Random things

This part of France, this particular year, has had consistent rain and very mild temperatures.  The grass and clover love it and make a beautiful, thick, green lawn in front of the chateau.  I think I read somewhere that lawns began in France as an expression of extravagance in the gardens/landscaping of rich folk, and people copied that as a way to show that they too were part of the upper crust of society.

Roses and soft lawns are a perfect fit for this part of the world, but not so much in Tennessee.  You really have to work to keep as fescue lawn looking nice and weed-free.  And don't get me started on the southwest where grass lawns are even more unnatural.

I'm not so much pointing out the flaws in trying to adapt French aristocratic lawns to middle class American landscapes as much as marveling over the perfect suited-ness of grass lawns to northern France.

Same goes for stone fruits and apples.

(A)