Gorgeous garden tiles

Now the work has finished in the front garden, the huge deep trench has been filled, the hole in the road repaired and the steps into our house are destroyed (along with some of the garden), it's time to think about the future and finally I can start to act on those dreams and ideas I had for the space.  Up until now it wasn't worth making plans as we always knew that we would have to replace the drainage and deconnect the septic tank eventually.

Now we're free to dream again!  I spent a few hours tidying up, sifting stones from the soil, replacing a tree, replanting the box hedge, trimming the trees and box that survived today.  It's looking much better out there.

I have some idea of what kind of staircase I'd like to replace the old one, now we just need to find a creative stone mason to do it.  I've also long lusted after some beautiful tiles for the path.  From this company:-

Carocim http://www.carocim.com/

Gorgeous cement tiles in jewel colours with classic-with-a-twist patterns.  We'll choose a border of smaller tiles in terracotta and maybe turqoise in the corners as a border (to match the terracotta bricks of the house and the turqoise ceramic decoration near the roof which was so popular in 1920's houses in this area).  Inside the border, I'd like each of the family members to choose their favourite tiles so that the design truly belongs to all the family and we've all had a part in choosing the path to our home.  I think paths are very significant things, metaphorically and physically - leading the way home, the first thing you see when you walk out of the door in the morning and what you look out onto from your home.  I love the butterflies, birds and frogs, dh, the figure with the ball and the cactus design,  the children some patterns, the lizards, turtles, birds.  It should be a really beautiful design.

Take a look at their website and see that there are some surprising effects with these beautiful tiles (the website is also in English).  Flick through the online catalogue and be amazed.  I don't see any designs outside so I'm checking with the manufacturers that they are suitable for exterior use.  I really hope so!

http://www.marieclairemaison.com/,carocim,200397,15829.asp

Actually this article in Marie Claire Maison says they are suitable for outside and inside too.  Yipee!

Balcony in 12th arr

Last year I was pleased to be invited to help a friend bring some colour to her windows.  She lived in a typical Haussmanian flat near the Gare du Lyon and her favourite colours are yellows, oranges and pinks.

I used her existing windowboxes and pots to create displays of hot pink geraniums, marigolds and ivy and asparagus to give some green (she specifically wanted the asparagus).  A very simple scheme but nice and 'hot'.  I also added some little confier and evergreen 'trees' for the ground level.

Here's some photos of the empty window and then with windowboxes.  The photos don't show how nice the boxes looked eventually, as they were freshly planted  when the photos were taken, but I understand they did bring a welcome breath of nature to her family.  She was kind enough to write a reccomendation for me:-

"Claire took the time to listen to my preferences and took into account the type of light the balconies received. She bought plants, pots and soil and did all the planting in one afternoon. Our three balconies are now filled with flowers that will bloom all spring and summer, as well as ivies, and other greenery to balance out the flowers. Thanks to Claire, we are enjoying a beautiful blooming mini-garden on our balconies and the entire family is delighted. »

Green on the Rails

Travellers on the newest metro line - Line 14 - in Paris are surprised to pull into the Gare du Lyon station.  One has the impression of entering a rainforest jungle!

Catch the line and be amazed by this fabulous (and seemingly well kept) large garden on the side of the tracks., right next to the train.   Much nicer to look at than a wall full of advertising, and completely unexpexted.

Line 14 was only opened just over 10 years ago and it's the only line with driverless trains.  It's a very modern line, lots of concrete, glass and modern design of the stations.  If you take this line, try to stand in the front carriage right at the front where the driver's cab would have been (if there was one).  It's a great ride, fast and full of wind-ey tunnels and long stretches. where you can see the stations approaching from the darkness like beacons ahead.  You can even pretend you're driving.  Great fun, even for adults!

I always wonder who looks after this garden at the Gare du Lyon, whoever, they are doing a great job!  It's a pleasure to look at and really unusual in an underground station.

Winter Jasmine

We inherited a very sturdy yellow winter jasmine which is climbing an old trellis.  It is very virulent and, if left unchecked, it will droop down to the floor and becomes quite unruly.  I trim it back hard every summer and it really pays back my hard work.

