In Memory of Anneliese
Max Bruch - Violin Concerto No.1
- Adagio -
Walter Susskind - Yehudin Menuhin
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*
*
La Pouyette...and Things of Life
Saturday, 11 May 2013
Zum Muttertag - Mother's Day
In Memory of Anneliese
Max Bruch - Violin Concerto No.1
- Adagio -
Walter Susskind - Yehudin Menuhin
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*
*
Monday, 6 May 2013
CAMELOT.....
....is the subject of this month's post
"By Invitation Only".....
initiated by Marsha from
Splenderosa
*
"Camelot,
located no where in particular,
can be anywhere"
In my fantasy it is at Château de Puyguilhem in the Périgord,
located nearby were I live....
...my all time favorite castle
from the first moment, at my first visit about 30 years ago.
Knight sagas, heroic legends and adventures....
...I've read everything I could get when I was a child,
loved visiting old castles - and still do.
Living in the Périgord,
being surrounded by 1001 medieval Châteaux and Castles,
Puyguilhem is still the "ONE"!
Whenever I visit it - at least every second year -
it sets me back into a dream world.
Chateau de Puyguilhem
"The walls that stand so tall in ages long past,
that hold the dreams we long to remember.
A noble royal king with crowns of gold,
while maidens sweet, that dance to merry tunes...
Detail of a tapestrie - Puyguilhem
...Our battling knights with virtuous ways
are killing dragons flame with mighty blows.
The tournaments and jousts were held for crowds,
to show the colorful of coats of arms.
...The bards sing many songs in rhythmic rhymes,
while jester's fun is when he makes you laugh...
detail of a Flandres bahut (buffet) 1620
...But wizards hold most spectacular shows,
with knowledge of his magical of brews...
detail of tapestry - Puyguilhem
...The enchanted castle of Camelot
holds dreams of things we long to remember.
And even though we can't go back in time,
the walls still hold medieval memories...
*
detail of 18th century tapestry - Puyguilhem
...The memories not just of king and queen,
but life so romantic, simple and gay.
...The walls of Camelot hold these so true,
cause Camelot life is the fairy tale."
Written by Lady Kathleen here
*
Château de Puyguilhem
Dating back to early Renaissance times (beginning of the 16th century)
Puyguilhem's splendour can easily be compared to that
of the most beautiful Châteaux of the Val de Loire region
built during the reign of French King François I.
and is the best preserved Renaissance style castle in the Périgord.
It is the setting of the castle that makes it so special,
with the forests of the northern Dordogne closing in on the back of the Château
and open meadow to the front.
Château de Puyguilhem was constructed in the 16th century
and it is similar in style to those of the Loire Valley.
The style has more in common with the castles of the Loire Valley (far to the north)
than it does with the majority of the Dordogne castles,
most of which avoided the 16th-17th century renovations characteristic of the castles of the Loire.
Mondot de La Marthonie, president of the Guyenne parliament in Bordeaux,
bought the title of Puyguilhem circa 1510.
This noble from the Périgord, legal advisor to Louise of Savoy
(mother of the future King Francois I.)
became the first president of the Paris parliament in 1515.
He gained even greater influence at the court
when Francois I. (1515-1547) left to wage war in Italy.
It was at that time that Mondot began work on his Château,
marking his rise in society.
back
After his death in 1517, his project was continued
by his brother Gaston, until circa 1535.
The Château remained in his family until the 18th century,
when the Chapt de Rastignacs inherited it.
There were several successive owners in the early 20th century,
but the building virtually fell into ruin.
It was then bought by the State in 1939.
The style is partly Renaissance and partly medieval.
The large round tower on the right has a Medieval air
and is linked to the main part of the Château...
The buildings have aligned windows at irregular intervals along the facade.
The spiral staircase is in an out-built polygonal tower.
-1-
...a stunning and superb construction...
*
*
Building of the castle was in two phases - hence the two styles.
From 1514 to 1524 building was largely in the medieval style
with distinct Gothic influences.
The second phase from 1525 to 1535 added styles
similar to those of the Loire Valley,
like the elaborately decorated chimney stacks -
reminiscent of Chambord.
-2-
There are more sculpted decorations on these upper parts
and on the grand staircase pavilion.
-3-
The main section set at right angles is completed with an 18th century wing.
