What’s happening

On Thursday, July 4, the Garden Club will visit the Parc & Jardin du Chateau d’Epiré, rue de l’Ancienne Eglise, in Savennieres (https://www.chateau-epire.com/en/). This garden, potager, and vineyard has existed non-stop since 1882. The owner will provide a visit of the family estate, and the Epiré church, which is right next to the park.  He can also give us access to the Savennieres church, which has rare paintings, if there is enough interest.  Feel free to bring snacks to have under a tree after the visit. The visit costs 7€. You can find more information on their site: https://www.chateau-epire.com/en/

If you would like to join for lunch, a noon reservation has been made at A Table Chez Mili, 1 rue Thierry Sandre in Savennieres.  This restaurant offers a menu for 16€ that includes entrée, plat, dessert, and coffee.  There is only one choice on the menu each day; however, if you are vegetarian or otherwise have a special diet, please let me know in advance.

Please send an email to GardenClubELLIA@yahoo.com no later than June 20th if you are interested, indicating whether you will come to just the visit or come for both the visit and the lunch.  Also, indicate whether or not you are interested in visiting the church with the rare paintings.

We will visit Les Jardins du Puygirault in Saumur the morning of August 1^st.  This troglodyte garden was named “Jardin Remarquable” in 2023 by the Ministre de Culture, in recognition of their respect for the environment (e.g., using only green fertilizer from compost).  In this garden you will find over 1000 plants spread over 14 distinct regions (e.g., Antique Garden, Medicinal Garden, Medieval Garden, Asian Garden).  Each of the 14 gardens has different soil, plants, and enclosures including one located inside a troglodyte, which provides water for all the other gardens.  The Domaine de Puygirault has over 500 years of experience in plant biodiversity.  The cost of the visit is 7.50€.

After the visit all are welcome to bring a picnic lunch to enjoy at one of our member’s home, about 10km away towards Angers.  The address will be provided to all who sign up.

Please send an email to GardenClubELLIA@yahoo.com no later than July 18^th if you are interested, indicating whether you will come to just the visit or come for both the visit and the picnic.

On Thursday, September 5, we will visit the Chateau Colbert potager & butterfly exposition in Maulévrier.  The original plans for this garden date from the 18^th century, and the 8000 square meter, organic kitchen garden was twice elected the “plus beau potager de France” (in 2016 and again in 2021).  The one-and-a-half-hour visit is guided by the jardinier-potagiste, who will explain the secrets of a kitchen garden, and talk about some forgotten vegetables and aromatic herbs.  The butterfly house is the private collection of the owner’s son who is a passionate entomologist.  The cost of this visit is 9€.

We will meet for lunch beforehand.  Check back here for information about the restaurant.

Please send an email to GardenClubELLIA@yahoo.com no later than August 22^nd if you are interested, indicating whether you will come to just the visit or come for both the visit and the lunch.