World gardens and parks, chatter goes here.

Good evening everyone,

This is where we chat and post non-competition photos. Happy wandering (jogging is also welcome).

See you soon.

Cat

I’ll pass on the jogging!

But if there’s one country where I’ve wandered through urban parks and gardens that are perfectly manicured, it’s definitely Australia—like here in Melbourne. But will I find the winning photo?

Hey there,

Oh wow, that’s some picnic spot! What are they eating?

Cat

Oh wow, I don’t remember now 😊

More views of the Tuileries

You caught me! 😉

Good evening!

Well, I don’t remember now

Oh well, we’ll never know what replaces the baguette, camembert, or saucisson on the other side of the world... Personally, I can’t help but check out what people are eating.

C.

Good evening Agnès.

I’ll admit I was expecting—and hoping—to see these stunning gardens in the contest, though maybe not quite this fast. Bruno beat everyone to the punch, more of a sprint than a jog on this one

The Tuileries, that’s Paris all gray Last day, last hour, first tear too And it’s Paris in the rain These gardens stripped of their finery It’s Paris, the boredom

To bring back some sunshine, the magical—though now too crowded—Giardino degli Aranci on the Aventine, where you can gaze out over Rome at sunset.



C.

You beat me to it! 😉



I really enjoy checking the forum during my lunch break. When I saw the theme Catherine picked, I was sure this gorgeous garden would come up quickly.

Still in France but under the sun...

Sun in the south





Sun in the west

Hey Catherine

When I saw this month’s theme, I thought, "Cool, I should have a few gems in my memory box," but in the end, not so many. Still, it did let me dive back into some memories, especially this quirky garden 😂



So thanks for this choice 😊

I set aside a few garden photos, but Pamplemousses wasn’t among them. 😉

Yeah, I got that you weren’t blown away, Agnès. So I didn’t worry about "stealing your thunder" 😄

Hi Christelle,

this quirky garden

I’ll let you in on a little secret. When I started this thread, I was curious to see what everyone would post, but I also hoped my fuzzy imagination would get a clearer picture of the grace, refinement, and elegance of Japanese gardens. Those chubby, floppy hippos sprawled on the grass—who I’d mistaken for rocks without my glasses—gave me quite a shock this morning.

@Agnès, is that animal a kangaroo? I didn’t know there were kangaroos in semi-freedom in parks here in France.

The garden of the Silvacane Abbey cloister this summer. And what Vanessa Wagner was playing there, with the sparrows chirping along: https://youtu.be/0A0fjjvER4k?si=C5tJ9zoLID-JHc4z

Catherine

Picking up on Christelle’s post about the Pamplemousse Garden in Mauritius, here are the only photos that survived my cull 😅📸

Yes, I got that you weren’t dazzled, Agnès. So I didn’t worry about "cutting in front of you" 😄

If you’re referring to me, a contest is a contest—there’s no priority that counts! [;]

Good evening Isabelle,

your photos are, as always, wonderful. Thanks for sharing them here. For the contest, the very tight framing on a detail of the garden might have been a bit tricky. I hope you were less strict in your other selections, keeping some wider shots. 😉

@Bruno. Don’t get mad, you are the first of the few.

The garden La Mortella, meaning myrtles, in Ischia. This is also where the introductory photos for the two contest threads were taken:



A work by Susan Walton, wife of Walter, a composer from the last century.

https://youtu.be/mgFSi_r-BoQ?si=RhufDhBTzPJ0MQtg

C.

@Bruno. Don’t get mad, you are the first of the few.

C.

Oh well, it’d take a lot for me to get mad here... That’s why I put a bunch of smileys in my message, though the last two are hidden... But I could tell my Cricri was trying to provoke me, so I’m firing back! #2nddegree, as usual!

La Mortella garden, meaning "of myrtles," in Ischia.

I’ve wanted to go ever since I read the novel *My Brilliant Friend* (and watched the series) ;)

Hi Kate,

Does EF mention this garden in their book? It’s truly magnificent and so expansive—I don’t remember it. The whole island is a fantastic idea; the landscapes are stunning, the towns delightfully chaotic with their faded villas nestled in lush greenery. And the food and drink? Absolutely amazing. Just don’t have a weak heart for the traffic. I discovered it a month ago and I’ll definitely be going back. It’ll be the perfect chance to see the island’s other major garden, dedicated to succulents: I Giardini Ravino.

Another garden, at the Valmagne Abbey ;)



Catherine

The other thread is now reserved for photos (if two of you feel targeted, your feelings are justified 😛), so I’m replying to Marie-Anne here.

Good evening!

In my mind, the golf course should be in the same family as parks.

Sort of. They look alike, but parks have a recreational aspect that golf courses don’t—they’re designed for sports. Let’s just say they’re distant cousins. You can change your photo and submit another one with photo number 2, or leave it as is. Either way, the voters will decide. 🙂

Catherine

Hi Isabelle, They’re, as always, wonderful. Thanks for sharing them here. For the contest, the very tight framing on a garden detail would’ve been a bit tricky. I hope you were less strict in your other selections, keeping some wider shots. 😉

C.

Yeah, but I still thought I had more of this garden… apparently, I didn’t like them 🤭

Is a kangaroo the animal? I didn’t know there were kangaroos in semi-freedom in parks in France.

