AS around thirty other gardens in Brittany, the gardens of the Ballue, in Ille-et-Vilaine, participate in Neurodon on 4 and 5 May to finance medical research. In front of the castle, the garden is very tidy, with moles. While on the sides the flowerbeds are less tidy. This is the composition of this two-hectare park. “It’s an intimate garden”, explains the owner of the restaurant, Marie-Françoise Mathiot. She has lived in the castle for twenty years and is the owner of the gardens, which celebrate their fiftieth anniversary this year.
Everything invites you to take a walk in the Jardin de la Ballue. The view over the Couesnon valley is breathtaking. “La Ballue was above all a stronghold”, explains Marie-Françoise Mathiot, scrutinizing the clear vision. A yew hedge reveals the valleys to the rhythm of its curves. To the side, the flowering wisteria exudes a light sweet scent. “This alley is truly remarkable. Many visitors come to admire this wisteria,” explains the owner.
Maël Prévost
Oriental Coast, the garden is tree-lined and reveals several green spaces, especially the green theatre. “This is my favorite part of the garden”, explains Marie-Françoise Mathiot. It must be said that finding yourself surrounded only by greenery has its effect, with the birds playing the part of this visit.
A unique collection of boxwood
On the west side the terrain is rugged. In the shade of the pine trees, carefully pruned by hand, the path descends towards a pool of water. This is wherearound thirty specimens of boxwood find refuge. “It’s a very rare collection. There are three of us who have this type of plant in France”, Marie-Françoise Mathiot rejoices. Yellow leaves, pointed leaves, plants that grow in a cone, others that hug the ground… “I am passionate about boxwood, so much so that I obtained recognition for this collection from the Conservatory of Specialized Plant Collections (CCVS)”.
Maël Prévost
Chinese peonies are also present in this part of the land “very rare” assures the garden enthusiast. In this case, the flower is 20 cm wide, garnished with numerous white petals with a purple heart. “You really have to come and see it, it’s a flower that doesn’t like rain and could wither quickly”.
To fund brain research
On Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th May the Jardins de la Ballue will participate in Neurodon. “For every adult entry we donate €2 to the Brain Research Foundation”, explains Marie-Françoise Mathiot. The entrance price is kept at €10 for adults, the castle therefore makes a donation of 2 euros to medical research. An operation that is close to the heart of the owner of the castle, a former doctor. “I signed up straight away”explains the woman who has opened her garden at every edition for 19 years. “Last year we donated 1,500 euros to the foundationwelcomes Perrine Launay, who organizes the event in La Ballue. This year we hope to do even better!”