This time of year always has me garden dreaming. The former owner’s of our current home did a beautiful job with the grounds. We would love to make this garden a little more water wise and perhaps add some grasses. The garden is over 6 years old now so some items need removed or replaced. The garden style that best served our former home was the french style. Our climate is hotter here in the summer but still many of the plants that grow in France will grow here. The Enchanting Gardens of Dominique Lafourcade have always held my heart.
THE ENCHANTING GARDENS OF DOMINIC LAFOURCADE
Perhaps the most famous is the garden she created for her family. Les Confines is a stunning Provencal house and gardens set within its own twenty-acre estate. The home and gardens were restored by the team of Bruno (the architect) and Dominique (the garden designer). I believe Les Confines, is now a vacation rental.
Here is an aerial view of the massive gardens.
The famous allee’ of potted olives. Structure is so important in all of her designs. You might enjoy my post on the importance of structure in the garden here.
I can’t remember the first time I encountered the beautiful gardens of Dominique Lafourcade. One of my first garden books was Jardins & Bouquets (in French no less and still available on Amazon). It was my first introduction to her wonderful work. I still often refer to this book even though it is in French! Every time I encountered one of her gardens I was in awe… though I was yet to learn her identity. Her sense of space…..in her own words “A garden is first and foremost a work of art, with the gardener playing the roles of architect, sculptor, musician, and painter in turn. A garden should move visitors, setting all their senses aquiver”
Dominique’s husband Bruno was a self-taught architect known for restoring many beautiful provencal historic homes. They worked jointly until 2016 when Bruno unexpectedly passed away. Alexandre Lafourcade, who is self-taught, went to work with his father Bruno at the age of 15. He took over the business in 2012 after twenty-five years’ experience supervising large-scale architectural projects. He and his mother still work jointly on many projects. To my delight, they now have a book Lfourcade (detailing many of their projects) available on Amazon here that I have ordered.
Take a look at this beautiful terrace.
You can see all of the gardens here. The formal garden at Les Confines. I believe the borders are planted in box. You can see the plane trees in the background, perhaps laurel and italian cypress.
The Kitchen Garden through the beautiful gate.
The African Pool Garden. Here she has planted grasses and more arid plants intuitively before their imminent popularity.
“A gardener must be an architect, sculptor, musician, and painter all at the same time for the result to move the viewer and appeal to all the senses.” Dominique La Fourcade. Her drawings are as beautiful as the designs themselves.
You can find all of the gardens that Dominique has designed (or those of note) on her website here. One of the most photographed is the beautiful garden of Atlanta/Newport Designer Ginny Magher, Mas de Baraquet. You can see more of this garden on Ginny’s website here.
The gardens at Les Mas de Poiriers (an Instagram favorite) were also designed by Dominic Lafourcade. Les Mas de Poiriers (main house) is a Provence vacation rental for guests, in Saint-Remy-de-Provence, that you can find out more about here. The home was restored by Alexander Lafourcade for an English couple who now resides permanently in France. The owner has recently written a book about the beautiful property. You can purchase Provence Style on Amazon here.It is filled with beautiful images of both the stylish interiors and the beautiful garden areas.
There is always a place that guides the eye to a place of rest.
I love the use of the Oleander hedge. I would like to add more here. It is almost impossible to kill Oleander and it has a very long bloom season. It is however poisonous to animals and humans, so it should be used in spaces where that is not a concern.
I love the simple combination of blues and greens in this space.
This post could have gone on for days literally. She has designed so many beautiful gardens. The older I get the greater my appreciation is for the French Style of gardening. If I knew then what I know now I would have wider paths, more gravel, fewer plants, and more that grow naturally in my particular environment. In my former garden, I replaced grass with gravel as is common with the french style. Plant the plants that thrive in your soil and microclimate. Don’t fight the environment.
Do you find the Enchanting Gardens of Dominique Lafourcade incredibly inspiring? Joni at Cote de Texas did one of her wonderful series titled Americans in France and showed some of her gardens here http://cotedetexas.blogspot.com/2011/03/americans-in-france.html. I am so glad I was forced to rewrite this old post. It has reminded me where my heart is garden-wise, and how to move forward with my much smaller town garden. I have linked all of the books that I own on the French Garden Style. Garden books rarely become dated. Enjoy and have a great Thursday!
EDITORS NOTE? I Have since completed my town garden. You might enjoy reading these posts:
Before and After Backyard Garden Transformation
SHOP MY FAVORITE FRENCH GARDEN STYLE BOOKS
ALL OF THESE BOOKS BY LOUISA JONES ARE WONDERFUL. I OWN EVERY ONE OF THEM.