Almost! It’s a wallaby.

It’s the Parc de Clères near Rouen.

EF talks about this garden in their book—it’s really magnificent and huge—right? I don’t remember.

No, the scenes take place in the Maronti hamlet and on the beach of the same name. It was the intensity of those passages that made me want to discover the island.

Another garden, at Valmagne Abbey ;)

That one’s closer to home for me ;)

The other thread is now reserved for photos (if two of you feel targeted, your feelings are justified 😛

Promise, I won’t do it again

“Teacher’s strict, but teacher’s fair”

Agnès, is a kangaroo the animal? I didn’t know there were kangaroos in semi-freedom in parks in France.

Almost! It’s a wallaby.

Oh, if there’s a macropod contest, I’ve got 2 or 3 fun facts up my sleeve! 😛

Are animal parks on theme? 🤔😊

Are animal parks on topic?

I don’t think so. I don’t visit them—they’re enclosed natural wild spaces to protect the animals, right? The flora there is independent of human intervention.

This month, we really need to stick to the definition of a garden: a space, often enclosed, planted with vegetation. *Planted* is the key word. I only added "park" because some large gardens are called that (in Bordeaux, the *Jardin Public* and the *Parc Bordelais* are two large urban green spaces of the same nature).

Sorry!

Catherine

Okay, thanks for the details, Catherine! 😊

Minimalist garden, Faroe Islands

Garden gnomes, Faroe Islands...

A garden in Brittany, another in the Karoo (South Africa).





"The difference between a garden and a desert isn’t water—it’s man." Tuareg proverb

Okay... let’s say evening, twilight is approaching.

France and Africa...

Quiet garden Solemn garden Garden with eyes lowered in the evening For the night Sorrows and rumors All the bustling anxieties of the city Reach me, gliding over smooth rooftops, Arrive at the window Leaning, softened by the small, tender, and thoughtful leaves.

White hands, Delicate gestures, Soothing gestures,

But the call of the tam-tam Leaping Over mountains And Continents,

Who will soothe my heart, At the call of the tam-tam Leaping Vehement Haunting?

Senghor

C.

But I could tell my Cricri was trying to tease me, so I’m firing back! #2nddegree, as usual!

I didn’t tease you at all, Bruno—I’m about to leave at an airport, so my head’s been elsewhere for days 😵. I didn’t get it, but coming from you, I know it’s always in a "nice" way 😄😜

But I could tell my dear Cricri was trying to tease me, so I’m firing back! #2nddegree, as usual!

I wasn’t teasing at all, Bruno—I’m about to leave from an airport, so my head’s been elsewhere for days 😵. So I didn’t get it, but coming from you, I know it’s always in good fun 😄😆

.

If you’re at an airport, that means there’ll be a travel journal when you get back! Enjoy!

The suspense is killing us, Bruno! The first flight is delayed, and if the second one is on time in Lisbon, we’ll miss it!! So now we’re heading to Gambia, but we might end up in Cape Verde 😄

The joys of travel! 🥰 At least you know: avoid Sal 😉

A garden means a gardener means tools...

International Garden Festival at Chaumont-sur-Loire

Hello Kate



Probably taken at roughly the same spot (under a sky darkened by dust)

Another one from Chaumont-sur-Loire ;) (a year when the weather wasn’t great, unfortunately—bad timing for the colors).

I got my hair done by Christelle for Gardens by the Bay in Singapore





and by Kate for the Cactus Garden in Lanzarote





I’ll have to draw faster next time 😄

Still at Central Park,

Hello Kate



Probably taken at roughly the same spot (under a sky darkened by dust)



Hello Muriel

Sure does look very similar! But I get the impression your photo was taken outside, whereas mine was taken from inside, in the entrance hall where you buy tickets. Maybe César Manrique was fond of oculi 😉 (I double-checked the spelling of "œil-de-bœuf" in the plural 🤪)

Anyway, you nailed it with Central Park! I really love the photo!

At the same time, is posting two photos of the same park against the rules? #contest !

I’ll have to whip it out faster next time 😄

Gotta hurry for my 3rd one ;) But seriously, it doesn’t matter—it’s actually interesting to see different perspectives on the same place...

I’ll have to whip it out faster next time 😄

Gotta hurry for my 3rd one ;) But seriously, it doesn’t matter—it’s actually interesting to see different perspectives on the same place...

Down to the minute!

(I checked the spelling of "oeil-de-boeuf" in the plural 🤪)

Ox-eye windows, so weird! 😏

(I checked the spelling of "oeil-de-boeuf" in the plural 🤪)

"Yeux de bœuf" is too weird! 😏

I almost wrote it that way but then I had second thoughts—I was really unsure! And why not "yeux-de-Boeufs"? 😄

I almost wrote it that way myself, then I changed my mind—I had serious doubts! And why not ox-eyes? 😄

Because you only need one ox to have two eyes? The reverse isn’t true unless it’s a pirate ox! Don’t confuse it with *boeuf-carottes* (beef and carrots), which has nothing to do with this discussion, nor with *boeuf bourguignon*, a Dijon specialty—just like mustard, by the way. Though mustard has nothing to do with the aforementioned ox. Okay, I’ll stop.

Alright, I’ll stop.

But no, you’re really going off on this discussion! 😄