Floral Park Apremont-sur-Allier, in France, is simply breathtaking. Open to the public in 1977, it receives around 40,000 annual visitors. Here is part of the story behind it.
As a teenager, Gilles de Brissac visited England and and was spellbound by its wonderful gardens. At the end of the summer of his fifteenth birthday, Gilles returned to France and started passionately to restructure the gardens of the family castle in the Chevreuse Valley, under the watchful eye of his mother May, Duchesse de Brissac. Continuing his training, especially alongside Russell Page and Charles de Noailles, and perfecting his taste by visiting gardens around the world, Gilles becomes a professional landscape gardener.
Thirty years later, he became a landscape painter, and created one of the most beautiful parks in France.
Until his death in 2002, Gilles de Brissac continued refining his work. Today, the torch was taken over by his sister, Elvira.
The pergola is covered with white, fragrant clusters of wisteria, Wisteria floribunda 'Alba'.
Photography by Patrick Smith.
All images and information from here.
A lovely weekend to you my friends!
