Hommage: Adieu Mr. Farjon "The Plant Whisperer"
Thursday, November 10, 2022
Robert Farjon leaving Domaine Rouge-Bleu, where my family once lived. The hollyhocks seem to be hugging his vintage Peugeot bicycle. Find out why plants love this dearly departed Frenchman in the following tribute.
TODAY'S WORD: amour-en-cage
: love in a cage
Amour-en-cage is a synonym for Chinese lantern, or physalis. I loved the term the moment Robert Farjon shared it, and today it is especially meaningful.
ADIEU, ROBERT
France has lost a national treasure. Plant & Provence historian Robert Farjon has passed away. I learned of Monsieur Farjon's passing from Caroline, winemaker/owner, with Thomas, at Domaine Rouge-Bleu vineyard and B&B in Sainte Cécile-les-Vignes. The following story, written years ago, is in hommage to Mr. Farjon. Thank you for reading and for sharing today's remembrance far and wide.
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE... by Kristin Espinasse
August 14, 2012 - I had an unexpected visit from Mr Farjon the other day. It was such a coincidence, as I had been thinking of him recently—nostalgically remembering all the visits he paid me a several years back.
Just like old times, Mr Farjon parked his ancient Peugeot (a bicycle) outside our portail, leaning it against a giant wine barrel, one of two that flank the entrance to our courtyard. Running up to the gate to greet him, I noticed how stiff his legs were as he walked, slightly hunched over. Instead of leading him to the picnic table, beneath the old mulberry tree, I offered him a seat on the steps beside it.
I was eager to point out our new friends in the garden.... Four years ago, there wouldn't have been any mirabilis jalapa, or marvel of Peru, growing here—and forget about the lily of Spain, or valerian, which now shot up throughout the courtyard, in splashes of raspberry red! Today our garden is home to many a drought-tolerant flower, thanks to those who have sown the love of plants in my heart.
Despite the drought (read: we did not water our grass this year, and parts of the garden suffered the pinch), there were a few plants I wanted to show Mr Farjon, now that the plant whisperer had re-appeared after a 4-year absence.
But it was difficult to concentrate on my guest, what with Smokey hovering between us. Like a gawky, attention-vying sibling who wants to join in, Smokey wagged his entire body, inching between my friend and me. His full body wag said I'm so happy to see you!, never mind the two had never met before. Indeed, it had been that long—my dog's lifetime—since Mr Farjon last came to visit.
Despite the giant four-pawed fly buzzing between us, I managed to speak to Mr Farjon.
"What have you got there?" I asked Monsieur. Waiting for the answer, I casually pushed Smokey aside, but my dog just wiggled right back in again, so I gave in.
Smokey and I watched as Mr Farjon selected a long and thorny stem from the pile of just-picked weeds beside him.
"It's a chardon. We call it chausse-trappe," Farjon explained. With that, my venerable visitor told the story of how the plant got its name: the roman army dug ditches and filled them with this needle-sharp weed. And the poor stacked it on rooftops....
"To keep away thieves?" I guessed.
Mr Farjon shook his head, repeating, simply, that the dried plant was piled on housetops. (I guessed again: for insulation?) As I tried to picture the thorny rooftops, Monsieur Farjon presented the next specimen, aigre-moine .
"Sour-monk" I mumbled, trying to translate the term.
As with each plant he brings, Monsieur took pains to point out where he had uprooted it. "Next to the telephone line. Beside the ditch—just up the street, after the fork in the road."
If I made the mistake of showing a blank look, Monsieur repeated himself, in addition to his usual stuttering, until I nodded convincingly: "Yes, beside the telephone line, up the street--just after the fork in the road!" It seemed important to Monsieur that the plant's location was understood, and he insisted certain plants were very rare these days. When new vineyards are planted, many of these rare plants are torn out. "You can find this plant by the telephone pole," Monsieur repeated, sending an unmistakable order that I should pull over and observe the weed the next time I drove by.
"It contains tanin..." Monsieur spoke a bit about the aigre-moine. "It was used to color wine." Just as I began to wonder whether or not to run and get Jean-Marc from the wine-cellar (wouldn't he love to know about this one?!), Mr Farjon set down yet another specimen.
"Epine du Christ."
"I remember that one," I said, softly. Mr Farjon had once showed me the thorny weed, otherwise known as "Christ's crown". It was this weed—found here in our neighborhood, that was used to torture Jesus.
We paused in time to move to the picnic table, where I asked Mr Farjon if he would note the names of the plants in today's lesson.
As he wrote, I noticed his hands--the hands of a plant man! Long nails, perfect for pinching or cutting weed samples, and dirt beneath the tips--evidence of the morning's plant harvest!
