(Via Snappy's Gardens Blog)

Posted by admin to paris on 2008-02-19, 11:49:00

Two last photos from Paris. It has been freezing since I came back. The first photo shows how to relax in Paris. The sunlight and fog make it a timeless picture of an office worker relaxing with legs dangling over the River Seine quayside.Time spent still appreciating whats before us.


A Cheeky Notre Dame bird. These stay in a bush just opposite the Gothic Cathedral. A man fed them from his hand. They flew up and sat eating from his hand, six or eight birds. They had a snack then flew back to the bush. My garden birds would never sit this close to me.
Paris is the city of Lights and love.
I loved the lights, both day and night, the food, the communitys in the cafe's and restaurants, the coffee's and pain au chocolate, The numerous Flowers, plants, and Tree's that adorned the city. The Chocolaterie, and Patisserie. The fresh Vegetables and fruit displayed at the front outside the shop. The Metro system that seemed to run smoothly, and all the passengers were polite to each other. The dogs being lovingly walked and dressed by doting owners. The numerous amount of seats and benches all around Paris making you sit down and watch the people go past. Like famous French writers and Artists throughout the years.Grab a coffee and chill out. The many museums in the city, the historic buildings throughout Paris and its twenty Arrondisements (districts). These are the heart of Paris.
I will return again soon I hope.

(Via Snappy's Gardens Blog)

Posted by admin to paris on 2008-02-19, 08:26:00

I have blogged fourteen images from Paris here. A Kaladeiscope of images that remind me of my trip.I think with the Light and Dark, Les Fleurs, and Historic building photos I have given a flavour of Paris.
This was the Chocolaterie just down a side street from the Champs Elysee. I was searching Paris looking for one. This one had two French ladys inside, and the Chocolates looked divine and smelt heavenly. I bought Praline and Nut in Dark Chocolate, and a white Chocolate Framboise for Cat. Five Chocs each, plus some sample from the Ladys.
If I lived nearer I would sample the Chocolates everyday, and buy the little boxes with ribbons you can get for them. I loved Chocolat by Joanne Harris so this place was straight from her pages. Maybe she found them irristible too whilst in France..

The Chocolaterie Window display saying look at me..Come in and try these wanderful flavoured chocolates. Yum!

A Cafe Creme in a black cup. The waiter smiled "are you photographing the table?" as I was looking at the photos I had taken through the viewfinder with my head down. I took this photo afterwards. One cup of coffee, of many.

In the Tulleries Gardens was this Statue the Tiger and the Crocodile. Im the Snappy Gardener and I was with Cat in Paris. I had to get Le Tigre et Le Crocodile for a photo.

Across the way from Notre Dame the Accordion monsieur playing traditional French tunes. I loved these squeeze boxes. How he could get a tune with his thick gloves on is beyond me.I walked all the way over to give him Euros and Say Tres Bien!

In the Ile De Cite I spotted these posters on the wall. I would have loved to have gone to these Concerts. String Quartets and the Second one were playing Vivaldi the Four seasons, and my all time favourite piece Pachabels Cannon in D.

The Cat who got the Cafe Creme... Cat modelling the enormous Coffee cups we got on the Ile De Cite Cafe. These were great to repel the cold weather and warm your insides up in a warm light Cafe.

Two Cats asleep in a Basket...Guess where they were sleeping?

...Inside the Pharmacy window of course. A French Lady stopped from her shopping and told us they sleep their Tout le Jour.. Everyday. They were beautiful Cats too, with shiny coats, and bright eyes. We tapped the window to see if they were alive. They sell fake animals here who look asleep and have a rising/falling chest to make you think they are alive.
These two were definitely alive. I wanted to ask for Deux Chats S'il vous plait in the Chemist!

Mopeds. They must be a good way of getting around the City of Lights if you do not have the money for a car. They were parked in every street, outside all the shops. A lot of the Car Parks were subterannean so There were more mopeds visible than cars.

The humble Bicycle. I loved the electronic bike locks with the lavender eye at the top of the post. They were opened and closed by using a card. I guess Paris wanted people to cycle about to reduce traffic, but wanted secure places to park the bikes.

