A busy day.

Today was very busy and productive. Spent the morning talking with Paula Refi, Editor for the Georgia Perennial Plant Association regarding contributing an article for the next issue of the newsletter. I will write about the influence of Italy on current gardens.
Also met with Julie Haas, with the Atlanta Symphony and I will be the new Program Chair for the 2008 Decorator's Show House of the Atlanta Symphony.

Returning Home

My last visit in Southern France was Montpellier. I stopped at several of the Follies and Grammont Park. It was a wonderful afternoon strolling around. The gardens at Château de Flaugergues are truly magnificent. The waterpond has a beautiful reflection of the tall cypress trees. As I was leaving, I was searching for someone to give me directions to Chateau Mogere, a handsome young man peered out of a door and demanded if I needed help. I was looking for someone to help me with directions to Chateau Mogere which I had thought was nearby. The gentleman, spoke english and drew a makeshift map on a piece of paper. I mentioned that I was researching wine and garden tours to Languedoc and he gave me all sorts of information regarding chateaus that make their own wine. They had formed an association to promote their association http://www.clubdeschateaux.com/ The man's name was Pierre de Colbert, the winemaker, and it wasn't till much later that I found out he was the proprietor of Chateau de Flaugergues.

The return trip was absolutely horrendous. I left Montpellier for Paris. The connection between the flights was only 45 minutes or so and you have to pass through security which is so tedious these days... as you are rushing to make the plane. So when I reached the gate in Paris, the flight had already left. Air France made other reservations for me; which took them about an hour. So I have to walk through the airport to another gate. As I am walking along searching for the various gate, I ask some young 20 year old french guy who works at the airport for directions. As he is walking in the same direction as I am supposed to go to reach the gate, he offers to carry one of my carryones. Who says the French are rude.

However, the flight took me to Houston where I was supposed to change planes to get a plane to Atlanta. Did we get to Houston in time? No. We got to Houston late, and I barely found an Airfrance counter open. I will say that no one in the Houston Terminal offered me any help. No one offered to call Air France to tell them I would be coming so I could get a hotel coupon for the night. So when booking flights, either book a straight connection to your destination or allow at least two hours between connections. The security is horrible and no one is in a hurry to let you through.