Peony plantation

 I only heard about the Chateau de Sourches last week, from a friend in the village.   They cultivate a "conservatoire de pivoines", that is a collection/library of peonys.   They are only about half an hour from us, and the plants are in flower now.   We went to take a look.

The chateau is quite a fine stately home, and the peonys are displayed in what I imagine would have been the moat.   This means that they get a lot of light, but are sheltered from the weather's worst effects.   On visiting, you walk around the moat floor, ending up in the basement of the château itself where there is a souvenir shop, tea room, and you can buy plants.

I liked their entrance fee structure.   The first time you visit, you pay full whack.   But if you keep your tickets, you can come a second time and pay less.   The third and subsequent visits are free.   Peonys don't all flower at the same time and the flowering period lasts a month or so.  So you can see all the plants as the season progresses, without having to cough up every time you go.  Cool.

Impossible to show here all the plants and flowers but here's a few pics to give you a taste.

At the end of the visit, we bought some books in the shop, petted the affectionate cat, and had tea and cake in the tea room.  It all just seemed very... appropriate.   I'm glad we went.