Tags
becoming madame, environment, France, french culture, gardening, green living, healthy living, lifestyle, Paris, roses, Travel
Dear Fellow Rose Lovers,
I just couldn’t get over the lovely roses blossoming in the courtyard at the back of 
the family house down south while we were visiting at the end of July. My beaux-parents have a tremendous rose garden filled with dozens of varieties of rose bushes. Some of the blossoms this year were larger than my hand. Absolutely breathtaking. I’m told that some of these rose bushes have been in place for over 60 years! I’ve tried to capture a little of the rosy deliciousness for you here.
While I was staying with my parents-in-law back in May recuperating after foot surgery, the first blossoms were blooming beautifully and to add a small touch of my own to the family garden, I was invited to plant a little Pierre de Ronsard climbing rose bush. The delicate blush of pink is just gorgeous.
When we returned to the house this summer for a week of holiday, to my absolute delight we happened to stumble upon the second rose blooming. My father-in-law tells me that they are a little late this year, so I was lucky!
During our wedding on the property several years ago, the June afternoon was stifling hot with a cloudless sapphire sky but alas no roses. Or at least none naturally growing in the central courtyard. 
We married just between blooms.
The scent of one of the red rose bushes – I think I was told it is a Queen’s Anne, but I’ll have to double-check that – is absolutely indescribable in its wondrousness (I think I may have made this word up for the occasion). While walking toward the house you can smell its delicate scent five feet before you happen upon it. That’s how marvelously aromatic it is.
Absolutely gorgeous!
Is that in Pau? It’s on my “might move to” list.
This house is actually in Dordogne, next to Saint Emilion about an hour from Bergerac. Pau is a little further south and where my parents-in-law live in the winter months. Another abosolutely breath-taking place, something like Monaco, up on a cliff with the Pyrenées mountains just at the horizon. I’d definitely keep it on your list. I have a number of videos from Pau. I’ll put something together so you can get a better picture of its beauty.
Thanks, that would be great! I did visit back in 2004, but the clouds were down and I didn’t get to see the mountains. The train ride up from Bayonne was a delight.
They are fabulous! I have as many roses as our small garden can accommodate, but when I see pictures like yours, I covet more.
Best wishes,
Nancy
And think of me in the apartment with not even a single rose plant to speak of…
I tried to get a few rose plants to grow here on the balcony, but alas there just isn’t enough sunlight as the salon faces north.
I’m so sorry!!! I forgot to tell you about the family in our town whose daughter was getting married, but the roses weren’t in bloom. They had blooming roses tied to the bushes. That’s our town (or a part of it).
I hope your husband brings you roses from time to time.
Best wishes,
Nancy
Georgeous! Are they fragrant? Have you read ” For the love of a rose”? Its about the development in France of the rose named “Peace”
I have not read that one. I’ll have to see if it is translated into French for my father-in-law. I think he might really appreciate it! As for the roses here, there is one bush, I think its called the Queen Anne, a large, red bloom, that is absolutely to die for. The fragrance is magnifique! That’s the one I speak of in the post that you can spell from feet away as you approach the rose garden. It’s truly unbelievable, like walking into a gloriously scented parfumerie.
ahhh, if only we could smell them as well….. thanks for sharing these beautiful creations from heaven to us in blogland!
What a lovely garden! My father grows amazing roses for my mom, he has an entire front yard dedicated to the most beautiful roses. People drive by just to see them in bloom. He has hundreds of rose bushes that have been cultivated for decades.
i can’t even grow one, so I admire his tremendously.
The rose garden by Notre Dame also is home to some beautiful colors of roses. I love to stop by there and read whenever I get to Paris. So peaceful.
His garden sounds divine! As is the rose garden by Notre Dame, you’re so right! I’d forgotten about that one! I’m going to head over there once this tremendous heat breaks and I can venture outside during the day again.
Your belle parents home looks like it would be an absolute dream, the roses, the stone courtyard, tall windows. . .sigh, I would never leave.
I suppose about this time of year, there is a reason everyone vacates Paris, the heat and still air would make it impossible to breathe! I hope it breaks for you soon. If not you have a nice place to visit and smell the roses.
Hello,
I have just stumbled upon your blog, and I am absolutely loving it. It’s a very refreshing insider look at Parisian life, indeed.
I read the posts about French pharmacies as well as tips your mother in law has taught you. I would be very interested in more posts like these, particularly some french secrets as to what we might do to ward off colds as the colder months are approaching.
Keep up the beautiful work
Best,
Anastasia
Thank you very much, Anastasia. I’ll look into doing another post on that this week!! Take care! And thanks again for your encouragement!