I’m just back from a week in Nice, France and so I am giving you six things from there. Some of these did give me ideas for my garden here and others are just interesting plants. So here for your pleasure are the sun soaked gardens of Nice.
One
From the Albert 1er gardens just off the Promenade des Anglais. A great selection of tropical plants, all of which were unknown to me except under the vague heading of palms or cactus like things. This one did have an information board close by so I can tell you it is Asparagaceae Dasylirion Longissium LEM. or Totem du Mexique. Frost resistant to -12 degrees apparently.
Two
From a sun baked border at the Musee Matisse in Cimiez. A mixture of the familiar and the exotic.
On leaving the museum we ventured into an olive grove park and from there up some steps to a monastery where we were rewarded by the sight of the beautiful gardens of the monastery which were open to the public. The last three of the six all come from this garden.
Three
I have long wondered if I should incorporate some grasses into the garden and I love this combination. Does anyone knows what the planting is? I don’t think it would fit the scale of my garden but it was so light and feathery that it did go on the ‘in my dreams’ list!
Four
More beautiful grasses and ? I hope the photo is clear enough for you to put forward suggestions.
Five
A view of one of the long borders looking great at this time of year and a detail shot.
Six
A riot of colour to end on. I wish I could get my garden to look like this in September! Maybe this is the result of good deep borders and planting for height. Something for me to consider.
I hope Mr Prop will allow the deviation from the rules – I seem to remember holiday snaps are allowed. I also hope everyone is enjoying their garden at this time of year. On my return I did find the roses and verbenas still going strong and the asters beginning to open up so there was much to appreciate.
n20gardener 
Pennisetum macrourum? with a Gaura linheimerii. You might be fine with it in your hottest spot.
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Thanks so much for the id. I do have a hot spot in a west facing corner where my phlox have wilted very badly in the heat and I might be able to squeeze the gaura into a south facing border but not the grass – which was such a great combination in the sunlight. Some research to be done on the grasses – RHS say pm is a spreading grass, ominous!
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The white and the pink are definitely Gaura (or whatever they are calling themselves these days), they do look lovely with grasses. I think the only way to have borders for all seasons is to have long, wide ones. Which I don’t have so I am having to be content with spring and summer as my main seasons. Which is fine by me, it is when I love being outside anyway 🙂
PS I am often using photos from other gardens. Needs must and all that 🙂
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That is what I was about to say; although I do not recognize the grasses. Tim Hewitt has a name in the comment above.
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Yes Gaura – which have featured in other people’s sixes before but I was a little uncertain as to whether they would make an impact. I was completely smitten by their loveliness in the monastery garden and I am now a convert – no pun intended!! I think I have a space for them but perhaps not the grasses 😦
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I would say Gaura too.
I hope you had a good time there. You must know that I never went to Nice !! I’m French and I went to Monaco, Marseille and the Riviera but never to Nice. Thank you for showing us this beautiful part of France.
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Hi Fred, we had an excellent time there, we also visited the Chapelle de la Rosarie at Vence which was beautiful.
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I have a cousin at Vence. He should probably know
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I enjoyed your post immensely since I am at the opposite end of the climate… although I was able to keep some Gaura alive this year as well!
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Good to hear that you have had some success with Gaura. I am going to try some although I might need to find a smaller grass. Glad you enjoyed the post.
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How Californian! It must be ‘Nice’. tee hee.
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I thought you might like a cactus or two! Or is the sun that is Californian?
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The plant material is Californian. Unfortunately, many of the gardens here try too hard to look like those of New England or other places with more water, rather than appreciating our excellent climate. Places like Spain and Portugal look more like California should than California actually does.
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Gaura’s getting a bit splash this week & is one I’m thinking about for next year. From comments I’ve read on several SoS’s this week, I’m not alone in this (& I think you’re one of the throng, if I’m not mistaken).
We shall all compare notes in 2019, I suspect.
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