37. Emerging: Provincetown Hydrangeas, Rohmer-ing around Lac D'Annecy, and Guerrilla Gardening in Ontario
Summer Garden Travel Writing Blurbs
Hi everyone! I am finally back into the rhythm of writing again and I apologise for not sending out my newsletter in October as promised. In truth this has been the most hectic year of my life, and my partner’s life as well. The last month or so has meant turning off and listening to what we needed to do in order to restore when we are not working. Gratefully, we were able to do so, and this meant: sleeping, alone time with the furbabies, self care, cooking, reading, silly television, film festival hopping all over town, museums, and planning our next adventure (which we leave for next week and I can’t wait to share with you) <3 In a meantime, here are some stories and some music for you to enjoy, hit shuffle and scroll…
Biking Through Lac D’Annecy
Despite not sharing here, I have actually spent the last few months visiting many gardens, either public, private, or accidental, and beautiful destinations with an abundance of nature. I’ll be sharing my stories with you throughout these next few newsletters. So let’s rewind a few months, back to early August of this year. In the depth of the European canicule (heatwave), with two sweating furbabies in tow and no AC in the car, Nico drove us from Paris to the Alps, thinking that the temperature would cool as we neared the mountains. We were incorrect and arrived covered in melted bags of formerly frozen mangoes.
Our first stop was Lac D’Annecy, made famous in my mind from the film Le Genou de Claire by Éric Rohmer - warning the plot is pretty dated, Nico can’t even watch it - but the scenery is so beautiful if you look past the protagonist and his creepy actions, the gorgeous views put this lake high on my travel wish list. We spent our days there trying to stay cool, swimming and kayaking in the almost Carribean-like waters and trying to find a beach that allowed Lulu to run around (very difficult task). The entire lake is encircled by a bike path, which is the most efficient way to get around and the only way to find secret spots in the grass where you may or may not bump into a cow or two. Here are a few moments from our exploring:
the dock at sunset
she hated us
Hydrangeas of Provincetown
Late summer in Provincetown extends into September, which is when we decided to visit this year. The circuit boys have left, leaving in their wake lots of trauma and the families with their trails of melted ice cream and tantrums have cleared off. There are still crowds, they don’t fully dwindle off until after Halloween, but it isn’t as much of a nightmare as July.
Perhaps the most iconic flower of the New England Summertime is the Hydrangea. Bushels of (preferably muted periwinkle) cascade across pathways and decorate the chicest of homes. I have yet to learn how to keep a hydrangea bouquet alive longer than 48 hours (I do everything the florist says I swear but they love to wilt), so I love taking in the beauty of these flowers in their natural (carefully planted and landscape designed) habitat when I am in the vicinity.
Provincetown tends to veer off the mainstream as per it’s reputation and the most common hydrangea seen across town is the hydrangea paniculata (Pink Diamond). These flowers start out the perfect shade of soft white (almost a greenwashed crema) and grow abundantly in whatever direction they please. As summer wains, they give their final performance by a smattering of pink flush singing across each bush.
another type of hydrangeas growing back into their green state as they feel autumn nearing.
Guerrilla Gardening in Ontario
A while back I mentioned my mother-in-law’s guerrilla garden tucked away in a secret mini-forest near her home in Ontario. Beginning as a covid-collaboration with a few other neighbours but spearheaded by her - this small garden has become a cosy spot, almost an outdoor living room on sunnier days. This summer we were able to pay the garden a visit.
tomatoes
She curated the garden with some berries, vegetables, seasonal flowers and during the time of my visit it was proliferating zucchinis. Growing zucchinis always reminds me of the BFG and his diet of snozzcumbers.
the garden harvest
Lulu after a month of traveling nonstop across two continents - Elvis was too tired to even show his face.
If only it was always this peaceful between this traveling pair…
And Lastly
A mock strawberry growing in my dad’s garden that was adorable.
I promise to not take so long between newsletters moving forward, I hope you are well and thank you for being here <3
Some things nourishing me recently, might also be interpreted as simply, my late Autumn mood board:
Belated discovery of Glamma Beijing.
‘tis the season
Stumbling upon some Niki de Saint Phalle during a recent Stedelijk visit.
Flowering and fruiting citrus
Dali moments
A quiet Samhain this year
Courtney Barnett at Cinema Paradiso
Halston Hamptons Aesthetic (also orchids)
Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese
Lulu at the florist
Shows at the Tuschinski Theatre - worth biking over (I mean weaving carefully through) stoned tourists to get to - sorry if I have made that joke before, it’s just too easy.
Know anyone else who loves hydrangeas?
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The last tomato, at the end of the summer this year <3