Although it peeks out from a tiny hole in a concrete drive, the plant is huge and was the only bright spot of colour on what was a grey dull wall.  We painted the wall off white and now the light reflects off it and the pretty vibrant yellow flowers look even more beautiful, especially during a long, dark winter.  It is such an amazing plant coming from such a tiny hole, sometimes people stop and comment when it's in full bloom.  It has given me much cheer on difficult days as I look out onto a rainy or snowy scene.

The flowers have all but gone now but now we can look forward to the bright green leaves that will develop.

If you have a wall that needs cheering up, you could do well to choose a winter jasmine to give your garden some winter colour and interest with foilage in the summer.

There are 200 or more species of Jasminum.  Climbing jasmines will twine themselves over any suitable support - trellis, fence, arch or even over a large shrub or into a tree.  In cool areas, jasmines should be grown in a sheltered position.  Jasmines are fully hardy to frost tender, ours does not seem to be affected by frost at all.  Jasmines need well drained soil in full sun or partial shade (ours has partial shade in a position that receives sunshine until 11h every day and is in a sheltered position out of the wind).

If your neigbour has a jasmine, you could ask nicely for a cutting in summer, pop it in a loam based potting compost in bright light (but keep it out of full sunshine).  Plant in the Autumn or spring.

Our jasmine is jasminum nudiflorum (Winter Jasmine).  It's described as a deciduous shrub because it loses its leaves in Autum, ready to bear flowers in winter and the leaves are produced in spring on the site of the fallen flowers.  Here's a close up of our glorious jasmine.

For successful winter jasmines, it's better to plant on a wall that doesn't get too much sunshine as the sun can damage the flowers after a frost - preferably a north facing wall - wow a plant that likes this exposure - that's a treat for those with a north facing wall.

Never plant a winter jasmine on an east facing wall because the morning sun will defrost the flowers too quickly, leading to damage.

One should prune a winter jasmine at the end of winter and the goal of pruning should be to open up the plant mass by cutting back the old branches that are stopping the young ones from pushing through.  Also, the branches that flowered in the winter should be cut back. 

Berry nice dining!

Sorry about the title...You would think I spend my days in Monoprix, given my recent posts, but I don't honest.

I was in there today and spotted this very cute table and chairs dining set enhanced with a lovely juicy strawberry design.

The table was just under 50 Euros and the chairs around 36 Euros.  Very cute on a small balcony or in a corner in the garden.  Watch out though if you leave them in the sun, you might burn your bum as the ensemble is made of metal:-)

Sia Artificial Flowers

I am so desparate for spring to arrive that I snapped these cheerful displays in my local branch of Monceau Fleurs.  All fake I'm afraid, but some of them quite pretty I thought and a nice colourful addition to your home.  The vases are pretty and the white display elegant.  Fake orchids in particular can be very convincing and attractive.  The real thing is hard to grow as you need the right conditions, restraint when watering, pruning them in the right way and lots of patience.  My Mum has some quite large orchids (real!) We purchased the bulbs on a visit to the 'Garden Island' of Madeira well over 10 years ago when we had a guided tour of an incredible orchid grower's plants and garden.  Have a look at the fabulous gardens of this special island:-
  http://www.madeira-web.com/PagesUK/gardenindex.html 

I'm ashamed to say my orchids did not thrive, however.

So, here's a couple of jolly pictures to cheer the winter gloom!  Stems seemed to cost around 9 Euros a piece for the smaller ones by the way.

My Challenge for 2011

Watch this space, I am planning a big project for my blog - I'd like to visit ALL the squares in Paris and report back to you on each and every one of them.  Usually when you're looking for squares of Paris you can come across the famous squares and Places, but not tiny neigbourhood squares that are so vital to the community, offering a place to sit in the sun or shade, a place to relax, somewhere to eat your sandwich lunch, walk out with your children, your baby, your sweetheart or your friends.  The place you can pop into and see familiar faces, maybe a few ducks, definitely some soothing greenery and occasionally steal a go on the swings when nobody's looking!  It's those squares I'm interested in, the 'real' Paris, not the well visited tourist route. 

Let's see if I can meet my challenge, at least I hope to bring you some new and unusual places to visit that you might have overlooked....here's hoping!

In the meantime, here's the official Paris website, which is quite good actually.

http://www.paris.fr/portail/english/Portal.lut?page_id=8212

Watch here for the unofficial version:-)