France's most beautiful public and private gardens open their gates to us in every season of the year: from the classical French palace gardens at Vaux-le-Vicomte down to humble domestic gardens in Normandy, from stylized Zen gardens in Provence to cactus displays on the Cote d'Azur. The typical plants of each climatic region are represented—delphiniums, roses and irises in the North, and Californian poppies, santolinas, and lavender in the Midi. This book is a source of inspiration for all lovers of gardens and nature as well as anyone travelling to France. Most of these gardens are open to the public and provide an astonishing feast for the eyes.

The photographer:

Deidi von Schaewen, who has lived in Paris for thirty years, is a contributor to a range of international periodicals and a filmmaker, and has published numerous books. Her publications with TASCHEN include Indian Interiors, Fantasy Worlds, Gardens of Provence, and Inside Africa.

The author:

Marie-Francoise Valery studied English and political science before devoting herself to landscape gardening, an area in which she is a recognized expert. She has written a large number of gardening books on various topics, as well as articles for well-known French garden and design magazines.