Thursday, December 3, 2020

The Gardener, a film

It was quite sometime ago that I made a note to watch The Gardener, a 2017 film about Frank Cabot—the founder of the Garden Conservancy—and his garden Les Quatre Vents, a twenty-acre English style garden and summer estate in Quebec. I finally made the time.

If you're curious, you can watch the trailer here, and the Garden Conservancy website lists multiple ways that you can watch the film, I watched on Amazon Prime. If you're looking for something to do this winter I recommend watching it yourself.

I do love listening to people talk about gardens and gardening—even if the garden being talked about is very different from those I typically enjoy—and there is a lot of that here. Equally interesting is talk about gardeners. In the film Penelope Hobhouse (British garden writer and designer, among other things) says this about Mr. Cabot..."I don't know what a genius really is, but very often geniuses are a little mad as well, and if he hadn't had a lot of money, you might have said he was."

Frank himself has this to say about visiting gardens: "I see visiting a garden as basically an emotional and sensual experience, as well as something that is filled with surprise." Very true. He also talks about how he prefers people not talk when visiting a garden, you should be focused on taking it all in. I can agree with that sentiment when visiting a public garden. However when visiting a private garden, well then talking with owner and other visitors is half the fun.

The French word "frisson" was thrown around quite a bit in the film, it translates to "thrill." I think it was Frank and Anne Cabot's son, Colin, who said "frisson of delight"... I think that's my new favorite phrase. To be reserved strictly for use when visiting gardens, of course. 

I was hoping there would be a bit about the founding of the Garden Conservancy, and finally at one hour and twelve minutes into the film Anne Cabot mentioned visiting Ruth Bancroft's garden, where the idea of the Conservancy began. They also showed a few photos of Ruth's garden, which were a relief for my eyes, after over an hour viewing clipped hedges and lawns, as lovely as they can be. 

Weather Diary, Dec 2: Hi 54, Low 44/ Precip 0 

All words © 2009-2020 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Photos borrowed from The Gardener official website. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

16 comments:

  1. I watch the trailer wishing I had a visit scheduled... I would love to be transformed by such a fantastic garden. A grand pathway lined with poplars on either sides always seemed magical to me,

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    1. I hope that someday you'll be able to visit!

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  2. Thanks, Loree! I just added it to my Prime Watchlist.

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  3. Will have to look for this. Francis Cabot also wrote a book about Les Quatres Vent 'The Greater Perfection' which describes how they went about developing the property. While not a fan of such formality the process is interesting.

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  4. Thanks for the recommendation! I'll definitely put this on my watch list. There's so little quality garden-related material on the streaming services (I'm not a fan of Monty Don and similar productions).

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    1. Monty is such a polarizing figure, seems people either love him, or really do not.

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  5. Was just looking for something to watch this weekend. Thanks for the recommendation and for the new phrase. Frission of delight will have to work itself into casual conversation at some point.

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  6. Watched it Thanksgiving night. I had to. As I grew up in the Hudson Valley of New York. Twenty minutes from his Stone Crop. I always plan my trips home around the Garden Conservancy open days. Not a big fan of formality but, Frank had tremendous forsight for creating the Conservancy. I feel quite compelled and really want to get my new home state of North Carolina involved with supporting the Garden Conservancy.

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    1. Good for you for wanting to get involved!

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  7. Penelope Hobhouse (British garden writer and designer, among other things) says this about Mr. Cabot..."I don't know what a genius really is, but very often geniuses are a little mad as well, and if he hadn't had a lot of money, you might have said he was."So

    LOL! Yes, a lot of money does seem to soften the judgment of people who might otherwise dismiss someone or their ideas as slightly mad...

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  8. Watching the trailer, a lot of views reminded me of Bloedel.

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