Glamorous Gardenalia

A few weeks ago, when I was visiting friends in LA, I laughed when one of them said that not a week goes by when he doesn't long to ditch his job and go out into the garden instead. (And this friend has a great job – although I suspect he would also make a great garden designer.) As he said it, I looked out over his and his wife's garden, which tumbles down four steep terraces in the Hollywood Hills, and I could easily understand the sentiment. Who doesn't dream of having time off from their responsibilities in order to hide in the garden for a few hours? I'm often tempted to shirk my writing commitments and escape, trowel in hand, to our yard for some therapeutic gardenalia.

If you're longing to escape the deadlines, pressures, stress and simple problems of everyday life for a few hours of peace, calm and greenery in the garden, here's some horticultural loveliness to tempt you. Not all of us can ditch our day jobs whenever we want, however, so if you're tied to your desk, then I hope that some of this botanical beauty will help make your day blissful.

By the way, when I walked around this friend's LA neighbourhood peeking at everybody's homes, I was astonished to see how many of those who lived in this gated estate also loved gardens. And no matter how famous they are, apparently they all love to get out and wield a spade occasionally, according to my friends. (Or at least tell their gardeners where to wield the spade...) My favourite garden was that belonging to Lauren Graham and Peter Krause, which featured a sublime pink planting scheme. It's inspired me to buy some hot pink Japanese anemones, some lipstick-pink bougainvillea, and a whole lot of gorgeous pink Pierre de Ronsard roses...

A HEAVENLY HYBRID OF FASHION, INTERIORS AND GARDENS

The talented Australian illustrator Megan Hess, who shot to fame after Candice Bushnell asked her to design a book cover, has just released her first book, entitled Fashion House.  This gorgeous title was given to me as a gift this week, and I was so touched – and so impressed. It's startlingly different from any other book, and the illos are exquisite. (As you would expect.)

There are dozens of whimsical, beautifully drawn scenes, including 'The Dior Room', 'The Pucci Room', and The Riviera Suite'.

My favourite, though, was the 'Botanical Room'.

Fashion House is published by Hardie Grant. Do look for it. (It also makes a great gift.)

GARDENS OF GLAMOUR

Another fabulous book, which I've been re-reading in preparation for a photo shoot of one of the gardens featured in it, is Private Gardens of the Fashion World. 

This glamorous coffee-table tome features the private gardens of Oscar de la Renta, Yves Saint Laurent, Anouska Hempel, Hubert de Givenchy and many others. The price keeps rising on Amazon, however, so purchase while you can. 

GREEN WITH ENVY

A friend also gave me the classic DVD, Suddenly, Last Summer, starring Elizabeth Taylor,  recently and I was hooked from the start. Or should that be, from the garden.

It's an 1959 American Southern Gothic mystery based on the play of the same title by Tennessee Williams. It's very dark, quite gruesome really, but the real beauty lies in the incredible house and garden. Oliver Messel did the production design (he also did Gigi), and his fondness for his signature colour green really comes through. He even dressed Miss Liz in it (above). 

Both Katharine Hepburn and Taylor received Academy Award nominations for this film, but the real star, I think, is the Gothic garden. Messel, too, was nominated for two Oscars for his "eerie, imaginative and wild" set. There are some wild stories about what went on behind the scenes of the film, too.

Oliver Messel's drawings for the garden in Suddenly, Last Summer.

LAWN ORDER

US Vogue has also published an ode to gardens recently, with its online story Gardens in Vogue. 

{Link here } or here – www.vogue.com/vogue-daily/article/lawn-order-gardens-in-vogue/#1

This list is just beautiful. And kudos to Vogue for devoting so much space to horti-couture.

COUNTRY STYLE

Gardening buddies Stuart Rattle and Paul Bangay have decided to open their private gardens to the public in November this year. They only do this once every two years, so if you've always wanted to see Rattle's enchanting Musk Farm (above) or Bangay's Stonefields property (which is being celebrated in his next book), make a note in your diary to be in Woodend on either Saturday November 23 or Sunday November 24. Musk Farm is particularly pretty.