The Guys playing the Concert on the Sacre Coeur steps with an audience of a few hundred people.

A Clown holding a puppet dancing to the music. I only noticed the Clown after we came back down from the Sacre Coeur.

The Last Kaladeiscope photo is from the Carousel. I love these horses, the lights on the carousel, and the music. They are timeless and make you about six years old again :)

(Via Snappy's Gardens Blog)

Posted by admin to Flowers, paris on 2008-02-18, 16:39:00

The first flowers I photographed were some Daffodils in the next balcony along from our hotel room. It had a narrow balcony high above the street.I leaned out and saw a flash of yellow. They were growing in a windowbox. Very William Wordsworth I thought.

Some Pansys with Happy Faces growing on the Butte Montmartre on the way up to the Sacre Coeur. The Sun shone and made them glow with their yellow/burgundy faces.

A random window in a Paris side street. I loved the grass and Ivy growing over the planter box. A simple arrangement but perfectly centred between the shutters. This is the Parisian garden for me. The displays outside peoples houses reflect their sensibilities and green fingers..

The City of Love as well as Lights, Two Roses from the first nights Meal. Blood red, and Pure white. These have travelled back and I am looking after them now.

The Ile De Cite flower market was selling this esquisite Witchazel for 78 Euros (about £68). It smelt divine too. I want one of these for next years Winter.

A bicolour Camelia at the flower market. I love the colours. Its like a Strawberry/Vanilla ice cream mixture swirling colours.

Outside Notre Dame this bed of Daffodils were nodding in the wind, being sung to by the man with the Accordion across the pathways. The sun illiminated the Yellow flowers. Paris in the Late winter..
Beautiful Flower!

An Albino pidgeon amongst the Violas and Wall Flowers. Another of Notre Dames resident birds.

This flower is smiling almost. These have garden spirits in them! Outside Notre Dame.

Tree's. Millions of them all over Paris, All bare but quite structural in their straight lines. I want to go back when its summer and they are dressed in their best finery. Then again in Autumn to see them change colours. Trees planted like this draw you to walk along them, amongst shaded paths. Pleasure Trees!

Some Narcissus, that look like Yellow Angels..

A Huge Camelia bush was in flower outside the Walls of Notre Dame. It was covered in Flower buds and open ones. Hope my gardens Camelia flowers as well as this. It was maybe Eight foot high, growing behind some wrought iron railings.

The Last Fleurs photo. Trees and Ivy cover the walls that keep the river Seine in its same course. I liked the colours here of the Reds and Greens.
All thats left from Paris now is a selection of my photos that do not fit into the previous categories. I have worked two night shifts since I came back.
The weather here has been freezing and the soil is frozen solid. I will blog the images of Paris from my Trip then return to the garden photos.

(Via Snappy's Gardens Blog)

Posted by admin to Flowers, paris on 2008-02-18, 16:05:00

These next two posts are about the Tree's, plants, and flowers I photographed in Paris. If the city was a grande Damme then the flowers would be the ornate jewellry used to highlight her beauty. Even in cold, foggy Febuary the Parisians used plants to decorate. Here are the trees along the River Seine. Gorgeous silver Birch trees too..

The Clipped Topiary of the Tulleries gardens. I love the straight line effecct of the planting. I stood to the side to get the longer view of them. The French Royal Gardens like lines, and neatly clipped box hedges. The Louvre had masses of hedges, some poor gardener must have to clip them several times a year to maintain their shape.

Lilac Coloured Crocus with egg yolk centres were growing in the grass in the Tullerie gardens. They were planning on mass planting I think as I saw the gardeners at work further along.

Mass planting of Lavender plants. The Foreman asked me in french do you work for a magazine as I worked out a good angle. I love the shadowing to the left of the plants. These will smell and look divine in the summer. They were adding extra organic matter and turning the soil over before planting.

A multicoloured box hedge shaped like a spiral with the massed Lavender behind the spiral. Behind the garden is rows of green chairs, not benches, for sitting down and watching the people, the gardeners, the birds, and the water fountains. There were lots of Sculptures throughout the gardens. I loved the Tiger and Crocodile. They were mostly classical statues of Nymphs, great Leaders, and Idealised Women. One was dated 1722, and left in the middle of the Gardens. Not collecting dust in a Museum somewhere. The historical art is on public display, being passed by thousands of people every day.

