Goings On

Cotentin côté cœur et jardins (16-17 June 2012)

The first edition of  « Cotentin côté cœur et jardins » the proceeds of which will help to create a therapeutic garden at the Valognes hospital. 

• 16 June Plant Fair with the theme "plants for health " animations and concert in the park of Bellenau Chateau; 17 June several exhibitors will still be there 
• 16 and 17 June 20 (of 22)  CCJ gardens will be open, from 14.00 to 17.00 on Saturday and from 10.30 to 18.30 on Sunday

In its romantic baroque setting featuring watercourses and grottos, dating back to the 19th century, with many notable trees planted at that time, come and discover the Chateau of Bellenau at Saint-Côme-du-Mont northeast of Carentan :

from 9.00 to 23.00 Plant fair and numerous other activities in the park

• attended by a dozen nurserymen, a garden bric a brac specialist, and sale of natural health products 
• presentation of a project studying medicinal plants in the Mexican village of Al Alberto by horticultural student, Guillaume Delapierre
• CCJ raffle
• guided or unguided visit of the park
• book autographing by authors of gardening books
• "garden" workshop  for children from 3 years old
• 10.30, talk about acclimatisation of plants by Michel Peltier
• 11.00 demonstration of light pruning by Bruno Decelle, tree surgeon,on some of the old trees on one of the islands behind the chateau, followed by an informative talk in the park 
• from 14.00 to 17.00 pony rides for children

• 14.00 talk on hydrangeas by Michael Potel
• 15.00 join in a session of yoga (for all levels) on the grass with Tina Foley
• from 15.00 to 16.00 workshop "Shelters for insects" for children from 7 years old with Anthony Herouard from the  Maison du Parc des Marais (please register prior to the event )
• 19.00 cocktails for all the exhibitors and members of CCJ, to the sound of music
• 120.00 Beatles concert with Didier Thibault 
• 22.00 night time wander round the park

 Organic catering (La ferme bio du Petit Changeons à Avranches) : salades, sandwiches and grills 

House specialities based on organic fruit and dairy products, ice creams and cakes at the Smoothie bar in the tearoom of  Bellenau.

 Exhibitors present at the plant fair :

Sous un arbre perché, perennials, hydrangeas and shade lovers 

Jardin de Clairbois, peat loving plants from Christophe Egon

Pépinière botanique de Cambremer, sempervivums, oaks, saplings and shrubs 

Jardins naturels : trees, shrubs, bulbes, perennials, seaside plants 

Christophe Guerrand, trees, shrubs, bulbs and perennials from the southern hemisphere 

Pépinières Henri Moisson, cacti, exotic plants 

Brins d’herbes, bulbs, perennials and ferns 

Les vivaces de Grimesnil, perennials

Alison Sykes, foliage perennials (Rodgersia, Petasites …) and rare perennials

Le potager des gourmets, herbs salads and edible fowers - all organic

La brocante anglaise, garden furniture and ornaments 

Bois Design, garden benches

Stand presenting the therapeutic garden of the hospital of Valognes

L’aloé vera, Yasmine Laforge, health products based on aloe vera

Just France, Véronique Dupont, health and natural products

Romana’s, home made fruit pastas and chutneys, Romana Sigognault

Fromages d’Auvergne, salers, cantal, saint nectaire, Thierry Jourdan

L’Epicerie Anglaise, cakes, home made marmelades, farm cheeses from England, Jersey, Guernsey, Sally & Alan Offord

Mobsbys Brasserie Artisanale, traditionnal English style beers, Steve Mobsby

La voix du Donjon, magazine by Rémi Pézeril on the heritage of Bricquebec, in his last number he reported on the fascinating living sculptures that are the hedges of the region

Presentation of CCJ postcards of several of its gardens

L’art des jardins, the latest editions of this bimonthly magazine 

Autographs by 4 authors of gardening books  :  Noémie Vialard, Cléophée de Turckheim, Franck Boucourt and Jérôme Goutier

Bruno Decelle, tree surgeon specialist in light pruning