BODIES IN THE GARDEN

Trust those garden-loving South Australians to think of this. 'The Body In The Garden' is a quirky new literary festival that elegantly combines two diverse genres – crime and garden writing. 

It will be held in the Adelaide Botanic Garden (which incidentally, is one of the most beautiful botanic gardens in the world) during the weekend of October 25–27. The 'nature' of the festival (sorry, that pun couldn't be helped) is likely to attract a great deal of interest from both the media and audiences. Already confirmed are Swedish crime writer Hakan Nesser, UK garden writer Toby Musgrave, who's a leading authority on garden history, and Australian garden designer and author Paul Bangay.

SEX IN THE GARDEN

Okay, now we get to the 'R' rated part of the blog. Did anyone see the film The Kids Are Alright, with Julianne Moore, Annette Bening and Mark Ruffalo, on TV the other night?

I've been wanting to see this movie for years, after hearing friends feverishly discuss it. It was surprisingly good. Bening is fantastic in it. But the real attraction was Mark Ruffalo, who, I have to confess, was rather hot... He and Julianne get down and, er, dirty, you see, and not just in the garden... 

Here's another shot of Mr Ruffalo.

GATSBY IN THE GARDEN

Mr Ruffolo isn't the only one with a penchant for hot houses and sexy women. Baz Luhrmann's Jay Gatz also likes a frond embrace. (Sorry.)

GARDENS AND MR GAULTIER

In an example of how gardens and fashion meet more often than you'd think, garden designer Patrick Blanc designed a ‘Robe Végétale’ for French couturier Jean-Paul Gaultier for his 2002 fashion show. (I remembered this because I stood behind Mr Gaultier at Monoprix in Paris a few weeks ago. He was very polite. And very tall.) 

Patrick’s design was a wedding dress that tastefully stretched its ivory tendrils around the model’s outlines.

Look at the botanical bustier. Just beautiful.

PAIRING IT OFF

This image is worthy for two reasons: It shows Oscar de la Renta's Connecticut garden, which is one of the loveliest on the US East Coast, and it also shows the double avenues of pear trees.

Isn't this a clever garden design? We're going to try it for our back yard, even though it;'s one-twentieth the size. Possibly one-hundredth.

KATE GOES COUNTRY

US Vogue recently did a main story on Miss Katy Perry, in which Katy revealed that one of her favourite things is visiting botanical gardens. I have increased respect for her now.

BLOOMIN' LOVELY

Just loved this branding, for New York-based stylist Amy Merrick's business.

BALENCIAGA AND BUNNY

I read today that Bunny Mellon had all her gardening clothes designed by Balenciaga.

Can you imagine?

This was one of Bunny's floral frocks.

Babe Paley was fond of gardening too...

BASTIDE DE ROSE

With the perfect name for this post, this sublimely beautiful B&B in Provence is one tailor made for garden lovers. 

Owned by Poppy Salinger, the charming widow of the late Pierre Salinger (the one-time media advisor for JFK), it's hidden away in the depths of the South of France, but worth all the effort it takes to get there. The house is actually a former mill, built over a river, and the gardens are as delightful as the rooms.

I can't wait to go back.

ELLE'S GARDEN ISSUE

I've been liaising with Elle Decor regarding a few things and then I found this issue in my Reading Pile. 

Look at the cover. Doesn't it make you want to head out into the garden?

ANOTHER HORTICULTURAL HIDEAWAY

Yet another lovely B&B to bookmark for your next trip to France, the Pavilion de Galon is a stunning guesthouse in Provence that's famous for its garden. 

My friend, the American interior designer Gary McBournie stayed there recently with his partner and said it was superbe.

THE REMAKE OF LADY CHATTERLEY'S LOVER 

(YES, WITH THE GARDENER)

Anybody who attended a girls' school knows all about D H Lawrence's notorious novel Lady Chatterley's Lover. It was the book you read in place of a proper sexual education. (It was all you needed, really.) 

