It’s snowing here again in the Moosbach Garden and I’ve given up potting up roses in the very cold garage. I thought instead that I would share my memories of a trip to a delightful garden in the Alsace. Le Jardin de Berchigranges. I hope you enjoy!
I first visited this stunningly beautiful and inspirational garden in 2015 and I’ve been in love with it ever since but don’t take my word for it, plan a visit and decide for yourself.
I think that gardens are like music or works of art, it’s all a matter of personal perspective and choice. Let’s face it, if we all liked the same things then the world would be far less interesting and diverse.
This garden is in the middle of nowhere, at a high altitude for gardening (800m) but I like people who buck convention and attempt something that they know is going to be extremely challenging. If it’s too easy why bother eh?
The garden is completely bio, lots of people say that but have problem areas they’ve dealt with using chemicals, not this pair (Monique and Thierry Dronet). There is absolutely nothing in this garden but soil, glorious plants, stunning use of water and a whole lot of love.
The owners recommend that you walk around the garden barefoot as the garden is very tactile. It’s true, although I’m not sure I would recommend walking around all of the areas barefoot, maybe carry your shoes so you can decide. The grass lawns are completely weed free and you would be hard pressed to find a better lawn in England. This is achieved by hand using a small garden tool to root out any weed that encroaches, now that’s dedication.
The garden is divided up into a multitude of garden rooms with inventive use of pathing, hedging and wall materials plus a brilliant use of plants.
Nearly all the plants in this garden are hardy, so there is no digging up of plants in the autumn and storing in greenhouses over the winter months. There are some unusual uses of hedging that on my first visit blew me away. They also have created some very interesting walls using wood, sometimes vertically and sometimes horizontally like a log pile seen from one end. These are clever design aspects that keeps the visitor enthralled time and time again.
Some of my favourite areas of the garden are the wild perennial areas, one day I might even have a go at this myself. Sometimes, I think I’m too uptight as a gardener, worrying about weeds and everything not being at its very best. What the creators here have done is bold but it works on many levels. They have a fairly wide grass path, meandering through what is affectively a large, gently sloping meadow filled with delphiniums, Phlox, Lupins and Hardy Geraniums. Yes, weeds grow in between but you don’t really notice as the overall effect is one of wild naturalistic beauty. In the Autumn they simply strim it all down and it regrows again in the spring, no dead heading, weeding or worry. Brilliant. A paradise for bees and insects.
There are some stunning and unusual perennials in this garden and Monique, who is simply lovely, can advise on the plant names, can tell you what conditions they like and can even tell you if they have any for sale. There is a fairly small “plant for sale” area on your way out and if you are anything like me you will come away with an empty wallet and a car full of plants. Just remember to take along a helper as the car park is a 5 min walk up the hill.
The only disadvantage that I can think of with this garden is that there is nowhere to get a cup of tea and a piece of cake, so you need to bring your own packed lunch. There are some shady areas adjacent to the car park that are grassy, shady and suited to alfresco dining.
The garden is open from April to October, when you decide to visit depends upon what it is you want to see. I’m a perennial addict so June, July and August are my preferred months.
Here is their website address
Tel: +33 (0) 3 29 51 47 19
Berchigranges
88640 Granges-Sur-Vologne
Please ignore the garden blogger with the big ears spoiling this picture, I have to admit that I was very happy sitting amongst these flowers in peace.
And finally, if there is a garden that you would like to recommend, please send us an email or add a comment to the post.