The Garden of Plants and the Alpine Garden

On By JR

The Jardin des Plantes (Garden of Plants) is the main botanical garden in France. Founded in 1626, it was originally planted by Louis XIII’s physician as a medicinal herb garden. The 69-acre grounds include 4 galleries, a botanical school and a small zoo.  In addition to the long flower-lined promenade down to the Grande Galerie de L’Evolution museum, the gardens are made up of several different themed plots of gardens as well as a labyrinth and 3 elaborate hot houses built in the 1800’s.  It was a real treasure that we discovered just 6 blocks from our hotel.

 

This was the view looking down the promenade toward one of the Museums.
This was the view looking down the promenade toward one of the Museums.

 

The cherry trees were in their prime and they were gorgeous.
The cherry trees were in their prime and they were gorgeous.

 

At the end of the property was a small peony garden. They were Japanese peonies and they were the largest and most beautiful peonies we've ever seen.
At the end of the property was a small peony garden. They were Japanese peonies and they were the biggest and most beautiful peonies we’ve ever seen.

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Yes, this too is a peony!
Yes, this too is a peony!

 

One o the greenhouses from the 1800's.
One of the intriguing greenhouses from the 1800’s.

 

Flowers near one of the other museums.
Flowers near one of the other museums.

 

A beehive.
Hotel a Abeilles = beehive.

 

Looks like lilac but it's actually a solanum tree.
Looks like lilac but it’s actually a solanum tree.

 

One of the many unique-themed garden plots.
This is the herb garden, one of the many unique-themed garden plots.

 

Don't know what this sign says, but it's official: the yellow fields are canola.
Don’t know what this sign says, but it’s official: the yellow fields are canola.
Beautiful old Cedar of Lebanon tree.
Smiling, cheerful pansies

 

One of the most intriguing small gardens within the Garden of Plants is the Alpine Garden. The entrance is through a tunnel which runs under another small garden. The Alpine Garden contains over 3,000 species of alpine flowers and plants – white, purple, yellow and pink – from all over the world. It’s such a tranquil place and so pleasant.

This tunnel is the only way into the Alpine Park.
This tunnel is the only way into the Alpine Park.  It looks like there might have been a little train running through here at one time.

 

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A “zinc” tree. The small zinc plates had people’s names, general location, date and a reference number written on them.

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Aaaaahhhh…..

One thought on “The Garden of Plants and the Alpine Garden”

  1. Denise Heilman's avatar Denise Heilman

    I loved this garden, but it looked more staged than the hidden Suisse Garden (spelling). I liked the flowers, especially the ones I actually recognized. The peonies were pretty. What kind of gnarly tree was the one that Uncle Bobby was standing by. Loved it. I liked the Cedars of Lebanon tree too, having read about them in the Bible.

    Love the pictures with the people in them. It just looks like a lovely, friendly place to live. +

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