Well, the Australian author Nikki Gemmell (The Bride Stripped Bare) has taken Lawrence's titillating tale and turned it into a modern story, called I Take You (although I prefer the Italian version La Sposa Nuda). 

It's an interesting twist on the classic tale. Gemmell, you see, has chosen to set her Chatterley romance in one of the beautiful private communal gardens of London; an exclusive and verdant space that seemed to be perfect for an illicit affair. Her gardener is the keeper of the garden: her Lady Chartterley is one of the manicured wives who lives in the grand houses that overlooks the greenery. Mix in some compost and you have all the ingredients for a lush liaison.

Apparently, it's set to be the next hot novel.

New Discoveries & Destinations: Paris, NY & London

One of the highlights of travel is discovering new places. I always feel fortunate to have many friends who travel, and who are fantastically generous with their travel recs. I'm so grateful to them, because their suggestions always lead to great places that I wouldn't normally find through a guidebook or magazine article – or simply wouldn't think of visiting.

 That's the thing I love most about travel: sometimes it takes you to places you don't expect. 

Here are a few of the discoveries I came across on this recent trip. 

(Oh – And more on Harbour Island shortly.)

The Conservatory Garden, Manhattan.

Most visitors head to Central Park but these gardens, set in the very north of Central Park, are even prettier. 

One of the guys at John Derian told me about this place, so I hot-footed it up there on a gloriously sunny day. It was perfect timing: the spring blossoms were at their peak. But I hear it's just as beautiful in mid-summer. Just look at the trees...

The arbour of Conservatory Garden, Central Park, New York, with the terraced garden and fountain to the side.

The Restaurant of the Mondrian Hotel, SoHo, New York.

I'm not a big fan of the Mondrian itself, but its restaurant is a different story. It's a luscious take on a conservatory done with typical Mondrian whimsy. Service is slow, so go for the horticultural eye candy.

Creel and Gow, New York.

Loved this store; a fascinating mix of bits and pieces; almost like a cousin of John Derian in a way.

(This pic is from AD while I try and find my own amongst the thousands taken. Will replace shortly.)

The Jade Hotel, Greenwich Village, New York.

A gorgeous new hotel that's just opened. The service is amazing, and the decor is rather sexy – a modern take on 1920's Jazz Age glamour. The restaurant was rocking every night. And people seemed to like hanging out in the lobby, which had a great little library and a lovely fire.

The Neighbourhood around Marc Jacob's Bookstore,  New York.

I'd never really explored this part of Downtown, but it's full of personality. And the stores are gorgeous.

The Roger Hotel, New York

There are a few Roger hotels (which makes things confusing – or perhaps it's the same hotel with different name changes?), but this one is the bomb. Striped black and white awnings, a seductive foyer with petrol-blue chaises, Old New York-style photos and a geranium green rugs. The bar and breakfast area are fab too. And the rooms... Oh! They were sophisticated navy-blue retreats that were surprisingly large for a midtown hotel in Manhattan.

Peels, New York. 

I stumbled across this eatery several years ago, when it had first opened. I went back last month, when I visited John Derian's store (right next door), and you couldn't wall past for the queue stretching out the door and the people chatting on the sidewalk. Apparently it's now THE place to get breakfast on a Sunday. The interior is gorgeous, so it's no wonder.

The Seaside Walk around Cap Ferrat, in The South of France.

I loved, loved, loved this walk. 

It's a 2-hour hike that starts near the Royal Riviera Hotel, where I stayed (another great discovery), and takes you past some of the prettiest villas on the French Riviera, including David Niven's former home (above), and then through the pretty village of St Jean – great for lunch or an ice cream. If you want to go all the way, you can even go right around the cape, past the famous Grand Hotel du Cap Ferrat, and Somerset Maugham's house before ending up at the Rothschild Villa, which has spectacular gardens. 

One of the best walks in the world.