To some people, long soil-stained nails equal unkempt. Others might notice the beauty of these nails, with their hard, smooth surface and elegant curve--perfect for scooping out a plant's delicate racine. As I stared at Mr Farjon's nails, I was unexpectedly envious. I wished my own nails were as healthy looking (though, admittedly, I couldn't own up to the caked dirt part--but that is only because I have not earned the right to wear dirt on my person--or under my nails. But a plant genius may sport soil wherever he pleases and the world would do well to respect him for it!)
As for Mr Farjon, he was oblivious to all the thoughts bubbling up in my head, thoughts about how and how not to appear to society. Thankfully, Monsieur's attention was focused on the task before him.
Watching him write, I had a hunch that the moment was something to capture. It may not have been history in the making, and this may not have been an historical figure, but the moment and the person were just as fascinating. I ran to get my camara.
It occured to me to try and capture a shot of the two of us, by using the automatic timer....
Notice Mr Farjon's concentration. He would eventually look up, to question what all my running back and forth was about.
"Now look into the lens," I said, coaching my subject.
"I'm not photogenic," Mr Farjon demured.
"You are beautiful!" I assured him.
"My birthday is tomorrow," he confided.
(He was turning 83.)
The trusty Peugeot... I took a photo of the two when I first moved to Sainte Cécile. I didn't know Monsieur at the time, but thought I'd spotted an unforgettable character, and wrote about it here.
I sent Mr Farjon off with some samples from my own garden (see photo at the top of this post, and the mysterious package in his hand). He very much wanted the two kinds of chamomile growing there, gifts from the Dirt Divas. I tucked several dates inside the bag, for a sweet surprise--nourishment a plant genius needs while burning the midnight oil, poring over plantasauruses or thesauruses or dictionaries, rather.
Then I watched as he rode off into the endless blue and green horizon.
* * *
Mr Farjon departing on his Peugeot. What a chance it was to spend time with you, Monsieur Farjon. Adieu, merci, and please say hello to Smokey who passed away one day after you. He was the very same age, too (in dog years): 92
Here is darling Smokey, as a young lad, when he first met Mr Farjon. In this picture he is showing his respect for the plant man the only way he knew how: getting tangled up in some leafy subject matter:
Mr Farjon and his Peugeot bike on the cover of First French "Essais". The last chapter, about meeting Farjon, is online (scroll down the page until you see the title "The Plant Man".
Finally, do not miss Mireille Besnardeau's (Robert Farjon's niece) excellent hommage in French: View the printed article .
Reposez en paix, Robert Farjon (August 9, 1929-July 15, 2022)
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Hi Kristi,
I remember this story about Mr. Farjon. How wonderful that you got a chance to know him! I love the last photo of him in the blue shirt! The photo of him riding away on his vintage Peugeot off to meet the Lord!
Posted by: Eileen | Thursday, November 10, 2022 at 02:56 PM
M Farjon won’t be Far Gone in our memories after this ineffable essay…
Merci bien, Chere Kristin
Warmth
JHA
Posted by: John H Abeles MD | Thursday, November 10, 2022 at 03:05 PM
A lovely tribute for a special man. What fun to know he and his bike are featured on your wonderful book. I have always admired that cover. Adieu M. Farjon
Posted by: Patricia Sands | Thursday, November 10, 2022 at 04:02 PM
So wonderful to have had such a great mentor of plants.
Posted by: Muriel | Thursday, November 10, 2022 at 04:09 PM
Such a lovely remembrance - you know how to touch the heart. I miss Smokey too. A vision of him trotting along M Farjon and his bicycle comes into my mind. Warmest regards.
Posted by: Nancy | Thursday, November 10, 2022 at 04:12 PM
Here’s something from a blog post today to encourage you….
“I believe a garden gives you life. It sustains you when you need to be sustained, and you sustain the garden when it neeeds to be sustained.”
—Rucy, a Mercer Island, WA gardener
From GreenPrints for “Gardeners who cannot garden” on 2022-11-10
Posted by: Muriel | Thursday, November 10, 2022 at 04:19 PM
So difficult to lose these venerable folks, gentle, persistent, knowledgeable, giving more than taking, living the simple values, close to nature and to God. Carrying the history of their world, and sharing it with those wise and receptive enough to appreciate and use what they can.
Posted by: Carolyn Rider Chase | Thursday, November 10, 2022 at 05:39 PM
What a lovely story about a very special man. You were honored by him as he knew you were truly interested in what he knew and was sharing with you. This story really struck me, not only because I am now 85 and see time passing so quickly, but because I too, love plants and the wonderful stories about them and what they can do. We have here in Arizona many plants that are marvelous but are neglected by our newer residents. One special one if the ironwood tree which is beloved by birds and bees and other animals. Someday I will tell you of the huge on in my yard which I planted from a seed at least 50 years ago! Smokey, too, understood what a fine friend this man was. Dogs have a great sense of people, don't they? Happy thought, those two together! Love to you, dear Kristi.
