Sunday, November 25, 2012

The Jardins de la fontaine in Nîmes

The 'Jardins de la Fontaine' in Nîmes is one of my favourite parks and a perfect example of the elegant landscape architecture of 18th century France.


Built in the reign of Louis XV it is also the first public garden in France.

It is a peaceful and beautiful space with a symmetrical layout, filled with fountains, balustrades, vases, and sculptures. You see fish in the pools, and on the weekends, children riding ponies and men playing boules.


 


The park is so much more though than a peaceful garden for reflection or a promenade. It is such an inspirational place too... its classical beauty and the abundance of urns and vases, all draped with bows and wreaths, led me to the new 'Jardin de Nîmes' cover for the scarf travel pochette, which will become available in about three weeks time. The design originates from the Boudin Archives in Nîmes, and as the existing Toile de Jouy and Bastide, it is one of the beautiful patterns printed by a family business in Provence.






44 comments:

  1. Wow!!!! I'm speechless again! Only you could create such a gracious and wonderful post dearest Mai Tai, You look absolutely stunning in that beautiful black dress and your new necklace is so pretty and looks terrific on you <3!

    Thank you for the precious information about one more amazing garden in Paris. It will definitely be on my list next time I go there. I could go on and on and still not be able to tell you how much I liked this post and your Picturebook in general. Thank you, my dear. Sending you warm hugs and kisses, Manuela xx

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    1. My dearest Manuela! So happy you like Ms Gemstone, thanks so much. You are so very sweet and kind, and this Picturebook would not be the same without your gracious contributions. You have become such a part of it. Mille merci <3

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  2. So sorry about writing Paris instead of Nimes. I guess I was so excited with the post and didn't read carefully. Sorry. Warm hugs, M xx

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    1. The garden is so very beautiful and elegant, no wonder you immediately thought of Paris!

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  3. Lovely new products and such a pleasurable post! It's nice to see you in a dress. Just as one would expect, you have beautiful legs, if I may say so.

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    1. So kind of you to say, many thanks :-) I don't wear dresses often, but this one I love.. it's so simple and comfortable.

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  4. As always, you look fantastic. The collier is wonderful, will you do it in other colors in the future? Kindest regards S

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    1. Merci, dear Sanne! Yes, other colors will follow in the fututre :-)

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  5. Wow, breath takingly beautiful post. The necklace is divine. And MT in a frock! You are stunning. Every bit amazingly stylish and glamourous. Wow. Again!! Ax

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    1. Merci, my dear A! Wore the frock yesterday again, this time with pants and boots..getting back into my old habit ;-)

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  6. What a cool place, I would love to visit there~

    =)


    Brooke

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  7. Those pics are truly devine - I so much admire your creativity in arranging them and thank you also for the background info. To top it off, you (as always) look absolutely drop dead chic & gorgeous! :D xox, Macs

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    1. Many thanks, my dear Macs! I so much enjoy taking photos and putting them together. And I am so very happy that you enjoy the results! xx

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  8. Une femme sublime dans un magnifique endroit que je connaissais il y a tres tres longtemps
    Votre nouveau collier est superbe et tellement classe avec la petite robe noire !
    Tres belle inspiration pour les portes foulards les imprimés sont tres beau
    Je vous souhaite une tres belle semaine
    Amities
    MYRIAM

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    1. Ma chère Myriam, j'espère que nous allons croiser un jour dans les jardins! Merci pour votre gentil mots, je suis ravi que le nouveau collier et les portes foulards vous plaise. Une très belle fin de semaine à vous. Amitiés

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  9. Wow,wow and WOW! What a beautiful little 'gem' to wake up to! The gardens,those legs,and the stunning new gemstone necklace....perfect in every way! Hurrying over to purchase before these babies are gone!
    I am in awe....really! Cannot think of more to add except perhaps to find out if a bracelet is in the works!
    Home run, slam dunk again most talented MT! I am cyber Monday shopping already with MT Collection!
    Super start to the week! Celebratory hugs dear friend, Txx

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    1. Darling Trudye, your wonderful and positive energy never fails to bring sunshine into my day. Thanks so much for the lovely, happy and joyous welcome to Ms Gem, and for the sweet and kind compliments. Hope your package will be with you soon, I packed a few extra bisous inside to help it speed across the Atlantic <3 xxx

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  10. P.S. BTW...I am packing my worldly goods,DH and two furbies and moving to Nimes! First the ampitheater and now the gardens...be still my beating heart<3 T xx

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  11. Believe me, that necklace is even more beautiful "in the flesh" and so are the legs. Could I please order a pair . . . of the legs.

    And, I agree with Sanne, that gorgeous collar in more colors would be most appreciated.

    Love to you, gorgeous girl,
    J.

