I was revisiting the book Marie-Antoinette and the Last Garden at Versailles that was given to me over Christmas this past year. It really got me excited about my trip to Paris this upcoming week. Hopefully, there is still a little greenery left for me as it is the beginning of November. The book quotes that gardening “can become a devouring passion, transforming an ordinary piece of land into a sensitive portrait of an epoch and a major work of art.” See the work of art at Versailles above.
The life of Marie Antoine and how she became Her Royal Highness, the Dauphine of France and renamed Marie Antoinette at the age of only fourteen is pretty amazing! Suddenly at age 18 she became Her Majesty the Queen of France after Louis XV passed away. Having only spent four years in the castle watching and learning from her elders, she was all of a sudden in charge. Marie Antoinette was given the Trianon as a gift from her husband Louis XVI since she had always had her eye on it as a "getaway" from her life in the castle. She spent years working with landscape artists and builders to build the perfect garden and redecorate the Trianon along with the Petit Trianon. Which was followed by, Belvedere, her small theater for entertaining. Then, Le Temple de l'Amour which is pictured below.
Pictured here is the cover of the book about Marie Antoinette and her chateau at Versailles.
Maybe this will inspire some of you to get to work on preparing your garden this winter so that it is ready for Spring!
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