n°12 La Bizerie

Saint-Maurice-en-Cotentin

From different climes

Deep in the countryside and down a wide north facing valley, Jerome Goutier, horticultural journalist and author, has been creating his garden since 1988. From the outset he favoured evergreens from the southern hemisphere, which over 22 years have become handsome specimens: Nothofagus, Maytenus, Eucryphia, eucalyptus…

To the south of the house the feeling is more Mediterranean, with a profligation of Agapanthus and other South African Iridaceae  such as Dierama, Watsonia,. Dietes, as well as striking examples of Eucomis, Crinum and Kniphofia. At the bottom of the valley a completely different mood reigns, with  two stone rivers ‘flowing’ into a pool bordered by tree ferns (Dicksonia antarctica). A magnificent  Japanese maple ‘Osakasuki’ flourishes there and you will find yourself reluctant to leave the wooden deck from which you can enjoy the view back up the hollow towards the house.

Collections

• innumerable trees, bushes and perennials from the southern hemisphere
• botanical rhododendrons
• hydrangeas, camellias…

Outstanding plants

• Arbutus x andrachnoides
• Lyonothamnus floribundus asplenifolius from California
• Cordyline indivisa from New Zealand
• Eucalyptus pauciflora debeuzevillei from the South East of Australia
• Nothofagus dombeyi (Chili) and Nothofagus menziesii (New Zealand)
• Eucalyptus pulverulenta from New South Wales (Australia)
• Sassafras tzumu from Central and South West China
• Dicksonia antarctica 2 young examples grown from seed in 1991 under the sassafras
• Davidia involucrata, the handkerchief tree, flowering in early May
• Cornus controversa, from Japan, China and Taiwan…

Surface

• 8 000 m²