Rather like finding the perfect time to jump onto a rotating Carousel, I have struggled to find an ideal starting point to commence writing this Blog, despite having ownership of it since some time in 2014.

January the 1st has come and gone three times over…so my next Birthday perhaps? The first day of summer, then? The first day of a holiday?

Yesterday, I was reminded that once again payment has been taken for the space I occupy, and so, voila! I have been incentivised to use this weekend as my capital letter, and to put finger to keyboard.

It coincides, rather fortuitously, with the annual ‘Rendez-vous aux Jardins‘, which takes place all over France, and where more than 2,000 gardens will be open to public view.

Usually, I would now be heading down to the Dordogne, anticipating the fabulous, and for me, unmissable ‘Soiree aux Chandelles’ at Les Jardins de Marqueyssac.

The Chateau and Gardens, which lay claim to be the most visited in the Perigord, host several evenings each year in which the gardens remain open until midnight, and are illuminated by thousands of candles.

Now, nothing pleases me more than a nocturnal foray.

As soon as dusk arrives, I frequently head out for an evening walk, camera at the ready.

My own personal hero, Vincent van Gogh once wrote “I often think that the night is more alive and more richly coloured than the day”. I say amen to that. The scents, the sounds, the subtle shades of dusk turning into night, with the colour of Hyacinths at its edges, have a power of intensity that, for me, just don’t exist in daylight hours. The Bookends of the day rule.

So, the prospect of spending several hours promenading on high (the Chateau is built upon an elevated plateau) amongst exquisite gardens illuminated by candlelight is irresistible.

Sadly, the weather forecast this weekend of lightening storms and heavy rain has changed my plans. I will wait until the soirees commence again in July.

But what this gives me a chance to do is to share several year’s worth of photographs, which also feature the incredibly magical “Les Marraines Fées”…stilt-walkers dressed as illuminated Fairies, who, as dusk falls emerge from the woodlands, singing, usually to sighs and gasps, all ages of visitors in awe of the beautiful spectacle before them.

So, this weekend is tinged with disappointment, but I am happy to wait for warmer, dryer weather, and enjoy it to the full.

All photos are my own.