Henri Martin's Garden

 So who was Henri Martin you ask!

Henri Martin was a post-impressionist painter, born in Toulouse, who bought a summer house in the small village of Labastide du Vert in the Lot and who eventually lived there full-time until his death in 1943.  His work is on display locally in Toulouse and also the 'Henri Martin' museum in Cahors.  His work is well known in France and the USA.

The house, the Domaine de Marquayrol, seems to have stood empty since his death but has recently been bought with a view to turning it in to an exhibition/concert venue/tourist attraction.

We came to learn of this through the garden club we are members of.  One of our members has been charged with clearing and re-designing the garden which had become totally overgrown!  A first attempt at clearing has been carried out, so we were able to see the bare bones of the garden, what remains of the original garden from some 80 years ago, and what potentially could be done with it.

We were shown the garden by Cameron, the poor man who has the uneviable task of trying to satisfy a number of different views on what the garden should become.  He made the mistake of asking for any ideas and, needless to say we (and others) were not backwards in coming forward!!!

An interesting afternoon looking at a project which will take a number of years to accomplish.