IX PARIS INSIDER’S GUIDE
S
ome people create gardens like artists paint pictures. That’s probably the
thinking behind the decision by the French Ministry of Culture and
Communication,which organizes Les Rendez-vous aux Jardins and has
selected “garden colors”as the rather cheerful theme for this year’s national event.
And there’s no better example than the “white”gardens (Japanese anemones,
iberis,gauras,dahlias and forget-me-nots) and the “black”gardens (pines,rhodo-
dendrons,sumacs and oaks) created by Gilles Clément for the Parc André Citroën
(15th) in Paris.The exhibitions,events and shows organized as part of this festival
are being held in all sorts of places.Here’s just a scent of what’s going on in Paris
during this weekend of plant perfection.Monet is the center of attention at the
modest Musée Clémenceau (16th), a museum dedicated to a politician who
befriended several of the Impressionists.Actors will be reading extracts from the
letters these two great men and friends wrote to each other on the subject of
gardens. At the heart of the capital, the rose will be gracing the flower beds of
the Palais Royal (1st), where some 60 pots of roses of different varieties will go
on display from May 20 to June 15.Across the Seine,the Musée Curie (5th) will
be mixing two types of color – the flowering and the musical kind – at its “Jazz
in bloom”concert. In the garden of the Eugène-Delacroix museum (6th), child
singers accompanied by violinists will add an extra freshness to your visit.
Researchers from the capital’s agricultural college,AgroParisTech (5th),will be
opening their kitchen garden,orchard,and experimental plots on the building’s
roof especially for the event. The forest garden of the French national library,
the BnF-François Mitterrand (13th), usually closed to the public, will be open
to all this weekend,as will the park of the Hôtel de Matignon (7th),the official
residence and workplace of the French
Prime Minister.
More classic options are also on offer again,
including guided tours of the Jardin du
Luxembourg (6th) at the weekend,and the
Jardins passagers eco-gardens in the parc
de La Villette (19th).
The website of the Rendez-vous aux jardins
will be constantly updated.■PRESTIGIOUS PARKS IN BLOOM
Events on the theme of gardens will also been held
around Paris, giving you the chance to spend a day or
weekend in lush green surroundings.
Old favorites include the daytime and evening Musical
Fountains Show in Le Nôtre’s gardens at Versailles,
and a walk through the Musical Gardens, including
groves usually closed to the public.
On Grand Siècle Day, June 26, on the Vaux-le-Vicomte
estate, you’re invited to dress up for luncheon on
the lawn and take part in a competition to choose the
most elegant costume.
Bringing together two hundred exhibitors (nurseries,
horticulturists and professionals), the Journées des
plantes de Courson à Chantilly flower show in the
English garden of the Chantilly estate, opposite the
château, will be held from May 13 to 15.
And if one château is not enough, Auvers has a beautiful
park (with English- and French-style gardens) that
serves as the backdrop to a wonderful collection of
irises – the Irisiades.■The Musical Fountains show.
Until October 30. Jardins du château de
Versailles, 78. Saturday and Sunday.
Night show from June 18 to September 17.
http://www.chateauversailles-spectacles.fr
■Journées des plantes à Chantilly.
May 13 to 15. Domaine de Chantilly, 60.
10am to 7pm. http://www.domainedechantilly.com
■LesIrisiades du Château d'Auvers
May 21 and 22. Auvers-sur-Oise, 95. 10am to 6pm.
http://www.chateau-auvers.fr
■GrandSiècle fashion show.
June 26. Parc du château de Vaux-le-Vicomte
in Maincy, 77. 10am to 6pm.
http://www.vaux-le-vicomte.comA splash of color
Rendez-vous auxjardins.
June 3 to 5.
http://www.rendezvousauxjardins.
culturecommunication.gouv.fr.The roof of the
AgroTech Museum.Journée des plantes
à Chantilly.
© JEAN-PIERRE DELAGARDE.© PARIS-MUSÉE CLÉMENCEAU.© JACQUES DE GIVRY.圀漀爀氀搀䴀愀最猀⸀渀攀琀圀漀爀氀搀䴀愀最猀⸀渀攀琀
WorldMags.net