I visited Le Jardin Plume on a stormy May day in 2016 on a whistle-stop tour of Normandy gardens with my garden-mad friend Lucie. Although we had seen about six gardens in two days, and overload was threatening, we arrived here and let our shoulders drop. Seven acres of garden carved out of a flat field - but oh what clever use of the space. The geometric layout is softened by grasses and perennials planted in big blocks, and by glorious wave-cut box hedges. Clouds of tall, airy perennials such as thalictrum, veronicastrum, catananche and Dianthus carthusianorum weave amongst the grasses. It's a garden to wander around slowly to take in the detail. The owners Sylvie and Patrick Quibel run a nursery here too, so if you have your own transport, fill the boot with choice perennials before you leave.