BLOG.JESSIEKEITH.COM: Joan of Arc's Home in Domremy, France

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In 1995, Jessie became a Master Gardener, accepted a job as a landscape designer and had a farmer's market booth selling garden flowers. The following year she attended Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana where she graduated with honors in 1999 with a BS in Public Horticulture. At Purdue, she worked for two years as garden intern at The Purdue University Horticulture Gardens and was mentored by Dr. Harrison Flint and Dr. Michael Dana. She also served as undergraduate teacher’s assistant in woody and herbaceous plant identification and introductory horticulture classes.

In 1999, she accepted a yearlong position as the curatorial intern at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA under the tutelage of celebrated curator and author, Dr. Tomasz Anisko. Graduate school at Michigan State University followed. There she studied systematic botany and completed her MS degree in the winter of 2003. Shortly after graduation, she accepted an internship at The American Gardener magazine, the journal of The American Horticultural Society, where she received guidance from editor-in-chief, David Ellis, and distinguished scientist and horticulturist, Dr. H. Marc Cathey.

Jessie taught horticulture for two years at Williamson Free School in Media, Pennsylvania before pursuing a career in garden writing and plant photography. She began to work as content editor for Learn2grow.com in 2007 and has written articles for publications such as The Old House Journal, The Green Scene, What’s Up! Annapolis? and The Herbarist. She most recently served as one-time horticultural editor for Wilder Quarterly.

Today, Jessie lives in Wilmington, Delaware with her husband Knut, daughters Franziska and Gabriella, two geriatric cats, and thousands of garden plants.

BLOG.JESSIEKEITH.COM: Joan of Arc's Home in Domremy, France

Joan of Arc's Home in Domremy, France

Home and garden destinations are always high on my list, and one of the more interesting places I’ve visited was the modest home where Joan of Arc (Jeanne d' Arc) was raised. It lies in the beautiful village of Domremy, which is nestled among the lush, green, rolling hills of Lorraine, France.

The home is amazingly well preserved considering she was born there in 1412. What's even more amazing is she, a small town farm girl, was given saintly status, earned court with the King of France, embarked on numerous military campaigns, was captured and accused and tried for witchcraft all by 1431. She was only 19 when she was burned at the stake.

Joan of Arc’s plain home had architecture that seemed strangely modern, apart from the medieval statue of her that sat on an alcove above the front door. The interior was bare and made of cool, smooth stone. It was unlit inside, and the atmosphere was dank and solemn. The small courtyard and garden adjacent to the structure contained a suite of shrubs and flowers typical to this part of France, spirea, rose campion (Lychnis coronaria) and old roses.

Apparently, Joan of Arc came from a family of prosperous farmers, and they owned 50 acres of surrounding land. Her family's church was just around the corner, and the village had a beautiful statue in her honor.

Lorraine is a lovely region of France to visit, full of quaint villages, views, mirabelle plum orchards and historical stops like this one. Well worth the trip!