The Villa Rivoli Hotel, Nice. 

I can't say much about this as it's going into a new book, but if you're staying in Nice on the South of France (which I encourage you to do as it's incredibly beautiful), this is a great little hotel. Pretty shutters, a lovely garden and salon, a location that's a block from the beach, and a charming owner. Ask for one of the blue toile rooms – they're exquisite.

YSL's Private Studio, Paris.

If you book in advance, you can do a fantastic tour of Yves' private atelier and see some of his jottings and a great deal of his inspiration. 

Just wonderful.

The flagship Chanel store on Rue Cambon, Paris.

Several of the group in our informal 'Non-Tour' of Paris had gone here and bought up big on the ol' double C, and a couple were returning the next day, so I thought I'd better go to see what they were buying. Well... what an experience that turned out to be. The Chanel staff bring out trays and trays of jewellery for you to examine, you see, and the effect is nothing short of hypnotic. The free Champagnes don't help matters either. And the prices are so reasonable – 160 Euros for earrings – that you begin to think: Well perhaps I could buy some Chanel from Chanel? It's dangerous, I tell you. I've never been in a more seductive environment. Even the packaging is designed to win you over: tiny white boxes with little camellias slipped into crisp white bags with yet more camellias. (The Cambon store is the only Chanel store with white bags in the world.) Honestly, I learned more about Chanel from an hour looking over friends' shoulders here than I did in 4 months of writing a book about Miss Coco herself. 

The Four Seasons / Georges V Hotel, Paris.

If you haven't popped in here to see the  famous flower displays, do make time when you're next in Paris. The Four Seasons (the old Georges V) is renowned for its floral arrangements – there's even a book out about the bouquets displayed over the years. Wandering around this hotel is a lesson in remarkable horticultural creativity.

The Florists and Garden Stores of Paris.

Here's a lovely thing to do: Wander across the Pont Neuf bridge of Paris one day (there's a great square called the Place Dauphine on the Ile de la Cite which is worth seeing on the way), and once you're on the Right Bank, turn right and wander along the Quai (riverbank). You'll soon come across a delightful cluster of charming garden stores and florists. This is where Paris picks up its plants. It's a little oasis of greenery in the middle of the city.

Catherine B, Paris.

I'll do a post on the best stores of Paris another time, but this store is worth a visit. Some people preferred buying their Chanel from the actual Rue Cambon store, but I loved Catherine B because it had vintage Hermes scarves and bags for surprisingly affordable prices.

Castille Hotel, Rue Cambon, Paris.

Another gorgeous find. A super-stylish bolthole a few doors down from Chanel, with a decor that even Coco would be pleased with.

The Hotel Recamier, Paris.

I recommended this to a few people who chose to stay in a cheaper hotel. I also stayed in the cheaper hotel. After a day, I think we all wished we'd all paid the extra and checked in here. About as sophisticated a boutique hotel as you can get – and the location (right on the Square St Sulpice) is perfect.

La Maison Rose, Montmartre, Paris.

We stumbled across this gem while out walking the back streets of Montmartre one day. It looked like an old pub in the French countryside.

The new Hermès store, Paris.

Have you been here yet? It's incredible.

The Top-Floor Restaurant of Harvey Nichols, London

A surprisingly lovely place for lunch with friends. Walking through the fashion departments on the way down isn't too bad either.

The Top-Floor Bar of Harvey Nichols, London.

Loved the colours.

Hidcote Gardens, the Cotswolds.

More on this in a later post. The tulip beds were just extraordinary.

More from Hidcote.

The Wheatsheaf Pub, The Cotswolds

And lastly, our little tour group had dinner here one night, on a divinely warm spring evening. It's one of the most stylish pubs in the Cotswolds, and seemingly one of the most popular with the well-heeled locals, judging by the Aston Martins and classic Jags pulling up outside. Has a fab beer garden too. Great after a day in the Cotswolds.

{All pix copyright Janelle McCulloch 2013}