The bare branches of the formally pruned trees draw bold lines against the winter sky.

 

The broad sandy paths are popular with runners.
The coffee stall is open in all weathers – with ice cream in the summer.
The large children’s play area and nursery garden have an under layer of smaller trees bringing the landscape closer to child scale.
Trees shade the petanque courts from summer sun and lend character to this open space in winter.
People in the foreground, middle ground and distance give a sense of the scale of the trees.
Surfaced paths give fast, smooth routes along the formal allées.
Broad gravel paths meander through the informal planting of the jardin à l’anglaise.
Homeward bound as the light fades.

 

I was walking home through the Jardin du Luxembourg this afternoon as the low sun broke through the clouds.  I took several photos of the formal avenues, waiting till people had moved out of view before pressing the shutter, then realised I was missing an important feature of the view.  Whether formal or naturalistic, parks are places for people.

 

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