Tag Archive for: garden

We would like to inform our visitors that the garden will be closed on the following dates: 

 

  • Thursday, June 23: The garden will reopen at 4 p.m.
  • Friday, June 24: The garden will close at 3 p.m.
  • Friday, July 1: The garden will close at 5 p.m.

 

Thank you for your understanding, and we wish you a wonderful summer!

For the 19thedition edition of “Rendez-vous aux Jardins,” gardeners and botanists invite you to join them across Europe to explore the theme “Gardens in the Face of Climate Change.” The event, organized by the Ministry of Culture, will take place from Friday, June 3, through Sunday, June 5, 2022. And here’s some good news: Montpellier’s Jardin des Plantes will be participating for two days.

 

 What exactly is “Rendez-vous aux jardins”?

 Starting Friday, June 3, nearly 2,200 gardens will open their doors, offering moments of joy and discovery. It’s an opportunity to share with family and friends through a wide range of activities. Throughout the weekend, visitors will be able to interact with experts on nature conservation measures, with the goal of raising awareness about the protection of biodiversity—which is essential to the well-being of all living things. Furthermore, in recent years, thanks to successful European cooperation, many countries have joined the initiative, including Germany, Portugal, Croatia, Italy, Poland, and France. This is an opportunity to discover splendid gardens, such as the Jardin des Plantes at the Montpellier Faculty of Medicine.

 

And what's it like at the Jardin des Plantes?

The Jardin des Plantes at the Montpellier School of Medicine is opening its doors this year for its 19th annual event. In groups of 25, you’ll explore the Garden’s iconic sites through 14 tours centered on recurring themes such as “Bees and Humans in 2022,” “Aromatic Plants and the Five Senses Plots,” or general tours. All passionate about botany, our five gardener-botanists—who will take on the role of guides for the duration of the weekend—will explain how plants are adapting to climate change in their respective areas of expertise. The goal of these two days is to foster interaction between our gardeners-botanists and the general public, as well as to raise awareness among young people and adults alike about the importance of preserving and promoting the Faculty’s Jardin des Plantes. An iconic landmark of Montpellier, come discover it with fresh eyes. We look forward to seeing many of you there! 

 

2022 Tour Schedule for "RDV aux Jardins"

All tours depart from the municipal guards' station on Boulevard Henri IV.

The maximum number of people per visit is limited to 25.

  • Fri, June 3 - 1:00 p.m.

    Bees and Humans in 2022

    by Jeff Fauveau and the APIS SCHOLA association

  • General Tour of the Garden

    by Emmanuel Spicq

    Fri, June 3 - 1:30 p.m.

  • Fri, June 3 - 2:00 p.m.

    To be or not to be in an English garden—that is the question?

    by Ludovic Rioux and Jean-Louis Talavera

  • The Collections of the Jardin des Plantes

    by Didier Morisot

    Fri, June 3 - 2:30 p.m.

  • Fri, June 3 - 3:00 p.m.

    Plant Strategies and Adaptations to Climate Change

    by Denis Nespoulous

  • Herbs and the "Five Senses" Square"

    by Jean-Louis Talavera

    Fri, June 3 - 4:00 p.m.

  • Saturday, June 4 - 1:30 p.m.

    To be or not to be in an English garden—that is the question?

    by Ludovic Rioux and Jean-Louis Talavera

  • A Walk Through History and Ecology

    by Denis Nespoulous

    Sat, June 4 - 2:00 p.m.

  • Sat, June 4 - 2:15 p.m.

    Bees and Humans in 2022

    by Jeff Fauveau and the APIS SCHOLA association

  • The Martins Greenhouse and Its Collection of Succulents

    by Emmanuel SPICQ

    Sat, June 4 - 2:30 p.m.

  • Sat, June 4 - 3:00 p.m.

    Herbs and the "Five Senses" Square"

    by Jean-Louis Talavera

  • Plant Strategies and Adaptations to Climate Change

    by Denis Nespoulous

    Sat, June 4 - 3:30 p.m.

  • Sat, June 4 - 4:00 p.m.

    Bees and Humans in 2022

    by Jeff Fauveau and the APIS SCHOLA association

  • General Tour of the Garden

    by Emmanuel Spicq

    Sat, June 4 - 4:30 p.m.

 

 

Inspired by the Jardin des Plantes and its historic herbarium, discover the “Botanica” exhibition curated by Christelle Boulé as part of the Boutographie Festival. From Saturday, May 7, through Sunday, May 29, enjoy a floral stroll right in the heart of the Orangerie.

Outreach Programming

Each year, the Boutographie festival offers a parallel program that creates a circuit through various cultural venues in Montpellier. Originally scheduled for 2019 but canceled due to the health crisis, the Jardin des Plantes is hosting the Botanica project this year—a series of 15 paintings paying tribute to its botanical collections. To learn more about the project’s origins and inspirations, we spoke with artist Christelle Boullé.

What is your background?

I grew up in Montreal and studied art. I later decided to switch to graphic design and earned a bachelor’s degree in 2009. After moving to Lausanne, Switzerland, I worked for four years as a graphic designer at an agency. Following that experience, I decided to resume my studies and enrolled in the Master’s program in photography at ECAN, a world-renowned school, from 2014 to 2016. That’s when I began approaching photography the way I do today—in an experimental manner, particularly through a series I created on the theme of perfume. It involves working in a darkroom, much like with film photography, but in this case, the photos are developed in color. I love it when a photo is unique, and this technique provides a playground for creativity.

