You probably already know this: the Jardin des Plantes is a unique place in Montpellier to relax. But did you know it’s also a place for discovery and learning? The gardeners and botanists take this role to heart and organize numerous events throughout the year to help you experience it 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 is gaining momentum, reconnecting with its roots (the teaching of botany) while embracing modern objectives and utilizing today’s tools. To reinforce this educational aspect, one of them, Denis Nespoulous, has created connected trails to let you discover the garden as you’ve never seen it before!
The origins of the interconnected paths 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 exactly are connected trails?
The connected trails consist of information sheets available to everyone and distributed along several routes. They can be accessed via a QR code using a smartphone or tablet. These sheets allow you to explore the garden’s treasures at your own pace. The four different routes are displayed at the entrance to the Jardin des Plantes: simply follow the guide, or, if you prefer, wander freely through the 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 interconnected paths
For now, there are five connected trails within the Jardin des Plantes. These may change over time thanks to your input.
The SMART’BOTA Trail
The second connected trail at the Jardin des Plantes in Montpellier, and the first educational trail, it was created in 2018 for Tela Botanica’s introductory MOOC on botany of which Denis serves as the lead. The course aims to introduce enthusiasts to botany. It features around sixty species and introduces you to the main plant families.
The SMART’PHARMA Trail
Extension of the first "SMART’BOTA" trail; this trail was created for students at the Faculty of Pharmacy in Montpellier. Indeed, a multitude 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 open to the public. 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 giant trees. It is also the only trail that can be explored without your smartphone, as it features reading panels, but feel free to scan the QR codes embedded in the panels to unlock all the secrets of botany! This interactive trail features 25 tree species selected from among the most remarkable and oldest in the garden.
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 virtues, and beyond their drawbacks—which we won’t deny—they also play an important role in our environment. The wild herbs of the garden invite you to reflect on issues of biodiversity. This tour will allow you to see these “weeds” in a new light…
The " Observatory of the Seasons" 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 request a specially designed form to 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 tracked to the nearest meter
- Access to all the botanical profiles created as part of this collaborative project