Puyguilhem is characterized by greatly harmonious dimensions,
as can be seen in the main building offering towers and turrets of varied shapes,
and in the facade with all its mullioned windows.
These volumes, which remain in the Medieval tradition,
have low-relief rinceau decorations and letter friezes,
the meaning of which is obscure.
There are other patterns expressing the favour of the sovereigns,
such as the royal lily and the Savoy knot,
associated with the widowhood of Louise of Savoy.
"By Invitation Only".....
initiated by Marsha from
Splenderosa
*
"Camelot,
located no where in particular,
can be anywhere"
located nearby were I live....
...my all time favorite castle
from the first moment, at my first visit about 30 years ago.
Knight sagas, heroic legends and adventures....
...I've read everything I could get when I was a child,
loved visiting old castles - and still do.
Living in the Périgord,
being surrounded by 1001 medieval Châteaux and Castles,
Puyguilhem is still the "ONE"!
Whenever I visit it - at least every second year -
it sets me back into a dream world.
that hold the dreams we long to remember.
A noble royal king with crowns of gold,
while maidens sweet, that dance to merry tunes...
Detail of a tapestrie - Puyguilhem
...Our battling knights with virtuous ways
are killing dragons flame with mighty blows.
The tournaments and jousts were held for crowds,
to show the colorful of coats of arms.
...The bards sing many songs in rhythmic rhymes,
while jester's fun is when he makes you laugh...
detail of a Flandres bahut (buffet) 1620
...But wizards hold most spectacular shows,
with knowledge of his magical of brews...
...The enchanted castle of Camelot
holds dreams of things we long to remember.
And even though we can't go back in time,
the walls still hold medieval memories...
*
detail of 18th century tapestry - Puyguilhem
...The memories not just of king and queen,
but life so romantic, simple and gay.
...The walls of Camelot hold these so true,
cause Camelot life is the fairy tale."
Written by Lady Kathleen here
*
Dating back to early Renaissance times (beginning of the 16th century)
Puyguilhem's splendour can easily be compared to that
of the most beautiful Châteaux of the Val de Loire region
built during the reign of French King François I.
and is the best preserved Renaissance style castle in the Périgord.
It is the setting of the castle that makes it so special,
with the forests of the northern Dordogne closing in on the back of the Château
and open meadow to the front.
Château de Puyguilhem was constructed in the 16th century
and it is similar in style to those of the Loire Valley.
The style has more in common with the castles of the Loire Valley (far to the north)
than it does with the majority of the Dordogne castles,
most of which avoided the 16th-17th century renovations characteristic of the castles of the Loire.
Mondot de La Marthonie, president of the Guyenne parliament in Bordeaux,
bought the title of Puyguilhem circa 1510.
This noble from the Périgord, legal advisor to Louise of Savoy
(mother of the future King Francois I.)
became the first president of the Paris parliament in 1515.
He gained even greater influence at the court
when Francois I. (1515-1547) left to wage war in Italy.
It was at that time that Mondot began work on his Château,
marking his rise in society.
back
After his death in 1517, his project was continued
by his brother Gaston, until circa 1535.
The Château remained in his family until the 18th century,
when the Chapt de Rastignacs inherited it.
There were several successive owners in the early 20th century,
but the building virtually fell into ruin.
It was then bought by the State in 1939.
The style is partly Renaissance and partly medieval.
The large round tower on the right has a Medieval air
and is linked to the main part of the Château...
The buildings have aligned windows at irregular intervals along the facade.
The spiral staircase is in an out-built polygonal tower.
-1-
*
*
Building of the castle was in two phases - hence the two styles.
From 1514 to 1524 building was largely in the medieval style
with distinct Gothic influences.
The second phase from 1525 to 1535 added styles
similar to those of the Loire Valley,
like the elaborately decorated chimney stacks -
reminiscent of Chambord.
-2-
There are more sculpted decorations on these upper parts
and on the grand staircase pavilion.
-3-
The main section set at right angles is completed with an 18th century wing.
Puyguilhem is characterized by greatly harmonious dimensions,
as can be seen in the main building offering towers and turrets of varied shapes,
and in the facade with all its mullioned windows.
These volumes, which remain in the Medieval tradition,
have low-relief rinceau decorations and letter friezes,
the meaning of which is obscure.