Tell us about the Les Boutographies project  

In 2017, I submitted my graduation project to exhibit at the Pavillon Populaire. I was contacted again in late 2019 for an “Hors les Murs” exhibition, which showcases various photo series throughout Montpellier. They reached out to me because I work with materials. I really like the Boutographies project because it helps showcase emerging artists; it’s very refreshing and gives us the chance to discover projects that don’t get as much exposure.

What about the Botanica project?

This invitation is a wonderful gift. I had been working for two or three years on ways to represent fragrance when the Boutographies came up with this idea in collaboration with the Jardin des Plantes in Montpellier. So I began researching this place and was immediately inspired. It’s a fantastic spot. I watched documentaries and news reports to discover the richness of the herbariums, which immediately caught my interest. I wanted to connect with the material and pay homage to nature, scents, and forms. So I set out to create a timeless garden—one we could have in our own homes or that might have existed 300 years ago—to bridge the past and the future.

What was your creative process for the Jardin des Plantes?

I didn’t go to the Jardin des Plantes; I decided to imagine it and let myself be inspired. So I turned to my friends who had traveled to places like Japan or Canada and taken photos of plants. My work was based on my research and, above all, on my interpretation of what the Jardin might be like.

 

Launched in 2020, the Botanica photography series is not yet complete, and Christelle Boulé is continuing to work on it.

To experience an explosion of color, visit the Orangerie throughout the month of May!

You probably already know this: the Jardin des Plantes is a unique place in Montpellier to relax. But did you know that it’s also a place for discovery and exchange? The botanists and gardeners take this role to heart and organize numerous events throughout the year to help you discover the garden from this perspective. This is particularly true right now with“Summer Tours.”Finally, the Jardin des Plantes serves an educational purpose year-round—a mission that’s really taking off, reconnecting with its roots (teaching botany) while embracing modern objectives and tools. To reinforce this educational aspect, one of our staff members, Denis Nespoulous, has created interactive trails to let you discover the garden as you’ve never seen it before!

The Origins of the Connected Trails at the Jardin des Plantes

The trail known as “SMART BOTA” was created in 2018 for the Tela Botanica association’s introductory MOOC on botany.

This association, founded in 1999 and comprising a broad network of French-speaking botanists, aims to:

  • to promote the exchange of information among botanists,
  • facilitate projects using digital tools,
  • produce copyright-free data on flora,
  • raise awareness and provide training in botany.

What are "connected trails"?

The “Connected Trails” are information sheets available to everyone and spread across several routes. They can be accessed via a QR code using a smartphone or tablet. These allow you to explore the garden’s treasures at your own pace. The four different routes are posted at the entrance to the Jardin des Plantes: simply follow the guide, or—if you prefer—lose yourself in the garden’s paths.

These botanical fact sheets provide a variety of information about the plant you scan, such as a description, its uses, and its habitat. It’s a fun and engaging way to learn more about the flora around us!

The Garden's Five Connected Paths

For now, there are five connected trails within the Jardin des Plantes. These may change over time thanks to your collaboration.

The SMART’BOTA Trail

The second connected trail at the Jardin des Plantes in Montpellier, and the first trail designed for educational purposes, it was created in 2018 for Tela Botanica’s introductory MOOC on botany of which Denis serves as the course coordinator. The course aims to introduce enthusiasts to botany. It features about sixty species and introduces you to the main plant families.

The SMART’PHARMA Trail

An extension of the first “SMART’BOTA” trail; this trail was created for students at the Montpellier School of Pharmacy. Indeed, a wide variety of plants can be used for therapeutic and medicinal purposes. This trail allows students students to combine the theoretical aspects of their courses with practical ones by directly observing the plants within the Garden. This educational trail is also accessible to everyone. It features approximately sixty plant species.

The "Remarkable Trees" Trail

This trail, created in 2014, is the oldest trail in the Jardin des Plantes. It allows you to discover all the secrets of the Jardin des Plantes’s tall trees. It’s also the only trail you can explore without your smartphone, as it features information panels, but feel free to scan the QR codes on the signs to unlock all the secrets of botany! This interactive trail features 25 tree species selected from among the garden’s most remarkable and oldest trees.

The HERBES FOLLES Trail

This trail, created for Tela Botanica’s “Herbes Folles” MOOC (the second edition is scheduled for this fall!), aims to help you rediscover these plants that are pejoratively referred to as “weeds.” They, too, have their benefits, and beyond their drawbacks—which we certainly don’t deny—they also play an important role in our environment. The wild herbs in the garden invite you to reflect on issues of biodiversity. This trail will help you see these “weeds” in a whole new light…

The " OBSERVATOIRE DES SAISONS" Trail

The last trail is somewhat unique, as it is part of a citizen science. Get involved in this CNRS program by observing the 12 species along the trail. Its goal is also to raise awareness about global warming by introducing us to phenology (the observation of periodic events, in this case involving plants). At the entrance to the Jardin des Plantes, you can ask for a specially designed form where you can record your observations. This data will help scientists better understand and monitor climate change and its associated challenges.

 

And for those who are curious, check out the app

If you’d like to explore Montpellier’s Jardin des Plantes further using digital tools, you can download the SMART’ FLORE app on all your Android devices. The app offers:

  • Trails near you
  • Plants geolocated to the nearest meter
  • Access to all the botanical profiles created as part of this collaborative project