense of enclosure and intimacy. Fortunately, Stéphane is a skilled woodworker and he has used rustic chestnut poles to fashion pergolas, obelisks and arches that act as rose supports. These individual touches give the garden its character, in particular, the pyramidal gloriettes that sit atop one of the pergolas, providing the perfect framework for climbing roses.
Stéphane tends work alone in the garden, accompanied by his chickens, geese and peacocks, which o≠er mobile pest control, although he does have help with pruning and tidying during the winter months. ‘My typical working day in spring and summer involves mowing the paths, weeding, watering, feeding the poultry and meeting visitors,’ he says. Aline and the couple’s three children lend a hand during busy times. ‘When I created the garden, it was purely for my own pleasure,’ Stéphane says, ‘but when I saw how my family and friends responded to it, I decided to open the garden to the public in 2005.’
The Rose Cloister peaks in June, but many of the roses continue to flower all summer long, as do the perennials. Asked what he likes most about his garden, Stéphane replies, ‘I love the luxuriance of the plants, the abundance of the roses and all the small hidden nooks.’ One can only hope that however busy Stéphane is, there are moments when he can sit on one of his handcrafted rustic benches and enjoy the fragrance of his wonderful blooms.