Le Jardin Agapanthe; a delightful garden in northern France

Visit Les Jardins Agapanthe

The Jardin Agapanthe is in Grigneuseville in the Upper Normandy region of France.

The Jardins Agapanthe have been voted 'favourite garden in the Haut-Normandie region' (Jardin Préféré des Francais 2013) and with good reason.

Explore the Jardin Agapanthe

The garden has been developed over the last twenty years by Alexandre Thomas, a landscape gardener. The garden is in two parts, the original and oldest part is Alexandre's parents garden and across the road Alexandre has more recently bought his own house and garden and since 2010 this garden too is part of the garden visit.

The gardens have been devoloped using primary the cooler colours of the spectrum with a tapestry of verdant greens only possible in the northern, wetter parts of France. These are punctuated with white and blue flowers with masses of hydrangeas, wisteria and, of course, the wonderful agapanthus.

In the older part of the garden there is a huge tunnel covered in wisteria. If you are lucky enough to see this in flower looks, and smells, fabulous. Structure is given to this garden with topiaries of box, pinus and yew and bamboos and Trachycarpus add dramatic elements.

In the newer garden conifers add height and structure and rhodedendroms add colour. Drama is added with the tall flower spikes of acanthus and eremurus. Roses, clematis, hellebores and hydrangeas all add flowers to the garden and this garden has a lighter more flowery dimension and provides a superb contrast and addition.

The garden is contemporary in style and has a strong underlying structure. This has been created with terraces, walls, water features, ponds and large garden ornaments as well as with the use of the structural planting.

You are sure to find lots of inspiration for your own garden whilst exploring the Jardins Agapanthe and it is possible to buy plants during your visit.

Les Jardins Agapanthe garden visit

The gardens are open from May to September every day except Wednesday, 14.00-19.00. In April and October the gardens are open weekends 14.00-18.00.

Garden visits cost 10 euros for adults and 5 euros for 6-15 year olds. Under 6s are free.

Address: Les Jardins Agapanthe, 1, impasse Agapanthe, 76850 Grigneuseville, Haute-Normandie - France

Gardens to visit nearby

The lovely Jardin Plume gardens and the Jardins de Bellevue are both nearby making this a good part of France to visit for garden lovers.

Not too far away is Monet's Garden at Giverny. Before my visit I half expected to be disappointed assuming it was 'over-hyped' but it really is fabulous. The colours and combinations at the front of the house are superb and the ponds are everything you could hope for.

You can find more local travel ideas in the North West France guide,