Tarras in the Spring and 2027 Tour Planning
Philip and I have now been back in Tarras for a month, after three wonderful months away.
Our French house sitters were terrific, and now it’s our turn to get back to the garden!
The perennial banks and borders have been cut back, the overwintered plants have found new homes, and the summer seedlings are nestled in their new potting mix and getting underway. I have also sold many bunches of daffodils through the Tarras Café — always a pleasure to see them brighten someone else’s home.
The weather is constantly seesawing between rain, which is providing an endless dump of fresh snow on the hills and mountains, and calm, fabulous, shirt-sleeve sunny days. It’s a wonderful time of year to be gardening in Tarras.
We were fortunate to have two brilliant tours with two fabulous groups, as well as the pleasure of travelling together on a return tour to Italy. It was a particular thrill to spend another week at Masseria Pistola in Puglia, where I was once again able to rely on my exceptionally good guide, Michele. We ended our Italian travels in Bologna, which proved to be the perfect place to bring the tour to a close.
From Italy we travelled on to France, and arriving back in Burgundy after so many years was a real pleasure. Staying at La Terre d’Or and being so warmly spoilt by Vincent and Sylvia made our time there especially memorable. We visited châteaux and gardens in the Loire before heading to Normandy, where staying in our own château made French life feel wonderfully real — if only for a little while!
Then, to have five weeks travelling entirely by ourselves was something quite special. I am still reflecting on our visit to Derek Jarman’s Garden at Dungeness and our morning at Serge Hill and Tom Stuart-Smith’s wonderful Garden Library.
This was followed by the most amazing time in Mallorca and then three unforgettable weeks travelling through Mallorca and onto Andalucía, from Valencia to Madrid.
Now, however, our thoughts are turning towards 2027 and the tours we are planning for next year.
Back in Tarras, there is plenty to keep us occupied. We have cut back the perennial beds and borders, started sowing the summer seeds, and cut armfuls of daffodils to sell at the Tarras Café. Spring is certainly making its presence felt, although the weather can’t quite decide what season it wants to be. One day brings rain, complete with fresh snow on the mountains, and the next is filled with glorious sunshine.
After such a long time away, it is lovely to be home again — watching the garden wake up, enjoying the changing seasons, and beginning to think about where our travels might take us in 2027.
So, here I am with our Tours for 2027:
Nurturing and embellishing my love of food, wine and gardens, alongside my fascination with culture and history — and, above all, an enquiring mind that always wants to discover more about the places I travel to.
My favourite – 180° Around Melbourne
5th – 19th April
A glorious spring journey through Melbourne and beyond, discovering beautiful gardens, wonderful landscapes and some of the special places that make this part of Australia so captivating.
Back to Sicily and Sardinia
12th – 30th June
Two very different islands, each with their own extraordinary character, gardens, history and food. I’m delighted to be returning to both.
The Charming Regions of France – Bordeaux, Gascony, Pyrénées, Languedoc
8th – 26th July
A journey through the rich and varied landscapes of southern France, from the vineyards and gardens around Bordeaux to the wonderful countryside, villages and mountains of Gascony, Languedoc and the Pyrénées
The itineraries are now pretty much complete, and the accommodation is booked — so the planning is well underway!
Many people have already been in touch regarding Tours . If you are interested please get back to me . No Obligation - but some tours already very popular.
XXx Judith