Cindy,
Such a great article!! I have seen these gardens in magazines and Pinterest and have always loved them. I just ordered the book!! I love to read how people plan out their gardens! I found your blog about 3 years ago snd it’s one of my favorites! I love your gardens at your old home and know Judy will transform your new place!!! Thanks fir re-writing this blog post!!
Xo martha
Hi Martha
This post was a favorite of mine as well but all the pictures had disappeared!
Cindy! This is making me want to visit Provence…but then I always want to travel, I cannot wait to see your garden and your new fountain!
I was just thinking how similar our climate is to Provence and why all these gardens feel like home. Colin and Lauren’s garden…OMG. And yours will be awesome too!
Hi Cindy
Oh I have so much to do. I can’t even imagine where to start, but you’ve shared such wonderful resources! The books are on my list. I will spend time perusing the accounts of the women you mentioned. Such lovely gardens. Make my heart beat faster!
Xo Heidi
If it were only true that you can’t kill an oleander. Here in southern California, a number of years ago, a disease took hold in the oleanders and destroyed many a find hedge. People used to living in privacy had to put up opaque fences. Oddly, the disease killed only one flower color (pink, I think) but spared others. As a child, I heard many horror stories about the poison–the boy who roasted his marshmallow on an oleander branch and died, etc,
SO ELEGANT!
TAKES ME BACK TO VACATIONS THERE WHEN WE LIVED IN ITALY!
I DIDNOT KNOW YOU READ TARA!!!!!!
I HAVE A CALL WITH HER TODAY!
I loved this. Can’t wait to pour over it again and learn more.
Cindy,
I do love the garden work of Dominique Lafourcade. I have so many of the images you’ve shared in my file. Your garden in your former home was lovely and one of my favorites as well. I’ll be eager to see what you plan for your smaller garden.
xo,
Karen
These are my favorite garden images! Elegant yet they lend themselves well to takeaways for our own gardens, large or small. Indiana? I lived there! Talk soon! xoxox, Brenda
ah. a girl can dream…
Cindy- I never put two and two together to realize that the house Joni posted was yours… it is wonderful!
I adore "round" and especially in the garden… and so many of these photographs had round in them- perfect in my book!
best,
joan
I want to thank all of you "seasoned" bloggers for taking the time to comment on my little blog..I so appreciate it. You so inspire me every day!!
Mesmerized is the right word for it – definitely! I loved hearing about your learnings about your garden too, since we are just settling in here in Seattle. For the most part it is not landscaped and wild with large evergreens (very Seattle-ish!), ferns and lush greenery. BTW I tried to see your house (it sounds lovely!) on Joni's blog but it said the page didn't exist. And yes, we are definitely on the same wavelength on our blogs. 🙂 Have a great long weekend!
Hello, How do I get in touch with you? There is no email or contact info listed .. please advise .. thanks .. Mary. Please contact me maryregency at gmail dot com
Beautiful post!
Cynthia Jorgensen
Thank you so much Cynthia for stopping by! I really appreciate it!
Simply gorgeous!!!
Shared this on my Facebook page for ME, ME, ME.
I'm somehow even mentioned? How?
Anyway. Have a written-in-French garden book too. Le Vasterival. By Princess Sturdza.
I understand every word. Don't know how, but I do.
This post is melting my heart. Wish it were a little book. I would buy it.
Garden & Be Well, XO Tara
Tara
You are my garden guru! I have learned so much from your posts and books! Thank you so much for stopping by!
Hello Cindy ~ Thank you for featuring Dominique Lafourcade! Truly one of the most talented and gifted garden designers! Yes, I have many of those images on my Pinterest boards 🙂
Your garden is beautiful, as I've mentioned before!! I, too, have a Spanish Colonial style house. And, I also planted santolina in our heavy clay soils….that didn't do well. I've replaced it with English Hidcote lavender, which has done well to my surprise.
Thanks for sharing your garden experience with us! I can relate 😉
Loi
Hi Loi
I have tried many different lavenders and the English versions do best in my garden as well. The Spanish get's woody and falls over, the provence seems to die out in clumps. In California Lavender is only supposed to last about seven years. However if you hack it back religiously three to four times a year it sometimes lasts much longer ! You are my Eastern Garden Guru! Love seeing and hearing about your garden! Cindy
I wonder where Santolina actually grows well…I have never seen it in good form!!
Definitely thrives in Provence and Southern Italy!! Anywhere hot and rocky, I think.