Gaujacq - its Twentieth Anniversary

I was not there right at the start, but almost, since my first visit was in the October of 1991. In those days it only took place in the autumn. I think it was then,or perhaps it was the following year, that it poured with rain and the site became something of a mud bath which in some ways only added to the ambience, but apart from the fact that it now takes place in the Spring as well nothing very much has changed. I suspect that it still remains the most important plant fair in our region, though it has to be said that it is rather on the edge of it, since it is actually in the Landes (40), 18 km north of Orthez and 28 km south of Dax. Thus it is a long drive for me at any rate, but one that I have never regretted.  Its founder and current organiser is Jean Thoby, who set up his nursery there in 1985. Son of a famous nurseryman who specialized in camellias, he himelf seems to be passionate about most plants, though the passion tends to come in waves: hostas were one craze, clematis another. But my strongest memory of the garden, or as he calls it Le Planterium - in itself a curious mixture of French and English styles - are the Camellia sasanquas, which for the autumn fair are in full bloom, many of them with a strong and attractive scent.  For him they really flourish, not surprisingly given the family tradition - one thinks of the Williams family in Cornwall - but having been tempted by his, mine have never done particularly well, though not helped by the fact that I have moved about too often, so never really seen them develop. I guess that he probably has more rain than many of us, which must help, though the books say that they can take the sun, and like most camellias they can actually take quite a bit of frost, despite their exotic appearance. They also do not require quite such a acid soil, as for instance the rhododendrons do, so as with other camellias they must be worth a try, just as long as you can get some water to them in our many dry spells.

I am delighted to say that many of the exhibitors at Gaujacq go back as long ago as I do, and deaths have not been nearly so many as amongst the plants that I have bought there.  Many I consider almost as friends, and some of them have already been mentioned in these blogs. My absolute favourites remain Jean-François Giraud and his wife of Le Jardin de Rochvieille, and once again he persuaded me to add to my buddleja collection. In fact I bought two: B.longifolia and B.macrostachya. Both in theory flower throughout the summer, and certainly have a longer flowering season than the more common B. davidii, and as with all the species their foliage tends to be more interesting, in fact often most attractive.

Perhaps the most unusual plants, or rather plants, that I acquired came from Pep: Botaniques Armoricaines and Mr. Le Cam. Unlike Giraud, Le Cam cannot be said to come at you, and if he is aware of the fact that I have been buying his plants for nigh on twenty years he does not let on. But he has a very interesting selection. You might call him a 'poor man's Adeline'. Very few nurseries in the world can equal Adeline's list, and their catalogue, as I may have mentioned before, is well worth acquiring, but their prices are for the most part outside my range. Le Cam's are modest, and over the years I have bought some very good things from him. This year it was two Hollies, two because with hollies you need a male and female to get the berries, and without berries the ones I bought are not very interesting, in fact they do not really look very much like a holly, especially since they are deciduous. They are Ilex Sparkleberry, and the necessary male, Apollo.  You will find them in Hilliers, but it was my favourite garden writer Pamela Harper who put me on to them. Sparkleberry's alleged attraction  are its very prolific berries, that should last through the winter, and certainly in Harper's photos it looks terrific.  Its other attraction for me is the fact that it should cope well with our summers.  I have not had much luck with the European hollies, which  I much regret, since they possess a wonderful range of leaf colour.  I assume it is because for the most part my gardens have been too dry, though you do come across them in  our woods, though perhaps more often in woods nearer the mountains. Anyway I am hoping that I. Sparkleberry will fill the gap, at least as far as the berries are concerned.

My one criticism of Gaujacq is that as far as exhibitors are concerned it seems to be a rather exclusive club. I find that it is very strange that a nursery as important as La Roseraie du Desert with a collection of roses of  international importance is not invited to the feast. And why not Bernard Lacrouts  whom I have frequently mentioned in these blogs? He has got as good a list of vivaces as any, and apart from being extremely friendly he has got one of the best websites that I have come across - now incidentally www.unjardindevivaces.fr .  Still if there are any of you out there who have not been to Gaujacq do put it on your list. It is only twice a year - May and october - and it will give you great pleasure.

Postscript

On the 20/21st of September we had 21 mm of rain but since then nothing, so I am still pretty neurotic about the lack of water: in the last five months we have had 155 mm in lieu of the average 300 mm.  Still the days are shorter and not so hot, and most trees and shrubs will just go in to winter hibernation early if lack of rain remains, so should survive to fight another day. However looking round the garden following my last blog I have noticed survivors that I should have mentioned, most obviously the Fraxinus family.  We have not got any common or garden Ashes (F.excelsior), and I have always assumed this is because we are too dry, but that may be quite wrong. They are handsome enough trees, and grow quickly which can be an advantage. But it is a big family, and probably underused. I have sown with success Fraxinus ornus, the Manna Ash. It has quite spectacular flowers, rather similar to those of a sweet chestnut and at about the same time, i.e. early summer, but also quite smart leaves, which on my admittedly small plants have not wilted. I have also got Fraxinus bungeana and Fraxinus chinensis and am about to acquire Fraxinus sieboldiana, the latter with quite spectacular flowering, and all with promise of autumn tints.. The first two I have completely neglected, and they have received no watering, despite which they seem as right as rain!

I have also got many young specimens, not as yet planted out, of Alnus cordata, what we call the Italian Alder, but I see the French call Corsican.  I cannot speak for this year, but on past experience it resists the secheresse well, despite being an alder. It lacks autumn colour but it is a smart enough tree, especially so in winter when the catkins are attractive. Incidentally if anyone is interested in acquiring either this or Fraxinus ornus just get in touch (petergwyn@orange.fr) since I have got far too many for my own use.

Of the Acers, the only one alive - I exaggerate, but none look good - is A. oliverianum. This grows under oaks, so with some shade, but  on a south-facing bank so very dry. It is true that I have watered it a little, but I am still surprised how well it looks. I am sure that I have read some where that it resists dryness better than most acers, but I cannot find the reference. Still the proof of the pudding . . .

Other trees whose resistance to dryness seems to have been goodish this year would include the Koelreuterias. I have both K. bipinnata var. integrifolia and the more often seen K.panniculata, but have yet to see the former in flower. I would also include Diospyros virginiana, the American persimon/kaki, and Pistacia chinensis, both with good autumn colour, though mine are admittedly small, and have received some, though not a lot of water.

Meanwhile I am a little bit more optimistic about the garden here. I suppose what has pleased me most has been the so-called Prairie Garden behind the swimming pool. Amongst other things I am gradually getting it under control,  but what with the grasses and the gauras, along with at the moment, the Michaelmas daisies it has looked pretty good, at least from a distance. It still needs a bit more bulk, but I now feel that it is going to work. I am not so sure of my West-facing bed, sadly rather more south-west than west.  I thought that it was somewhere that I could have camellias, hydrangeas, and amongst the vivace, even phlox, i.e. I thought that it would remain dampish and reasonably shady and could take some moisture loving plants, because it is the only place in the garden  where it seemed possible. But this summer has rather destroyed this illusion, and it is time for a rethink. Rethinks are necessary from time to time, and as the season draws to an end, and with the big plant fairs such as Gaujac, will soon be upon us, perhaps now is a good moment to have them.