Clare Wright-Leplae

I was born in Norfolk, UK, but have lived most of my life abroad, mainly in France where I have spent my professional life teaching English at university.

I have been interested in botanical illustration for a number of years, and I was delighted when I initially discovered the RBGE online certificate course, as there are frustratingly few courses available in France. I then went on to do the RBGE diploma course, a real challenge for me, as I don’t have a background in art, but I found it very rewarding.

Title of the Project:

Companion Plants for an Organic Vegetable Garden

About the Project:

I have a small, organic vegetable garden in the Chevreuse valley, south of Paris. Many gardening sites offer advice on companion plants to grow alongside vegetables, however conclusive scientific research is more difficult to find. The five plants I have chosen have all been shown to act as pest repellents or trap plants, and also attract pollinators which would perhaps overlook less showy vegetable blooms. They have the added advantage of being edible, either all or in part. (NB not all Tagetes are edible, but the variety I have chosen is).

Illustrations: