“It’s my garden above the clouds”
Valley mist and hoar frost transform this fabulous garden in the French mountains. Owner Annette Lepple shares its poetic winter atmosphere
Valley mist and hoar frost transform this garden in the French mountains
This atmospheric French garden is a feast for the eyes in winter. Perching high on a hill above the River Aveyron in the Massif Central, the planting glows in the lowangled sunlight and the views are breathtaking. “The garden often seems to float above the mist,” says owner Annette Lepple, who has lived here for the past four years with her husband George. “When we first came here the garden was overgrown with brambles and a few neglected fruit trees. But it was love at first sight, and it only gradually dawned on us how much work and passion we would need to turn it into the gem it is today. “Fortunately the climate here is benign, with hot, dry summers and mild winters. Temperatures can drop significantly but never for long, which allows us to grow more tender plants such as trachelospermum, Acacia dealbata and Jasminum officinalis. “My aim was to create different rooms with changing moods and themes,” says Annette. “Clipped shrubs play a key role and form the backdrop for more naturalistic, relaxed planting. But, as the house and garden lie in the middle of a wood, there was no room for formality. We wanted the plants to sit comfortably in their wild setting. “We tackled the area in front of the house first as it surrounds the main terrace – a wooden deck that can be seen from all the rooms in the house. The soil was rather poor
Back then the garden was overgrown with brambles... but it was love at first sight
here and full of stones so we had to prepare it carefully before planting.” The effusive borders are now defined by neat box hedging. “We’ve planted various grasses here including Miscanthus sinensis ‘Morning Light’ and ‘Gracillimus’, Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Hameln’ and ‘Moudry’, plus evergreen shrubs such as Phlomis fruticosa and Nandina domestica.” Seedheads and delicate grass inflorescences are the main actors on this wintry stage. “Among the best seedheads belong to Veronicastrum virginicum, Phlomis russeliana, echinacea, allium and sanguisorba,” says Annette. “I hardly cut any plants back in autumn; my major clean up is in February when new green shoots are reaching for the light. “One of the finest grasses for winter is evergreen muhly grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris), which produces pink, fluffy inflorescences in autumn. The plumes take on an ethereal quality in hoar frost, thus extending the season of interest well into winter. Here it acts a bit like a veil through which one gets an inkling of what lies ahead… enticing the visitor to explore.” Attractive glossy rose hips also catch the eye. “I’ll usually consider a rose’s hips before buying it,” says Annette. “Most of the plants have to work hard to make it into my garden! Species roses may only flower once but a lot of them have beautiful hips and delightful, subtle foliage that turns red and orange later in the year. Rosa ‘Bourgogne’, ‘Geranium’ and David Austin rose ‘The Generous Gardener’ all provide great hips, the latter often flowering well into winter with porcelain-pink flowers and large, shiny orange hips. What a sight!” Spiders weave their webs among the rose bushes, each an ephemeral work of art when traced with crystals of frost. “Small details like this are so easily overlooked,” says Annette. “But they’re just as important as the bigger picture. Nature is awesome and never fails to excite and inspire.” The planting in front of the conservatory is more restrained, with Lavandula intermedia ‘Edelweiss’, evergreen Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Tom Thumb’ and the stunningly beautiful groundcover rose‚ ‘Vesuvia’. “Its velvet-red flowers are produced throughout the year, alongside the fluffy seedheads of Clematis aromatica, which shine like silver on a cold, sunny day and hang on for months. “Evergreen shrubs such as Mahonia japonica provide structure and interest all year, blushing beautifully in winter. In mild weather the honey-scented, yellow flowers open as early as January, creating a welcome source of nectar for insects.” Annette’s handy husband built the oak pavilion. “To sit there and watch the squirrels leap from branch to branch fills me with utmost peace and joy,” she says. “I’ve grown to love this time of year because the garden has such a poetic beauty. The low-angled sun sets off the grasses and perennials to stunning effect. It can emphasise small details and textures to make any border shine.”
Most of the plants have to work hard to make it into my garden!