Eremurus robustus, Cirsium rivulare ‘Atropurpureum’, Pinus pinea,
Credit: Les jardins Agapanthe 76 France
Like a lot of gardeners, I peruse Pinterest and see photos that offer inspirational design ideas and plant combinations. One, a garden bed filled with Allium ‘Globemaster’ surrounded by Buxus sempervirens ‘suffruticosa’ so grabbed my heart recently that I felt the need to learn more about it.
Printemps Allium ‘Globemaster’
Buxus sempervirens ‘Suffruticosa’
Les Jardins Agapanthe 76 France
The photo was labeled “Les Jardins Agapanthe”. Its creator is Alexandre Thomas, a French landscape architect who for the past twenty-five years has been designing private gardens which he adapts to the desire of his clients without silencing his own, powerful personality. In this way, he creates unique and original works that have brought him success both in France and abroad.
Sambucus nigra, Cistus corbariensis
Credit: Les jardins Agapanthe 76 France
Firmly established as a non-conformist landscape designer, Alexandre Thomas rejects clichés, marrying classicism and exotic fantasy with audacious rigor, and approaching the garden as a single whole, with stones, fountains, sculptures and lighting.
Credit: Les jardins Agapanthe 76 France
Similar to an antique dealer, he hunts out his plants, searching for rarities. Rigorous in his research, he tends to favor mature plants and trees which are already several decades old and provide a sense of identity to a place.
His strength lies in the use of striking plants—in terms of shape, size, age and originality—which provide immediate results, in the image of his Agapanthus Garden, which is a living showcase of his know-how.
Credit: Les jardins Agapanthe 76 France
The Agapanthus Garden is above all the laboratory of the landscape architect and designer. The subject of constant research, it is continually evolving. To present an idea of his work, Alexandre Thomas freely opens his garden to visitors. Enthusiasts from around the world eagerly travel to discover this unique example of garden art.
Eclairage nocturne: Jean Philippe Weimer
Les Jardins Agapanthe 76 France
Over more than 9,000m² of gardens without lawns, visitors can enjoy the assembly of the designer’s favorite plants. This contemporary garden is defined by its powerful structure. The combination of strongly emphasized ground works, a maze of terraces and walls, watercourses and pools creates a succession of moods.
Eclairage nocturne: Jean Philippe Weimer
Les Jardins Agapanthe 76 France
It is covered by a fine layer of sand that enhances its qualities. Surprising in every season, the Agapanthus Garden has become a true source of inspiration. This profusion of plants also incorporates decorations, furniture, fountains and animals that bring it to life as a unique and human space.
There are two parts to the garden: Alexandre started working on the first phase in 1980, when he was young. It offers a lot of different atmospheres and has the feeling of a shadow garden.
He began the second phase in 2008: It took 5 years to create this garden and open it to visitors. Today Le Jardin Agapanthes looks like an old garden with big trees and a lot of flowers. It’s more like a sunny garden filled with specimens such as: salvia, Pinus nigra, paeonia, thalictrum, erica, Eremurus robustus and dozens more.
Almost 10 days is needed to cut all the topiaries that embellish this jewel of a garden.
You can learn more about, Le Jardin Agapanthe by clicking on: www.jardins-agapanthe.com/.
And a big thank you to Alexandre’s associate, Antoine Mazy, who sent me these well crafted words and thoughts about Alexandre’s work as a designer and his garden.
Fran is the author of the highly-acclaimed book, Digging Deep: Unearthing Your Creative Roots Through Gardening, which Andrew Weil, M.D., recommends as "a profound and inspiring book."
A graduate of the University of Chicago with Honors in Psychology, she is also a gardening and creativity expert, coach, inspirational speaker, CBS radio news gardening correspondent, and Huffington Post Contributor.
Learn more about Fran and get free resources that will help you improve your life at www.fransorin.com.
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