Flowers in suprising places. These Violas and Wall Flowers were planted on the Champs Elysee. Raised Borders with log posts driven into the ground. Maybe as support for climbing plants? You can see the Pedestrians and Cars behind the plants. This was one of the busiest parts of Paris.

Plants on a boat, moored on the edge of the river Seine. How lovely to see a house boat with live plants growing.

Ornamental Cabbages? Growing at the Base of the Eiffel Tower. I loved the feathery effect of these plants, mass planted. They are unusual looking.

More unusual places to find a Tree. This was the corner of a balcony seven storeys above the Rue De Dunquerque. I was amazed to see it. Its very exposed and Windy. Bring the plants up to your window no matter how high in the air you are.

A Geranium in a planting box across from the Hotel.I leaned out of the window to photograph this. The pink and green contrast to the Black planter box, and the White Shutters and window frames. A lot of Parisians seemed to have pots or planters outside their windows. You could look out and see some nature without venturing too far. After a year without a garden I know how it is to yearn for some soil to plant seeds in, and to nurture plants. A green spirit runs through the heart of Paris.

Some Flowers in the Patisserie. I dont know if they were real, but the colours are vibrant and lead the eye into the shop. I saw plants in Offices, Travel Agents, Restaurants (lots were outside too in planters), cafe's, and places of work.

The Beautiful White Flowers of an unknown tree. i love the White simple flowers, contrasting to the Houses behind with the Black metalwork and white stonework. A suggestion that Spring may be near.

(Via Snappy's Gardens Blog)

Posted by admin to light and dark, paris on 2008-02-17, 00:30:00

Paris had many sides to her. The beautiful buildings, people who were visiting and those who lived or worked there. The Mist hung around but the sun began to shine on Wednesday and Thursday. Sunlight cascaded down giving a fresh light to the City.
This is Outside the Sacre Coeur. The sunlight was illuminating the stained glass windows so the multi colours danced on the inner churches columns. The dance of colours!

The River Seine that runs through the heart of Paris was reflecting the suns rays, and looking like shoals of silvery fish rushing to the surface.

A small lake in the Gardens of Tulleries had these grass reeds protuding from the rippling waters. Water is great to show light and reflections.

The Eiffel Tower was made to be a silhouette by the Strong sunlight falling onto the river as we walked towards it. The trees and bridges were frames for the magical river Seine.

The almost still waters of a moving fountain in the Tullerie gardens that run from the Louvre along to the Luxor Needle and Champs Elysee. The Ducks swam around between the projectile fountains that sprayed water forward and upwards like a water cannon.

A Bridge and Boat on the River Seine with the Sunlight touching the running waters surface.

After an Hour in the Cold freezing to get up it this was the Sun setting on Valentines day from the observation deck. The orange glow mixes with the lingering mists as the Daylight fades on Paris for another day.

A riverboat turns its lights on, like a giant firefly that patrols up and down the Seine. Will-O-Wisp lights that reflect on the dark night waters.

The Citys traffic starts its daily commute back to their homes. The bridges and buildings begin to turn their lights on. Buildings had lights that were facing skywards to illuminate the facades in colours of white, oranges, and Blues. Neon lights adorn shop fronts and metro stations. Even the Advertisements had lights in them.

The Nickname for Paris is the City of Lights. This was my attempt to capture some of the lighting in Paris as the darkness came.

The Base of the Eiffel Tower showing its intricate yet strong structure. Funny men were walking about with flourescent green models of the tower. They were selling key rings however not the cool green glow in the dark models. Even they took part in the night lights of Paris.

One of my Best Photos of Paris. It is full sized and not shrunk. The lit tower had beams of light but 300 metres higher the Mist was still lingering. The white beams do their best to penetrate the Fog. The Black and Gold is magical on Valentines day.

The Metro at Gare Du Nord showing the Flaming red eyes and more lights. The two sides of Paris. The light and the dark.

(Via Snappy's Gardens Blog)

Posted by admin to paris on 2008-02-16, 01:47:00

Every Journey begins with a starting point. Ours was the Eurostar train at St Pancras Station, opened in November 2007. The Train was really long. The platform was lit up through the skylights.

