Garden gates open for two million

THOUSANDS of gardens and private parks are open today and all weekend to mark the 10th Rendez-vous aux Jardins - but there is more than just flowers involved: film shows, readings, talks and workshops are also lined up.

The theme this year is the Garden and its Images and the Ministry of Culture has organised special exhibitions on Garden Photography 1851-1987, which are on display in Epernay at the Moët & Chandon Trianon Orangerie and in Cognac at the Château de Bagnolet. Included are photographs from Willy Ronis, Jacques Henri Lartigue, Eugène Atget and André Kertész.

Today many of the gardens are open for visits by school-children but tomorrow and Sunday they are open to all, generally without reservation.

Last year 1.8 million visitors joined in the event, which covered 2,200 gardens and parks - including 400 that are not usually open to the public and 200 that were open for the first time.

The gardens vary from the formal - such as those at the Château de Mogère in Montpellier - to the more modest, like the Skite Sainte Foy monastery garden in the Aude.

Events will vary from the workshops on hand-trimming topiary at Les Jardins du Manoir d'Eyrignac, near Sarlat in the Dordogne, to a visit to the rose garden with 2,000 different varieties at Château de Mesnil Geoffroy at Ermenouville in Normandy.

You can find out what gardens are open in your department at www.rendezvousauxjardins.culture.fr

This weekend also sees Mother's Day - la Fête des Mères - on Sunday.