GARDENS

VASES d'ANDUZE

Now that Brisbane gardens have been all but decimated by the long dry spell and with no end in sight, perhaps it is time for us to re-think our approach to our garden.

Instead of mass plantings, charm can be instilled into garden spaces with the use of spectactular garden staturary and pots. Borrowing some ideas from the French, historically some of the best garden designers, is a good place to start.

Brisbane Pod has a special fondness for Anduze pottery which first appeared in southern France in the 16th Century. The design of this handmade pottery which has endured to this day was inspired by the Italian Medicis. The traditional design includes Emblem, Lion, Angel, Fleur de Lys and Croix du Landoc within a garland.

King Louis XVI first used them in his glasshouses at Versailles for his citron and organge trees. For the next two hundred years or so they were to be found only in the gardens of the landed gentry. However, by the early years of the 19th Century wealthy families of local silk merchants in the Anduze region began to plant elaborate gardens and adopted the prized orange tree in their garden design. The Vases d'Anduze were used for the orange trees because they needed to be brought inside during winter to escape the frost.

And, so to this very day, Anduze pottery, faithful to its ancestors, can be found in the gardens of city dwellers the world over. Vases d'Anduze are expensive but as they say: "It's the real thing."

All it takes is a suitable spot in your garden, two 80cm tall Vases d'Anduze, add your favourite trees, cover the ground with some slate pavers, and finally add a Lutyen garden seat that has weathered to a silvery grey. Voila!