A mere two hours later and Le Eurostar pulled into Paris Gare Du Nord station. One of Paris's six train stations that go to all over France and Europe.

The View from the Hotel room. We were on the Sixth floor near the rooftops of the Rue De Dunquerque. The Sacre Coeur church peeks out from behind. It was sunny but cold.

The tall buildings opposite our hotel, with the groovy window shutters and little balconys.I will do another post about the Flowers in Paris.

The first venture out into Montmartre. One of the side streets leading upto the Sacre Coeur ontop of the Butte Montmartre.

Sacre Coeur. How white was this church, but strangely dark inside except for the flickering of candles and the sunlight falling through the many stained glass windows. Alas no photos were allowed inside so we kept the camera tucked in my bag!

The Beautiful Carousel (nearly as nice as the one Cat bought me but will post it later), at the foot of the steps of the Sacre Coeur. There were Senegal men trying to sell coloured threads by tieing them to your finger. Business was brisk for them. The old carpet salesmen (selling belts and watches on pieces of coloured carpet, 17 years ago) on the steps seem to have disappeared, maybe banned by the City of Paris. They cheerfully chased us up the steps but did not make a sale :)
What a beautiful day to sit, and watch life go past. There was a small three piece band playing to masses of people on the steps. An impromptu concert in the sunshine. A narrow corridor was left for people to walk up and down the Sacre Coeur steps. They played No Woman No Cry, and Wanderwall amongst others with the audience singing back at them.

The Mystical misty Paris from the Butte Montmartre. The tower is at Montparnasse, with a sixty second floor viewing deck.

The first Metro station we came out of was Cite, on the Ile de Cite. The Island in the centre of the Seine with government buildings and the central police stations. The famous flower market was here, right outside the metro steps. I bought a beautiful Butterfly, two frogs, and a Snake. If you go on Saturdays they sell birds and small animals. They had a collection of winter flowering plants, and spring bulbs. The flower photos are to be posted later...

The River Seine. I had to photograph the first river boat I saw coming. The stone banks line the river, and old buildings overlook it. Walkways follow the river on both sides with the obligatory seats and benches. Time to sit and watch the world go by. Anywhere in Paris.

The Gothic Cathedral that is Notre Dame. It has stained glass windows, Gargoyles and Spires.I love this site. On the Corner of the Ile De Cite it has a surrounding square with statues and benches. Gardens, some friendly urban birds, and shops and cafes. I listened to a Frenchman playing his Accordion and gave him some Euros.The Accordion always reminds me of France..

The More famous the landmark the more people come. The religious and the tourists. Students and teachers. They have people who stand outside the entrance with plastic cups asking for euros for food.There were as many French visitors as Foreign ones. I left with a Virgin Mary pendant in a laminated Notre Dame card. Many cultures, classes, and beliefs bubble around the churches. There was no concert here though like outside the Sacre Coeur..

The Cobbled quayside where we waited for Batobus, A riverboat that goes up and down the Seine stopping at the Major attractions. There is no better way of seeing Paris than from the River. The River is the central heart of the City, as the city has grown outwards from its banks. Buildings have grown to overlook the River. The benches and Seats are on both sides of the river so you can stop awhile (Or Sunbathe when it was freezing. Two tough people were basking in the sun).

The Tough plants hanging down the Quayside . Seen through the Boats glass window.

Choppy waters as the Boat moved along the river.

Paris has the Fifth busiest port in France. Which is no mean feat being inland. Lots of Boats plyed the waters up and down. Touristy ones like Batobus, but also people lived on house boats. Long (78metre) Industrial boats, and barges pushing loads like Coal and sand along the river..

The Louvre. It is one of the biggest Museums in the World. A former Fortress and Palace it runs along three sides. The much loved Pyramid is the Main Entrance. We had passed through the Lions gate to come to the huge open space between the Louvres walls. I saw a postcard that showed the French Army Parading en masse in the open space. It is wide!

A Rare photo of me (as I'm usually behind the Camera).

The View to the Champs Elysee, with the Luxor Needle and the Arc De Triomphe in the mist behind. It took ten minutes to cross four major roads with the needle being in the middle.The drivers were very fast here. Beware!

