Yesterday we visited one of my favourite Mediterranean gardens, the Jardin Serre de la Madone, which (luckily for me!) is very near our place in Menton. The creator of the garden was Major Lawrence Waterbury Johnston, an American born in Paris who later became a naturalised British subject. Johnston also created the wonderful gardens at Hidcote Manor in Gloucestershire.
Johnston was an avid plant collector and both sponsored, and undertook himself, plant hunting expeditions (to Europe, South Africa, China and Burma). His goal at Menton was to create his ‘earthly paradise’. The garden fell into disrepair after Johnston’s death but is now owned by the French coastal conservation agency, the Conservatoire du Littoral. An extensive restoration programme started in 2000 and much of the garden is now restored to its former glory, although work continues.
The garden is absolutely enchanting – visitors enter a series of terraces, with steps, arches, pergolas, paving, fountains, statues, pools and benches along lanes and pathways that meander through courtyards and gardens up the hill to the main villa once occupied by Johnston.
Bignonia covered archway and circular pond
There are several small ponds, water features and a water garden, with a beautiful glass house where visitors can sit in the shade and enjoy the view.
Potted ferns in the glass house
Terrace below the main villa, with water feature:
The main villa sits beautifully in the gardens:
The ground floor rooms are open to visitors and beautiful enough to include photos here
Bougainvillea
A few metres from the villa the belvedere, clad in wisteria floribunda, provides a shady spot with wonderful views of the garden and surrounding countryside.
View from the villa
The planting reflects the plant collecting personality of Johnston – Mediterranean-type plants like aloe arborescens sit alongside the less expected flora of South Africa, China, South America and elsewhere. There are several collections of plants - heliotropes, ferns, viburnums and salvia included - and many magnificent, now mature trees collected by Johnston and his friends on their travels.
Tetrapanax papyrifer
Afrocarpus falcatus
Podocarpus Henkelii
There is, of course, much more - a citrus grove, wooded area, courtyards - perhaps another time... The Jardin Serre de la Madone is a magical place with lush and exuberant planting -
If any garden lover is planning a visit to the south of France, it should rank high on your list of places to visit. I leave you with a little French frog!
I starred the page so I can go back and look again anytime. 
For posting.!!!
