28 octobre 2009
Potager du Roi / King's Kitchen Garden, Versailles.
Potager du Roi
In 1670, King Louis XIV appointed Jean-Baptiste La Quintinie (1624-1688) as the director of the royal fruit & vegetable garden. As per his request he constructed a vegetable garden in a swampland popularly known as "l'Etang puant / Stinky Pond. The site was drained & filled with the rich soil from the Satory hills . The renowed architect, Mansart constructed the garden's terraces & walls. The garden is structured around a cental area called "Le Grand carré / Grand Square. The Grand square is again divided into 16 small squares organised around a circular fountain. Behind the walls there are 12 fruit tree gardens ( Apple & Pears).
The King's Kitchen Garden covers 9 hectares of fruit & vegetable gardens at the heart of Versailles. Every year, this garden produces 40 tons of fruit & 25 tons of vegetables. At present this garden is conserverved by National School of Horticulture- ENSP. This garden is in the UNESCO's World Heritage List.
The Potager du Roi and the Cathedral Saint-Louis 
Beans Garden
Pumpkin Garden
Tubers & Salads
Tomatoes & Chillies
To see the enlarged pictures just click - Album photos suburbs of Paris o
http://aarathi78.canalblog.com/albums/__photos_des_yvelines___/index.html
30 septembre 2009
Maisons-Laffitte Castle, Yvelines, France
Maisons-Laffitte Castle 
This Castle is located in Maison-Laffitte town , western suburbs of Paris .
Around 1636, René de Longueil ( President of the Parliament of Paris) decided to build a castle in his family property at Maisons-Sur-Seine. This French Classical Style Castle was designed by the architect François Mansart & was inaugurated in 1651 in the presence of Anne d'Autriche & her son Louis XIV ( 12 yrs old). Upto 1777, this castle was in the hands of Longueil Family. Later it was bought by Charles X, who has a passion for horses. After revolution, the castle was bought by Marshall Lannes & later by Jacques Lafitte( Governer of Banque de France) . In 1844, Laffitte was bankrupted & sold out to French Government . Thus "Maisons Castle" became "Maisons Laffitte Castle" / "Chateau de Maisons Laffitte".
In 1850, Joseph Ollier bought the meadows beside the Seine River to build a horserace track .Racecourse was inaugurated on 6th June 1878. After this town was nicknamed as "Cité du Cheval".
10 août 2009
Dwellers of Etang du Corra , Achères, Yvelines.
L'Etang du Corra
L'étang du Corra, is a tranquil picnic area appreciated by young & old.
The lake & the central island is a paradise for aquatic birds.
Eurasian Coot/ La Foulque macroule - Fulica atra
( Noire avec une crête blanche)
Common Moorheu/ Poule-d'eau - Gallinula chloropus
(Noire avec une crête rouge)
They are commomly called "Black water hens". 
Loons / Bernache du Canada - Branta canadensis
Loons build their nests with aquatic vegetation near water.
They have webbed toes which enables them to swim.
Grebe / Grèbe huppé - Podiceps cristatus
Grebes build floating nests with aquatic vegetation.
They usually carry their chicks behind them & dive.
They are excellent swimmers & divers.
Important characterestic of these birds is that they have webbed toes. 
Mallard / Canards - Anas platyrhynchos
Malards are commonly called ducks.
Drakes are green headed & females are light brown.
They have webbed feet.
Swan / Cygne
Swans are largest water fowl with pure white/ black feathers.
Male & female adults look alike . They have webbed feet .
Baby swans/ cynets are protected by Cob & Pen.
29 juin 2009
L'air de provence à Achères (Yvelines)
Lavender Harvest at Achères
Every year in June, SIAAP conducts lavender harvest & some outdoor activities for kids. Parisiens came in with their families to collect the lavender stalks. Rows of Lavender were breathtakingly beautiful with bumble bees all around .
Lavender is a mediterranean flower. Provence region of France is the world's largest producer of Lavender .The word "Lavender" derived from the latin word "Lavare" which means to wash. Romans & Greeks used these flowers to scent their bath. Even Louis XIV loved to take lavender scented bath. Legend says that this plant was grown by Adam & Eve in the Garden of Eden. Mother Mary used to dry the clothes of Baby Jesus on the lavender bust. Cleopatra used the lavender scent to seduce Julius Cesaer & Mark Antony. In the middle ages , lavender was burnt to keep away witches.Christians hung a cross of lavender stalks over their front door for protection. Heard that couples who place lavender flowers between their bedsheets will never quarrel.
Lavender stalks can be trimmed off , hung upside down & sundried. Once dried, the blossoms are separated & stored in cotton bags. These are used to scent the rooms. For dry flower arrangement , the lavender stalks must be dried in dark to preseve it's colour.
Famous English Rhyme Lavender's blue
Lavender's blue,
Diddle diddle,
Lavender's green,
When I am king,
Diddle diddle,
You shall be queen.
Call up your men,
Diddle diddle,
Set them to work,
Some to the plough,
Diddle diddle,
Some to the cart.
Some to make hay,
Diddle diddle,
Some to cut corn,
While you and I,
Diddle diddle,
Keep ourselves warm.
Lavender's green,
Diddle diddle,
Lavender's blue,
If you love me,
Diddle diddle,
I will love you.
22 septembre 2008
Autumn is here..
Couleur d'automne
16 juin 2008
Parc Meissonier - Poissy
Parc Meissonier
This public park is situated in Poissy - Yvelines.
It was a private property of Mr Ernest Meissonier.
After his death, it was handed over to the municipality of Poissy.
This public park is situated in Poissy - Yvelines.
It was a private property of Mr Ernest Meissonier.
After his death, it was handed over to the municipality of Poissy.
02 juin 2008
Auvers-sur-Oise, Vincent Van Gogh's town .
Chateau d'Auvers-sur-Oise
Auvers-sur-Oise is a charming tranquil village situated in the Regional Park of French Vexin.This is one of the cradles of impressionists. Famous painter Vincent Van Gogh spent his last days in this pretty village.Other notable impressionists who were inspired by this site were Cézanne, Monet & Daubigny.This Castle is famous for its magnificent French Garden & Iris flower beds. Every year in May, Iris fest (Fête de l'iris) is held here.
20 mars 2008
It's Spring
C'est le printemps !!!
30 juillet 2007
Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye
Castle of Saint-Germain-en-Laye 
Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye is situated in the western suburbs of Paris. Louis XIV was born here.This Castle is surrounded by a park & 2.4 km terrace which was designed by André Le Nôtre.Today it's an archeological museum which houses prehistoric art & culture.
11 juillet 2007
Roseraie-L'Haÿ-les-Roses
Rose garden of Val-de-Marne, L'Haÿ-les-Roses
This Rose Garden was created by Jules Gravereaux in 1894.
Later in 1899, the garden was designed by Edouard André.
This garden is the living conservatory of more than 3200 species of roses.
