In conversations with the artists who come here for painting days I’ve gathered that Paul Mathieu is a gardener. Eric has a little patch behind the Western Front which supports a lovely selection of healthy plants, thanks to the tender care given them by Karen Henry. But Eric has often said ‘you need to see what Paul’s done with his garden!’ And Paul has waxed lyrical about his old Wisteria. He and Richard own an old house just near the Western Front.

Recently he told me that the Wisteria might be in flower before he heads off to China in May. It’s been such a mild Spring that everything is early this year but then we get serious rain and blossoms get knocked off. So it was a nice surprise for Alan and me to be invited to tea last Sunday with the express purpose of seeing the Wisteria in bloom! It was a slightly cloudy afternoon but Paul had arranged five different cups and saucers and cookies on a table outside in the garden, in a secluded Wisteria arbour. Eric and Karen had also been invited.

Of course I was delighted to see some of Paul’s art collection inside. There are gorgeous carpets that he’s had made in China, paintings by some of his friends and colleagues (including a super painting by Renee Van Halm which appears in one of my photos) and lots of his own ceramics. There is a big series of his early teapots, several of his highly decorative bowls and vases and some of the more sculptural vase forms he’s had made more recently in China and which he finishes with painting and decals back here in Canada.

Paul says I can post some photos of our elegant tea-party and his art collection. The outside of the house is painted in wonderful colours and is hidden away on a quiet street but is also mainly enveloped with the three huge ancient Wisteria vines.

Now I’m wondering where I can start one in our garden and whether I have twenty years to watch it extend itself and produce the big purply pendulums (pendula?).