There are other patterns expressing the favour of the sovereigns,
such as the royal lily and the Savoy knot,
associated with the widowhood of Louise of Savoy.
*
-4-
Inside,
rich sculptured decoration:
*
machicolations, stairs, dormer windows, coffered ceilings,
...fireplaces...
such as the exceptional, so-called "Labours of Hercules" :
-5-
together with an exceptional collection of antique Aubussons and tapesteries
all here plays a noticeable role in the overall elegance of this Château.
*
*
*
*
*
*
The Château was listed as a historic monument in 1912.
Restoration work was carried out under Yves-Marie Froidevaux,
historic monuments architect, for some 30 years.
Chateau de Puyguilhem
- my 'dream Camelot'-
and my real one...
is at La Pouyette....
*
Please visit Marsha's blog to link into
our international group
for all their "Camelot" posts
here
*
*
A little foot note:
all here plays a noticeable role in the overall elegance of this Château.
*
*
*
*
*
*
The Château was listed as a historic monument in 1912.
Restoration work was carried out under Yves-Marie Froidevaux,
historic monuments architect, for some 30 years.
- my 'dream Camelot'-
and my real one...
*
Please visit Marsha's blog to link into
our international group
for all their "Camelot" posts
here
*
*
A little foot note:
The castle 'Camelot' is mentioned for the first time in Chrétien de Troyes'
poem Lancelot, the Knight of the Cart, dating to the 1170s,
though it does not appear in all the manuscripts.
It is mentioned in passing, and is not described:
- "A un jor d'une Acenssion / Fu venuz de vers Carlion /
Li rois Artus et tenu ot / Cort molt riche a Camaalot / Si riche com au jor estut."
Chrétien de Troyes was a late 12th century French poet and trouvére,
known for his work on Arthurian subjects, and for originating the character Lancelot.
This work represents some of the best-regarded of medieval literature.
His use of structure, particular in Yvain, the Knight of the Lion,
has been seen as a step towards the modern novel.
Chrétien may have named himself Christian of Troyes
in contrast to the Jewish Rashi, also of Troyes.
Little is known of his life, but he seems to have been from Troyes,
or at least intimately connected with it,
and between 1160 and 1172 he served at the court of his patroness
Marie of France, Countess of Champagne, daughter of Eleanor of Aquitaine.
read more and all here
known for his work on Arthurian subjects, and for originating the character Lancelot.
This work represents some of the best-regarded of medieval literature.
His use of structure, particular in Yvain, the Knight of the Lion,
has been seen as a step towards the modern novel.
Chrétien may have named himself Christian of Troyes
in contrast to the Jewish Rashi, also of Troyes.
Little is known of his life, but he seems to have been from Troyes,
or at least intimately connected with it,
and between 1160 and 1172 he served at the court of his patroness
Marie of France, Countess of Champagne, daughter of Eleanor of Aquitaine.
read more and all here
Eleanor of Aquitaine was the mother of Richard the Lion Heart,
Duke of Aquitaine and Gascony, died April 6, 1199,
in Châlus - about 45 Km North-East of Château de Puyguilhem.
And so the "circle closes"...somehow....
Remark:
All photos my own
except 1,2,3,4,5: by Pascal Moulin
Wednesday, 1 May 2013
A "little" Spring-Garden Report
"It
was one of those March days
when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold:
when it is summer in the light,
and winter in the shade."
~Charles Dickens, Great Expectations
Needless to talk long about the weird weather of this year's Spring....!
Freezing cold, Siberian winds, snow showers every so often....
...allover the world!
The coldest Spring I can remember,
and in Germany it was the coldest March since 1883!
Not to mention first half of April!
I can count on two hands the sunny days we've had during the last 6 weeks,
but when the sun came out and the sky was blue -
what a great pleasure!
And it needed only a little bit of sunshine here and there,
with some higher temperatures,
for the awakening of our garden.
Viburnum carlesii
one of our earliest flowering shrub
*
While the blossoms of this tree are fading nicely away....
new life is coming up on every corner....
Pulsatilla
the earliest flowering tulips - can't wait!
*
On 26 March it still looked and felt like winter....
but...
.. ignoring the cold - a perfect day for garden work, weeding - digging...
