Travel & Life Style

First weekend of May: Les jardins d'Aywiers

The weatherforecast was not optimistic but Saturday appeared to be just fine!
We went the three of us: My wife Michele, Frederique, our eldest daughter and myself.

Lots of visitors enjoyed the fine weather and the 180 strongly selected exhibitors offered their specialized services and garden products.

The garden itself is more than 200 years old and very well maintained.

The girls were trying on hats, while I was looking for some opportunities to enrich my garden.

Patisson was taking care of the fine catering, close to the main building, but refreshments and fine food was served on two other locations in the garden.

The garden lovers were relaxed and full of positive energy.

What did I buy?

A hosta (plants that I really got to appreciate when I was in The United States) and a Japanese Maple tree (that I first saw in Japan 20 years ago).

We would like to thank Patricia et Alain Limauge and their team for organising this 35th edition of Les jardins d'Aywiers. Their enthusiasm, dedication and love for perfection have again made this event a success for garden lovers.
Join us next time at Les Jardins d'Aywiers!

Next week: Les Jardins d'Aywiers (30 April-2 May)

Spring has arrived!

For all garden dreamers and friends that like to gain new ideas about gardening and how to set up a cosy garden I would like to invite you to come to the bi-annual garden fair, called "Les Jardins d'Aywiers''.

The monastry was founded by cisterciens monks in 1215, who came from the province of Liege (les Awirs). The abbey was sold during the French revolution and part of the buildings were destroyed, but the remaining buildings and the old garden bloom all of their charm still today.

The spring edition is the first weekend of the month of May (30 April-2 May), so be there and enjoy the exquisite atmosphere in the wonderful setting of the old monastery buildings and its gardens, located South of Brussels and close to a small town called Lasne.

170 Specialised exhibiters from Belgium, France, UK and the Netherlands offer their know-how and products (plants, trees, garden architecture & design, garden utensils, pools, terasses, garden furniture and so on...

There is a vast selection of plants for sale and boy scouts will be happy to load them into your car. Various stands will offer refreshments and local products from Belgium and France for you to taste and enjoy.

So, be there & and enjoy!

For all the details visit: http://www.aywiers.be/

A week in the Ardennes (9-16 april)

Last week we spent in the Ardennes. We rented a cosy farm house in Heinstert, in the neighbourhood of Habbay la Neuve. The land lady Fabienne Piers and her children gave us a warm hospitality.

My wife Michele and I took our two girls Frederique and Sophie, Benoit, the boy friend of Frederique and our two dogs, Max and Hunka.

The landscape is hilly and friendly. The weather was fair and the people were excited to get out of the winter season. Frederique and Benoit studied hard for their law exams and Sophie and we made some trips to discover the scenery and villages in the province of Luxembourg and the country of Luxembourg (picture below Echternach).

Spohie went horseriding at Jac Ranch in Anlier, where they breed American Quarter horses in a very fine and friendly setting.

I invite you to enjoy the real country side of Belgium in a wonderful cosy farmhouse, close the the border of Luxembourg. The farmhouse was tastefully renovated in 2009, where genuine local craftmanship meets contemporary comfort.

                                     

 http://gite-routy.be/