Le Magicien de l'éphémere

Which, roughly translated means 'the Wizard of ephemeral'.  I noticed this this stunning little shop front in Rue Royale.  Lachavme, master florist since 1845, whose motto is 'excellence'.   I was stopped in my tracks by the smell of the jasmine in this display around the entrance - I literally walked past and back tracked when I smelled it, only to be met with these sumptous blooms in the colourful shop window.  If only my blog could do smell-o-vision!

I imagined sophisticated gentlemen ordering extravagant bouquets for their amour, beautifully decorated banqueting tables or society weddings overflowing with creamy roses......such decadance!

Have a look at the website and get yourself a floral screensaver from the 'goodies'.

http://lachaume-fleurs.com/home_en.html

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Sick!

Sitting at home feeling miserable with a gastro, it was hard not to be slightly uplifted by the sight of these trees bursting with blossom next door.

Monoprix does it again!

More cute cache pots from Monoprix to add class to your garden or balcony or staircase.  Ranging from 5 - 7 Euros a pot.

So darn tasteful in those muted greys, greens and off whites......

Garden Furniture

I've noticed that the shops are waking up to spring and are starting to display their new garden furniture ranges.  Passing through BHV on rue Rivoli, I glanced at their selection which seemed frankly uninteresting and rather expensive.  Bricorama have some cute coloured chairs and tables at the budget end of the market.  Here's some pics of part of their range

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I'm sure this will be the first of many garden ranges I'll be bringing you, can't wait to explore the shops!

Squares of Paris: It's not really a Square!

I tracked down the other green space in 2nd arr, Square Pierre Lazareff, deep in the heart of the garment production/fashion wholesalers area.  The Square is named after a journalist on a French newspaper, France Soir.  And guess what?  It's not really a square! It's an enclosed small planted area with a high wooden structure and alongside is a strip of fenced in plants and trees.  This is not a Square!  I cannot eat my sandwiches in there!

However, there is a little story nevertheless.  The high wooden structure turns out to be a pigeon loft and there's a sign explaining why it's there which explains that this contraceptive 'pigeonnier' was installed by the Town Hall of the 2nd arrondissement of Paris to deal with the pigeon population of the area and improve the conditions of cohabitation between the birds and the residents.

Inside the loft, the pigeons can find water and food and are able to make their nests on small balconies.  Births of baby birds are regulated by the sterilisation of the eggs.

Wounded pigeons are put in the hands of the Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort (near Paris).

The loft is responsible for a significant reduction of pigeon related nuisance in the area.  The pigeons group together in the loft and the cleaning of mess is also easier to handle.

Actually I was pretty speechless at that!  Here's some pics of the non-square, the loft and the Marché de Montorgueil.

So, even in the most meagre green spaces, there's still something interesting to learn.  And the 'square' is right next to the Marché de Montorgueil, a really vibrant street filled with cafés and bakers and some pretty trendy little shops.  So my walk wasn't for nothing......

Didn't find any pics of pigeons, they must all have been inside:-)

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. »