...pruning...
and
...cutting down a circa 60 year old cherry tree, not all that old....
but it hurts me, the tree belonged to La Pouyette and its history
sorting out the wood....what to keep or....
so difficult for me to trow old wood away
...and then my lovely helper created at the end of the garden
when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold:
when it is summer in the light,
and winter in the shade."
~Charles Dickens, Great Expectations
Needless to talk long about the weird weather of this year's Spring....!
Freezing cold, Siberian winds, snow showers every so often....
...allover the world!
The coldest Spring I can remember,
and in Germany it was the coldest March since 1883!
Not to mention first half of April!
I can count on two hands the sunny days we've had during the last 6 weeks,
but when the sun came out and the sky was blue -
what a great pleasure!
And it needed only a little bit of sunshine here and there,
with some higher temperatures,
for the awakening of our garden.
Viburnum carlesii
one of our earliest flowering shrub
*
new life is coming up on every corner....
the earliest flowering tulips - can't wait!
*
On 26 March it still looked and felt like winter....
but...
.. ignoring the cold - a perfect day for garden work, weeding - digging...
...pruning...
and
but it hurts me, the tree belonged to La Pouyette and its history
sorting out the wood....what to keep or....
so difficult for me to trow old wood away
a little bench for me.
***
More weeding....
OOHPS.....
she survived and I've covered her with earth again,
but I must admit that I had a little shock!
Well, that's gardening...
"meeting" all kind of creatures,
rain worms, toads, frogs, snails etc...
As I have the need to feel the earth in my hands I always work without gloves
and really hate to touch with my bare fingers
any of these creatures....GRRHH....
but back to weeding...
clearing all the beds which were completely overgrown
by grass and weeds...
We don't have all that many flowering perennials,
our soil is very poor and full of calcaire (lime),
but the few ones, dotted around here and there,
are even more special for me.
Because they all flower in different times,
somehow one after the other,
there are always new shoots to discover,
to admire, especially during Spring.
So exiting!
These Narcissus (Märzenbecher or Easterbells in German)
came in full flower - just in time for Easter!
*
Here are my "Toughies":
the Hellebores....
they just keep going - since January/February....
*
In April:
4th of April
A lot of trees and shrubs are still a bit sleeping...
also: "no matter the weather"!
OSMANTHUS - Oleaceae
Relations of the olive:
in appearance somewhere between olive and holly.
Genus of evergreen shrubs and trees,
grown for their foliage and small fragrant flowers.
Fully to half hardy, tolerates sun or shade and fertile, well-drained soil.
Restrict growth by cutting back after flowering.
Fragrant fillers rather than the focus of a garden.
But pleasing all year round.
Ht, Spd: 8 ft+ -
can be cut into shape without any problems
from my own experience
(in front of the above image)
dense and slow-growing, height to 10 feet, a bit more tree-like
(in the back of the above image)
*
Ten days later - 14th of April:
sending out its lovely scent....whenever I pass nearby
*
The earliest flowering tulips:
"Ebony Queen"
a bit late this year....
but living in such a poor soil for 16 years by now....
and without being "feed"..
...they come up every year...
*
A genuine blossoming spring meadow
with thousands of daisies.....
"Gänseblümchen".....(little geese flowers)
*
This Camelia has survived the winter - just about!
But the white one is suffering....
*
A later flowering Narcissus
In Greek mythology, the narcissus originated from the drowned youth Narcissus.
Another Greek myth finds Persephone, daughter of the goddess Demeter,
lured to her doom by the god Hades while picking a narcissus flower
In ancient China, a legend about a poor but good man holds
he was brought many cups of gold and wealth by this flower.
Since the flower blooms in early spring, it has also become a symbol of Chinese New Year.
Narcissus bulb carving and cultivation is even an art akin to Japanese bonsai.
If the Narcissus blooms on Chinese New Year,
it is said to bring extra wealth and good fortune throughout the year.
*
'Mexican Orange'
*
17th of April....it's getting warmer... just a few degrees...
Choisya ternata - Mexican orange flower
Highly recommended rounded evergreen and aromatic shrub.
Flowering in early spring and intermittently to December - January.....
and first flower buds on the Judas Tree
*
in German Kuechenschelle (kitchenbell) or Kuhschelle (cowbell),
a must in every old fashion German Bauerngarten - farmer's garden
native to meadows and prairies of North America, Europe, and Asia.
