He sat at the far end of the garden like a statue. Perfectly still. I called out, "You don’t fool me!" Though he didn’t budge. I told him that two could play at this garden game of pretending to be statues, and I ran and hid, hoping he would come and find me.
The rectangular columns standing tall like the letter "I." They tossed their dots in the air, chanting out in unison to me, "Over here, come hide here!" I laughed as I ran past them, "You shouldn’t have said anything, he heard you, I swear!"
Around the corner chairs played along. Hiding in the alcoves of an outdoor theater. There wasn’t any standing room left for me. I applauded their genius in design and ran off to find another secret spot to be a statue.
The gigantic hedge gave view to the 17th century Chateau of Ballue. I gasped in surprise. How I wish I could hide in that place! But that would be cheating, and I never cheat at games! But imagine hiding in the linen closet? Or in the bathroom amongst the vintage perfume bottles? Or in the kitchen! Ah to dream, to pretend… to be sitting by the fire looking out onto this garden.
At the end of the alley, at the far corner of the Garden of Ballue, there is a hedge formed into the temple of Diana. Not a likely place for me to hide considering… you know, I am a vegetarian and Diana is into hunting… I thought it wasn’t realistic to hang out in the temple with her given our differences.
Feeling like a blade o f grass amongst these over sized chess pieces didn’t encourage me to stand still. Honestly I wanted French husband to find me, without having to look too hard.
If you look closely, okay with a magnifying glass, you can see French husband coming up the pathway. Darn it my plans were spoiled, the toparies curves didn’t match mine anyway.
Through the labyrinth I walked calmly. I took my clothes off one piece at a time. Leaving a trail for French husband. A sockette here, a scarf there… Oh wasn’t he go to be surprised to find me? In the center of the labyrinth marble white nude.
He barely recognized me!
Photos: Of our time spent at La Ballue Jardin. Spring must be glorious in this place. I’ll have to go back to see the wisteria.
Leave a Reply