Parc Oriental

The "Parc Oriental" de Maulévrier is the largest Japanese garden in Europe.  In order to let you appreciate the Zen of this space, perhaps just a series of photos will suffice. 

This is a type of maple.  The same shape of leaves as our Canadian maple, but smaller and a different colour.

This tree goes on forever.  I think it reaches the sky...

I called these the dancing trees since they seemed to sway and twirl in unison.

 

What an immense weeping willow!

This is a view of the Château Colbert.  The dining room overlooks the Japanese Garden.

Conservatory with area dedicated to the art of growing bonsai trees.

Venus fly traps.

 

Young bamboo.

Insect House.  In order to suppress chemical product use, the Parc installed a house of insects in the greenhouse.  This favours auxiliary insects presence, and fights parasites such as aphids.  The house of insects shelters auxiliary insects, and the plants cultivated in the greenhouse permit pollination.

Aloe Vera.  Think of all the cuts and burns these plants could soothe.

Bamboo that's all grown up. 

 

 

A quick little lunch, a mix of French and Japanese fare: Croque Monsieur (which is really a ham and cheese sandwich) and a Japanese Asahi beer.  A friend once asked me what the difference was between a Croque Monsieur and a Croque Madame.  They are the same with the exception of the egg on the Croque Madame.

This is a wisteria pod.  (Glycine)  Think of a horse's muzzle and you will have a close approximation of how soft this pod really is.

 

Met this couple who had stopped for a "Zen moment" of rest and relaxation.  They live in the Perigord region (think Sarlat, truffles, foie gras, walnuts...) and are staying here for a week to visit with their new little grand-daughter, Livia.    She was born exactly a month ago today.

 

Hill for meditation.

 

 

 

View on the pond with the Khmer style footbridge in the background.  The red footbridge joins the paradise islands.

 

 

For a brief moment, a recall of another famous garden, Monet's Giverny.



Khmer temple.

Pagoda housing two exhibitions about the history and symbolism of Maulévrier Gardens and tree pruning techniques as well as a video programme showing photos of the four seasons in the Parc.

Staircase decorated with stone lions.

 

An artist at work, or at play.  She scoped the scene with her pencil to give her perspective, then started to sketch, oblivious of the people around her.  She had found her own Zen space.

 ***

We looked into having dinner at the Château Colbert, but their "Menu gastronomique" was 80 euros per person, and the wines started at 40 euros per bottle.  It looks to be an incredibly posh place to eat, but we figured we could find better places to spend 200 euros.

We went back to an old favourite.  If you've been paying attention, you'll recognize this restaurant right away.  Karl says that if you guess the restaurant and can make your way here, we will treat you to a dinner at this fantastic eatery!  First one with the answer wins the prize!

My goat cheese entrée.

Karl's formidable salad.

My fish poached in a roll with "brandade" in the middle.  Roasted potato, carrots, zucchini, baked tomato.

Quail breast, which if you recall, Karl wanted to try again.

Last time, the Soufflé à l'Angélique was not available.  Well, it was tonight and it is absolutely heavenly!!!  The soufflé sits inside a crêpe while it's baking, so the crêpe is crisp and contrasts nicely with the soft soufflé.  The soufflé?  Can't even begin to describe how soft, melt in your mouth, delicious it truly is.  It is angelic!

I had the Pavlova with chocolate mousse; not a bad second best!

What do you think?  Are these people satisfied?  Great day at the Parc Oriental followed by a sumptuous dinner.  Life is grand.

 

 The restaurant and the church lit up at night.  Has a magical feel, don't you think?

***

 

 

"What you think, you become.

What you feel, you attract.

What you imagine, you create."

 

~  Buddha