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    1. Ah, I understand now (after some "thinking procedure"), you saw the necklace in reality and you are one of the friends who participated the outing! I can at least say I envy you for the trip and insight into necklace :-). You surely had a wonderful time together!
      M.

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    2. Much love to you, my clever and witty friend!

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    3. Dear M, the reply button did not work out like intended... the chummy response was for Jerrine.. although it applies to you too, for connecting the dots between the posts :-)

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  12. This is a beautiful necklace against this charming and enchanting park. I agree with what others have said, you have fabulous legs and need to show them off more often. The necklace has such fetching colors and fits so well into the setting. Well-done. The scarf travel bag is lovely as well.
    Thanks for this great post.
    Maedi

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    1. Thanks so much for greeting Ms Gemstone and the new Pochettes with such kind and warm words, dear Maedi. I don't even know why I hardly wear dresses, but I do love this one. Liebe Grüsse x

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  13. Dear Maitai, I love this jewelled collar arrangement, it is exactly the sort of thing I'd wear myself.

    Nimes looks divine too.

    As do you.

    Luff how orginal and elegant your always are.

    Best wishes FF x

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    1. Hope you'll visit Nîmes one day, dear FF, the jardins would be a perfect backdrop for your glamorous self :-) Make sure to keep me posted if you do xx

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  14. Dear Maitai - could not agree more to the previous comments - the necklace, the Garden and you - really stunning! Hope you design it in some other colours...all the best :-)Christina

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    1. It will, with time, dear Christina. Thanks so much for the lovely comment!

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  15. Ho Ho Ho.... what can I add except that I found nice Christmas gifts to think about! (speaking of collar and pochettes, of course! Legs' order will be for next spring ;) Amitiés.
    Catherine

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    1. Merci, chère Catherine! Santa has been pretty busy this week... Legs are safely put aside for you ;-) Amitiés

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  16. GC in neutral colors (black, grey, beige) appeared today on Hermes.com

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    1. Many thanks for the info :-) I've seen the Galop Chromatique last week, and as so often the colors are different IRL than on h.com. On their site, the lighter stripes appear in cool shades of greys, white and beiges, but in reality they have pastel undertones (pink/powder blue).

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  17. No words suffice, dearest MaiTai, a most heavenly post! We are all mesmerized by your beauty, you are truly divine <3 A huge congratulations on your new grand beauty - such an original, captivating, most gorgeous necklace, and also for your new supremely beautiful Travel Pochettes. Thank you for sharing so much beauty with us time and time again - your photos of the magnificent Jardins de la fontaine make it one of my favorites. And your collages are always so special, truly works of art. You are totally in harmony and at one with your world, dear MaiTai. Hope you're having the most wonderful week. All my love to you with big congratulations hugs xxx

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    1. Your gracious and elegant writing always makes me feel as if wrapped in a most delicate and exquisite cashmere blanket. Thank you so very much for the beautiful compliments, and the warm and happy welcome to the newest members of the Collection. I am so blessed you enjoy it here, and wishing you a most wonderful remaining week too <3 xox

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  18. What a gorgeous necklace and what a wonderful park! The colours of the necklace really reflect the beautiful greens of the trees and plants. And you look stunning as always dear Mai Tai! Love that dress and your shoes and your bag...everything! So simple and so stylish. And I adore that new fabric for the scarf pochette too. It really does reflect the elegance of the park. I love seeing the new additions to your collection!

    Enjoy the rest of the week,

    Melusine x

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    1. So very happy you enjoyed the post, my dear Melusine. Having the necklace and new pochettes coming together at the same time, inspired by and enjoyed in the park was truly a wonderful moment. Thank you for sharing it with me, and for the beautiful compliments and kind good wishes. Have a wonderful rest of the week too, and a happy weekend ahead xx

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  19. Thank you so much everyone for the wonderful welcome to Ms Gemstone, and for the beautiful compliments and kind good wishes <3 You ladies made my day and week...your gracious and generous comments are so appreciated. Wishing everyone a lovely remaining week. xxx

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  20. Hope to one day show you my favorite spots in the Jardins de la Fontaine, ma chère Jamais <3 So true re Nîmes, it is such a gem. There are some roman remains in the garden too (Temple de Diane and Tour Magne) and the fountains are fed by the same spring which led water to the roman thermes previously occupying the site. Much love as always x

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  21. Oh, this beautiful necklace is definitely going on my Christmas list. So lovely! May I ask who makes your terrific black dress? My old standby black merino shift from Uniqlo (why didn't I buy 10??) was sadly shrunk in the laundry. Looking for something to replace it asap. Thanks so much!!

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    1. Happy you like the necklace, many thanks :-) I bought the dress in Germany in the summer, it is by 'Prego'. Just checked their site, it looks as if it is still availabe: http://www.prego.de/kleidung/kleider/adonna_133_dress/nero
      Off to order another nine ;-)

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