Monday, November 14, 2011

Jackie French's garden...

I spent yesterday with a group of lovely friends on an Open Garden Scheme tour of Jackie French's garden...
For those who don't know, are too young to know, forget they ever knew, never knew...
Jackie French is a well known and award winning author, columnist, speaker, presenter. She's been on the tv and on radio...she writes and talks about a lot of things, especially the bush and fruit trees...and historical fiction and non-fiction, children's stories, gardening...she's pretty extraordinary.
Jackie's home in the beautiful Araluen Valley near Braidwood NSW was open over the weekend and she was the hostess. So generous with her time and clearly an expert with a vast knowledge honed by an inquiring mind...
 
I lost count of the hundreds of trees, shrubs, plants that she and her husband Bryan care for. You can read a lot more about it on her website as well as about the 140 books she's written...yes 140!  It was a fascinating talk, most of which went right over my non-horticultural head, but wow, what a lovely place to spend a few sunny Sunday hours.
Of course I had to buy a book :-) 
This is part of the foreword ...
"Once upon a time I bought some land. I wanted to build a house, an orchard, a world of peace and plenty..."
Can't wait to read it.
Bless.
Posted by Kerry at 7:00 AM
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7 comments:

  1. Glorious!
    I hope you got to meet the wombats too.

    Happy week ahead Lovely!
    x

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  2. Hello Kerry:
    It is so good to go to Open Gardens in one's area as one can gain all manner of ideas to put into practice in one's own plot. It is such a splendid way to see what thrives in conditions which are the same as in one's own garden and this does save on costly expenses for plants which will not do well.

    Jackie's garden looks wonderful. Such a lot of green which we always think works well as it is so calming and sets off other more vibrant colours so well.

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  3. ......and, she has such a delightful name !!!! haha
    Her garden looks beautiful and must have taken years of hard work. As Jane and Lance say, it's great to visit other peoples gardens, as it gives one such brilliant ideas. We often visit the gardens in the Yellow Book Garden scheme that we have here.....and, they often sell plants that are cuttings from the plants that we have seen in the gardens.
    I can imagine it was a lovely Sunday afternoon. XXXX

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  4. sounds like a great book. i rememeber her well, but i shudder at the thought that there may be adults somewhere who don't - cos that would make me old!!! : |

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  5. 140 books! Where does she find the time to garden and speak to groups?! The book you bought looks very good and your photographs are just beautiful! What a lovely day!

    XO,
    Jane

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  6. I love going to open gardens. I always get all enthusiastic upon my return home. I remember Jackie from her Burkes backyard days.

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  7. Whilst the garden is indeed lovely and I can understand why you enjoyed your day I can't help but wonder, and worry, that between that day and your 10 books for the month you are neglecting your own writing which I enjoy so much and miss a lot!!!!!!! much love and hugs for your continued friendship xx

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I love it when you comment...I feel excited, chuffed and tranquil all at the same time! Thank you.

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