Up until a few weeks ago, I was very clear in my mind about my absolute favourite garden in the world: Le Prieure Notre Dame d’Orsan, made around what was a completely dilapidated monastery in the centre of France & rescued with great care and attention to detail by architects Patrice Taravella and Sonia Lesot, around 25 years ago. I’ve been lucky enough to visit several times and to stay twice. I’ll write more another time, but if you’re heading to France at all, I can’t recommend more highly that you visit the garden at the very least, and that you stay if you can get in (& ask for one of their upstairs rooms to get a birds-eye view of the garden – its amazing): www.prieuredorsan.com
However; it came to my attention some time last year, that M. Taravella had been commissioned to make a garden near Franschoek in the wine growing Stellenbosch district very close to Cape Town, South Africa, where we were so excited to visit for the first time in January. Unwittingly perhaps, he has created a contender for his original poll position on my list of favourites!! The garden (and beautiful farm buildings) at Babylonstoren: www.babylonstoren.com are an almost ‘ranch-style’ version of Orsan. The intricate French garden has spawned a cousin, reconstructed in a hot climate, with a repeat performance of every structure from France plus so many new ones, and an irrigation system based on those of Moorish design I’ve seen best displayed in the citrus orchard to the side of Cordoba Cathedral in Spain. Babylonstoren’s system of holding ponds, gravity filled rills & sluice gates are simply exquisite. (Not to mention the planting and breathtakingly beautiful mountainous backdrop).
Quite frankly, I was beside myself with excitement!! (am still). And the sooner he/they produce a book (and in English) on either or both gardens, the better! You could take any one segment for inspiration for your own garden. And any one segment you just MAY be able to look after of your own accord without a team of willing workers!!
By the way, I just can’t find one photo to do it justice – the scale is vast, so I’ve chosen one for you to see the backdrop (above) & one for the structures (below). I have SO many images & could waste hours looking at them!! So while I encourage you to visit, I’ve just had an ingenious idea: perhaps I can put together a slide show to give you a sneak peak – we could easily while away a morning at Glenmore!! Food for thought!! Mickey’s Favourite Gardens Day? I’LL sleep on it, YOU let me know what you think!!