We walked along the Champs Elysee but then went down to the River again to try and find the Batobus stop. We missed it somehow. This is the busy commercial road with very swish restaurants. We took a side street and found a Cafe, then a Chocolaterie (yum), on the way to the Tour Eiffel. It pays to venture away from the main streets to explore little side streets to see what is there. The Cafe culture of Paris is still there (selling Cigarettes, Alcohol, food, and Coffees. The Locals nip in to drink the rocket fuel Cafe Noir, talk awhile, then go out again.) I think the cafes are the barometer of the local community...

Paris's most Iconic Landmark. In the Mist. It is photogenic, and very big..

More Riverboats, on the Walk down from the Champs Elysee to the Eiffel Tower.

There is a lake on one corner of the Eiffel Tower. It had ducks on it, and stately trees. It is suprising the huge tower made of metal and the still waters here.

The Queue to get up the Tower via the Elevators. Oh my Gosh it was FREEZING cold. Wrap up warm if you want to go up it in Febuary.Very patient tourists queued for an hour to get up.We shivered on Valentines day to ride the Elevators to the Second Etage, then the Summat!

View from the Second floor. There was more queueing waiting to get right to the top, 320 metres above the street level. The lift to the viewing platform is like going up in a Rocket with the ground plummetting down beneath you. If you dont like heights look at your feet during the ascent.
The Tower Montparnasse in the Distance. The Night photos are coming in another post...

Ohh La La. A Patisserie. Cat discovered the yummy Pain Au Chocolate with Cafe Creme. We ate a lot of these. One cafe had ran out. The owner said go up the street and buy some to bring back to eat. Very French. Bringing food from outside and eating it in the cafe.

The Blurry Vegetable shop. I love how they display fresh fruit and Veg outside the shops.Its like a still life. Some had lighting trained down to the boxes of produce.

The Art Deco Metro Signs at Anvers, the station in Montmartre. I loved the french slang for them was mouth. An artist wrote that these open mouths swallow people and spit them out in a different part of Paris. They have red lights illuminating the Metropolitan above.

The Rue De Steinquerque leading up to a White Horse and the Steps behind to the Sacre Coeur. It has people, lights, and colour. This is Paris.

Snappy gardener...

On the Friday we were leaving, a last photo of the Shops and people in Montmartre. A quick tour of some of Paris. I think I want a week next time, more time to relax and find more sites and sounds. This is the first blog post about Paris.
Still to come...Light and Dark, and Flowers, some animals/birds of Paris.

(Via Snappy's Gardens Blog)

Posted by admin to eiffel tower, paris on 2008-02-15, 13:09:00

The Tour Eiffel in the Fog yesterday on Valentines day. Paris was cold, and foggy. It made for some atmospheric photos.

The three days away have caught up with me. More posts soon about the sites and flowers of Paris in Febuary.

(Via Snappy's Gardens Blog)

Posted by admin to paris, strawberry on 2008-02-09, 16:01:00

A tough flower on the slowly resurecting Strawberry plant, a Strawberry Honeoye on Saturday morning. My cold frame lived up to its name as all the plants inside had frozen droplets on the leaves. Its cold outside tonight. There will be a frost tonight.
I am going to Paris in Three Days. Seventeen years have passed since I was there last.
The Hotel is located Five Minutes from Montmartre, where Toulouse Lautrec, and all the Famous Artists frequented in the late 19th Century. I wander if Paris remembers or does it have no Memorys?
I have vague memorys of there, just odd images and rememberences.
I was no Angel back then either, and my French was non existent. The Youth Hostel was grubby and Decaying. It took twenty four hours (coach, ferry, coach) to reach Paris last time.
Going back will be a chance to see it again with my new eyes, and take lots of photos. I have changed and I hope that Paris will still be beautiful. The Camera will photograph a few French gardens that are near the Centre of the city.
Now The Eurostar is a direct Train from London St Pancras to Gare Du Nord Paris through the Channel Tunnel. Two and a half hours.
French Gardens, Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, and Montmartre await me and Cat. I will look for the heart and soul of Paris, and try to photograph it.