Les Quatre Vents – slideshow illustrated DVD lecture by Frank Cabot
At our November meeting rather than having a speaker we opted to show a film by Frank Cabot of his garden, ‘Les Quatre Vents’, near Quebec in Canada. In spite of quite a number of members being away or ill, we had a very good turnout.
Julian gave a brief introduction explaining Frank Cabot’s relevance to Carmarthenshire and his background ……
He was actually an American, born into a wealthy family, and made enough money in financial services to retire early at 48 and devote himself to gardens and horticulture.
Like Bob Brown, he was awarded the Veitch medal by our Royal Horticultural Society, and he also established the Garden Conservancy charity in America to help save and preserve significant gardens mainly in the USA and a few around the world. Through contacts made by Carmarthenshire based William Wilkins, he was persuaded to become involved with the Aberglasney Restoration Trust, he and his wife donating over £1 million to the restoration of Aberglasney in its very early days.
A man of great charm and enthusiasm, he produced in his latter years not just a wonderful book on the creation of his major family garden at Les Quatre Vents, The Greater Perfection) but also a slideshow illustrated DVD lecture which is what we showed to Cothigardeners. This selects 5 of the 32 design elements of his garden and discusses how they came into being. Many took decades to reach fruition, from the initial idea and planning to the final execution or maturity of plantings.
Although the film showed gardening on a grand scale we were able to appreciate themes it highlighted which are pertinent to all gardeners……..
- patience – the long term nature of designing/planting a garden
- ruthlessness – if a plant doesn’t perform, move it to a better location or get rid of it altogether – all plants should earn their place.
- continual appraisal, reassessment and editing. Walk round your garden regularly throughout the year making notes of things that work and those that don’t and be prepared to change them where necessary.
Click here for both a 4 minute video clip from the film, and a detailed biography of Frank Cabot on the site of The Garden Conservancy.
Christmas Buffet
A reminder to those who have booked their place for the Christmas buffet ………………….
Wednesday December 13th at the Dolaucothi Arms, meeting at 6.30 pm for a 6.45 to 7 pm start.
The Dolaucothi Arms – Cothigardeners Christmas Buffet 2017
£15 per person
Hot
Dinefwr Venison sausages with red onion, apples and sage
Mushroom, chestnut & red wine bourguignon (gf, ve)
Buttery mashed potato (v)
Root vegetables roasted with thyme (gf, ve)
Cold
Home cooked glazed ham with cranberry and orange stuffing (gf)
Raised rainbow vegetable pie
Spiced red cabbage slaw ~ Chicory, celery & walnut salad ~ winter salad
(all gf, v)
Sweet (all v)
Mince pies with brandy butter
Orange, almond & polenta cake (gf)
Mulled pear and gingerbread trifle
Sad News
Many of us in Cothigardeners knew John Smith and had enjoyed his and his wife Liz’s company and beautiful garden at Llwyn Cyll near Trapp on several occasions, as well as his highly entertaining talk on the development of the garden. Sadly news came this week that he died of cancer in Glangwili hospital on Saturday night.
John’s funeral/memorial service is to be held at Llanelli Crematorium at 12.00 on Monday 27th, with ‘tea’ at Llyshendy (Jane and Ivor Stokes home near Llandeilo) thereafter. Liz has asked that if folk are coming, bright colours please and black only if you have to!
Cothi Gardeners 