Common names include pasque flower (or pasqueflower), wind flower,
prairie crocus, Easter Flower, and meadow anemone.
Several species are valued ornamentals because of their finely-dissected leaves,
solitary bell-shaped flowers, and plumed seed heads.
The showy part of the flower consists of sepals, not petals.
The genus Pulsatilla is sometimes considered a subgenus under the genus Anemone.
Pulsatilla patens is the provincial flower of Manitoba, Canada
and (as P. hirsutissima) is the state flower of South Dakota, USA.
Pulsatilla vulgaris is the County Flower for both
Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire in England.
Pulsatilla vernalis is the county flower of Oppland, Norway.
Pulsatilla vulgaris
unfortunately we've lost the blue ones some years ago....
Pulsatilla vulgaris var. alba
Pulsatilla pratensis subsp. nigricans - would love to have this one!
It is used in traditional medicine in Europe to treat a range of ailments.
In the late eighteenth century, Anton Freiherr von Störck (1731 -1803),
physician to the Austrian empress Maria Theresia,
was one of the first people to attempt to quantify the effectiveness of this remedy in clinical trials.
In his career, Störck investigated medicinal properties of several poisonous European plant species.
Pulsatilla might be able to fight pain, fever, spasms, and bacteria.
It also might have calming effects like a sedative.
*
and
Hosta ( syn. Funkia) is a genus of about 23–45 species of plants
commonly known as hostas, plantain lilies (particularly in Britain)
and occasionally by the Japanese name giboshi.
Hostas are widely cultivated as shade-tolerant foliage plants.
The name Hosta is in honor of the Austrian botanist Nicholas Thomas Host.
The rejected generic name Funkia,
also used as a common name, can be found in some older literature.
Hostas are native to Japan, Korea, and China
and were first imported and grown in Europe in the late 1700’s.
Hostas are edible by humans and are called "urui" in Japanese cuisine.
The parts eaten and the manner of preparation differ depending on the species;
in some cases it is the shoots, others the leaf petiole, others the whole leaf.
Younger parts are generally preferred as being more tender than older parts.
The flowers are also edible
*
Hostas are eaten by deer, slugs and snails,
which can cause extensive damage to collections in gardens.
Some varieties seem more resistant to slug damage than others.
Unfortunately our Périgordian snails just love them!
So, I only can have my Hostas in pots, placed on a high position,
at least a meter off the ground!
*
Hellebores are still flowering....yes!
The seasons are what a symphony ought to be:
four perfect movements in harmony with each other.
~Arthur Rubenstein
With the Black Bird's songs every morning and evening,
the cuckoo's call during the days....
what could be better than listening as well to
Vivaldi's - Spring
performed
by Itzhak Perlman and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
*
*
*
A week later - 22th April:
different, star-shaped leaves, also evergreen and very aromatic....
*
24th April:
And just like over night - the whole nature is now awake!
*
*
Clematis 'Montana'
*
25th April:
My black tulips
"Queen of the night"
Black tulips take you to a land of mystery and elegance.
Black tulips symbolize power and strength.
They are royal flowers that make you think of misty novel stories,
with big castles and foggy graves.
Black tulips are rare and mysterious.
They are hybrid flowers, never pure black, but more deep purple,
maroon or wine red in color. Sumptuous beauties!
They have that hypnotizing royal shade
that captures your attention and intrigues you to look closer
or to admire more and more intensely.
They are craved by hybridizers and admired by gardeners.
They inspire supreme elegancy and impose power.
Black tulips are beyond belief!
"The black Tulip - La Tulipe Noire"
"The black tulip" is also the name of a famous novel
by Alexandre Dumas, the French historical novelist,
best known for "The Three Musketeers".
Set in Holland, it tells the story of the de Witt brothers and
their dramatic death at the hands of their fellow countrymen.
It can be said that the mystery of the black tulips
is truly in the eye of the beholder.
*
However - this so called "little" report is getting far too long,
somehow I've got carried away....
....or lost myself in the garden and history.
so, I'll continue with the last days of April
and the Tree Peonies...
sometimes during this week.....
Wish you all a wonderful and sunny May-Day!
Until then......
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