Posted by: Cerelle Bolon | Thursday, November 10, 2022 at 05:46 PM
Thank you, Carolyn. A wonderful summary of why this was such a great loss.
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Thursday, November 10, 2022 at 06:01 PM
Quelle bonne histoire, Kristi ! The way you describe this gentleman is very touching. You have given him the respect and honor he deserves in a very graceful way. This is definitely one of your best pieces of writing and would be my choice for an entry in your collection of « My Readers’ Favorites « .
Posted by: Joanne | Thursday, November 10, 2022 at 06:03 PM
M.Farjon was indeed beautiful. He looked on the outside as he must have been on the inside. What struck me was how, as a writer, photographer, neighbor, and kindred spirit, you instantly knew this was a fascinating man. That says so much about you. His choice of plants at the end, with his reasons and symbols, is lovely and timeless.
Un grand merci pour ton portrait émouvant.
Posted by: Leslie NYC | Thursday, November 10, 2022 at 07:08 PM
Dear Kristi,
Your stories are always very touching and meaningful. Thank you for sharing the story of M. Farjon, very special friendship with a sage man.
When I looked at his hand and fingers, it reminded me of my mom, she would have said in Spanish, "son manos trabajadoras" ❤️
Posted by: Marti Hinman | Thursday, November 10, 2022 at 08:47 PM
Such a warm embrace, this tribute to M. Farjon, Kristi! It's a deep, bittersweet joy to meet him again here, and to share in your appreciation and fellowship with a special elder. I love how the warmth of your portrait of him includes so much time and change in your words' soul-hug. Thank you.
Posted by: Kitty Wilson-Pote | Thursday, November 10, 2022 at 09:24 PM
What a beautiful homage to a wonderful person of the Earth. You were both fortunate to have spent time together. He is someone never to be forgotten!
Posted by: Judi | Friday, November 11, 2022 at 02:01 AM
I remember this story well! It reminded me, and still does, of my salt-of-the-earth former neighbor, Tuffy. True treasures that hold so much knowledge and wisdom that passes with them. Tuffy worked with dirt, too. I have no doubt, they will both rest peacefully buried in the soil which they understood and lived close to in this life. Thank you for sharing this news with us, Kristi.
Posted by: Stacy Lund | Friday, November 11, 2022 at 03:01 AM
What a lovely story, and what a beautiful man. I've long thought that people with good souls age well.
Posted by: David Holzman | Friday, November 11, 2022 at 05:59 AM
Cet homme , le murmure des plantes et tes souvenirs de lui sont si touchants ! Merci chère Kristi.
Posted by: Barbara Stephano | Friday, November 11, 2022 at 06:02 AM
Hi Stacy, thanks for sharing Tuffy and love the phrase salt-of-the-earth to describe these two.
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Friday, November 11, 2022 at 06:29 AM
Oh, to have met this wonder. And to have that knowledge and history of so many unknown plants. For a gardener like me, it would have been heaven. Perhaps I am lucky, however, to have Jean RIere and his wife, Christine, in their garden under mine, who come each day and enlightened my brain with garden lore. A garden is so like a heart, you keep it beating and healthy and it pays off with so much love.
Posted by: Suzanne Dunaway | Friday, November 11, 2022 at 09:50 AM
M. Farjon’s plant is the same one in my garden here in No. California. My Italian grandmother prized this vegetable highly, and i love it too. Cardoons grow easily and produce stalks that benefit by paring the strings and then steaming smaller pieces in water with lemon. Drain and arrange in oven proof pan, bathe in a mornay sauce with shallots and aromatics of choice, and bake in oven until bubbly and browned. Miam miam!
Posted by: Carol McFarland | Saturday, November 12, 2022 at 03:12 AM
Beautiful! Deep. Unforgettable. Old souls recognize each other. Incuding Smokey.
Posted by: K. J. Laramie | Saturday, November 12, 2022 at 10:16 AM
I remember this story well and the photo of M. Farjon and his Peugout on the cover of your first book. What a touching tribute to him and his mission to share his knowledge of plants. And what a wonderful face he had. Looking at him you just know he was filled with knowledge and stories. Merci, Kristi for bringing him back to us.
Posted by: Suzanne in NJ | Sunday, November 13, 2022 at 04:46 PM
I also enjoyed reading Mirelle's homage and learning which plants that had been buried with him.
Posted by: Suzanne in NJ | Sunday, November 13, 2022 at 04:51 PM