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[blank]It is iris time here in Normandy, and as well as enjoying them in the garden, we are also happy to admire the purple spires growing on thatched walls and rooftops.[blank]
[blank]This is a tradition peculiar to our part of Normandy, where there are still craftsmen to thatch, and where we like to add a few succulents and irises to the peak of a thatch covering, so the roots help anchor the reed thatching.[blank]
[blank]The lifespan of a good thatched roof can attain about 45 years; it is said to keep the house warm in winter and cool in the summer. When it rains (which it does a lot in Normandy!) only the top layer is humid, the rest remaining dry as the water runs away.[blank]
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[blank]Personally, it works for me. I love the country charm and the soft palette of colours.
What do you think? Would you like a home with flowers growing on the rooftop?![blank]
[blank]And I really loved the outline of this thatched wall, early one sunny morning this weekend.[blank]
[blank]Hope you enjoyed this little glimpse into traditional normandy. Thank you for your comments over the past days, so sorry I’ve been too busy to answer all my mails, or comments. Next week I should do better …..[blank]
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40 comments
Beautiful walk! j'adore les maisons.
Mercí
Marina
Hello Sharon
These thatched roofs and plantings are new to me. How adorable.
The house I lived in, as a child, in the West of Ireland had a thatched roof and I have beautiful memories of that home.
Have a wonderful week
Helen xx
Thatched roofs are so beautiful. I have honestly never seen one with iris growing out the top, but after you explain about the roots holding the thatch it makes perfect sense. As always your images want to make me hope in a plane and walk around Normandy myself. Have a great day! -Tonya
Oh how cute! I have seen a grass topped roof here..but never an iris growing on it..What beautiful homes..
Thank you for posting your charming photographs
I didn't know about irises on rooftops. Irises in bloom here at the time they are blooming in Normandy is a soothing thought.
Oh, I love it! Would love to see it in person some day.
Wow! Great shots of roofs and thatching! I never would have thought that thatching would last that long! I love the idea of growing irises on the roof….very intriguing.
Nancy
What beautiful photos. I didn't know about planting irises in the thatch. Thanks for showing them to us.
Beautiful photos of the irises, both on the roofs and on the ground. Very charming 🙂
Absolutely beautiful!!!
So typical of that part of the world. I like to see that historical homes have not vanished yet. Thank you for the beautiful photos.
The irises are wonderful Sharon… love these shots… and the thatching on the rooves is so quaint… xv
lovely!…..smiles
Thank you Sharon for a lovely glimpse of traditional Normandy. The irises growing on top of the thatched roofs & fence are beautiful and unique. After finding out they also serve a pratical purpose…hmmmmm sooo very French. Love how beauty and practicality are weaved into one.
I am impressed with the thatched roof. If anyone has ever tried to thin out iris they know about their root system. I was unaware they were planted on roofs. Thanks for another tour.
Oh, I just noticed you changed your header. Lovely.
How lovely to have the Iris growing on the thatched roofs. I've never seen that before. Thanks for the insight to your Normandy. I noticed toute-suite that you had changed your header photo, but where is that little mischief maker ??
Barbara Lilian
Sharon,
I would love a thatched roof, alas, too many fires in Southern California.
Karen
I find thatched roofs very charming. Can I ask you what the French word for a thatched roof is?
Planting irises up there is a fun custom.
Hi Sharon!!!!
Oh, how I love thatched roofs!!!
I wouldn't mind at all to have a thatched roof and some beautiful Iris's growing on it. All I ask is for a house the size of the last one pictured, and I would be the happiest lady alive!!
Thank you so very much for sharing this with us!!
Have a great week!!
Pam
xox
Wunderschön!! It's so wonderful, that i cannot find words in english.
Thanks for so much beautiful shots.
Liebe Grüsse
Angelika
Oh, I adore a thatched roof. When I was a girl living in Scotland and England the countryside was dotted with them. The iris' growing on the roof is new to me… and perfectly delightful!!!!
What can I say? Wonderful pictures!
Hello ! I am in Shropshire, England and there are still a few thatched properties here. Two summers ago, a little cottage in our village was rethatched. The thatcher was quite a character and made friends with my two young sons. It was fascinating to see him work. No iris here though ! The thatcher did make two pheasants out of the thatch to decorate the roof ridge, the decorations reflect the occupants of the cottage. Two love birds for a young couple etc.
Thank you for these bautiful photos. I love starting my mornings off here in the U.S. with glimpses into beautiful Normandy. "French Irisis on Rooftops" — the way you captured the light — is stunning. Thank you bringing such joy.
Simply too beautiful.
Fleurs on rooftops!Doesn't get any better then that!STUNNING!
Hiya Sharon
Today, I more or less randomly picked a magazine ("Landleben") at my local grocery shop, because on the front page they promised an article on brocantes or as it's called in German "Trödel". To my surprise – and pleasure – when I opened it on the said page I found an article about YOU! Well, I haven't read it yet (have some "urgent" work to do), but will enjoy it tonight with a lovely cuppa – or a wee dram!
Have a good week!
Heidi
Not works to describe how beautiful!
This is new to me. Iris growing on a roof top,how marvelous. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com
I had never seen this before, it's the most lovely thing! We had the most beautiful iris's in Paris that smelled heavenly from a local market on our dining room table.
How beautiful and totally interesting…flowers growing on the roof! You sure have a nice life. 🙂 Lovely blog.
Interesting post Sharon……I didn't know there was actually a PRACTICAL reason for grasses and flowers growing out of roofs..I saw some while traveling Europe and was always intrigued.
xo
Jo
I would love to have a home with flowers growing on the rooftop…and I would very much like that roof to be thatched. Is a thatched roof always made of reeds, or is that particular to Normandy? There were a couple of Tudor-style homes with thatched roofs in Portland when I was a child, but no more, probably because no one here knows how to thatch. I'll have to look into that…!
Thank you for another gorgeous post. Leslie
I love the way it looks, but would not like planting, watering or tending to it! It would scare me to death to think about plucking weeds or thinning bulbs upon my rooftop. Appreciate knowing why it's practical and how they do it. Bless those who carry the torch of bygone days. (Guess that's not such a great phrase for those who create thatched roofs!) Lovely.
Just beautiful Sharon.. xxx
Lucky you, what a beautiful area! Just gorgeous shots.
My ignorance…I did not know that a thatched roof was commonplace in northern France; I associate it with England. In the U.S. I have what's known as a Cotswold cottage, English tudor design with a Norman roof (not thatched). The architect told me that the conquering French who settled in England centuries ago brought elements of French design to English countryside houses. Thus, the blend. Did they conversely bring English design to France if they went back home? Which is which? I should research this; it's fascinating!
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utterly charming! Wonderful to see the properties so well kept. in SA we have thatched roofs on mainly Cape Dutch style heritage properties (via the Dutch & French Huguenot settlers)