Catherine Delvaux et Emmanuelle Saporta - 2008-06-30

In homage to a very old arboricultural tradition in the region, the fruit gardens of Laquenexy were officially opened in April on a site of over four hectares. They were laid out near the conservatory orchard, which works to preserve the local fruit heritage.

 

This themed area is in reality made up of thirteen small gardens, inviting visitors to strange discoveries and sensations. Discover during your walk the small fruit garden, the aromatic herb garden and the edible flower garden, where you can pick and taste borage, hemerocallis, etc. The gourd tunnel brings together gourds, calabashes and colocynths, which set out to overrun a pergola. The Forbidden Garden allows you to see, but not touch, poisonous plants…

 

An absolute must, the orchard meadow, where fruit trees grow amidst tall grass – enough to give you ideas for your own garden. Take this opportunity to find out about the tradition of marked apples, which makes it possible to create “patterns” on fruit skin (presentation to the public on 4th and 5th October, during the 46th Fête des Jardins et des Saveurs – garden and flavour festival).

 

 

4, rue Bourger-et-Perrin

57530 Laquenexy

Tel: + 33 (0)3 87 64 40 13

 

Open this year from 5th April to 31st October, Tuesday to Sunday, from 10am to 7pm.

 

Adults: €4.

Children aged 12 to 18: €3.

Under-12s: free.

 

Shop (plants, garden books and decorative objects).

“La Pomme bleue” tearoom, with drinks and original creations on the theme of fruit and edible plants. 

 

It certainly took this couple of plant enthusiasts a lot of passion, courage and hard work to create this superb garden on the site of a quarry, at an altitude of 700m, between Gérardmer and Le Tholy in the Vosges. After several years of chain-sawing, shifting earth and granite, and bringing in topsoil, the initial forest of spruce gave way to a dozen themed gardens that follow one another in very different atmospheres.

 

4,000 species and varieties of plants from the northern hemisphere (from regions between altitudes of 0 and 4,000m) grow here alongside the local flora, which is very well represented in all the beds. Water is very much present on this land where many streams emerge.

 

Every year, Monique and Thierry Dronet add a new piece to this already very extensive set-up. It is a unique garden, an absolute must-see to experience an ode to nature.

 

88640 Granges-sur-Vologne

Tel: + 33 (0)3 29 51 47 19
www.berchigranges.com

 

April, May, September, October: 2.30pm to 7pm.

June, July, August: 10am to 7pm.

 

Adults €9, children €4. Groups: by reservation only.

 

On 12th and 13th July, the garden of Berchigranges welcomes Marie-Madeleine Gegard, from “Le Jardin d'eau” nursery. For people visiting Le Jardin de Berchigranges during these two days, Marie-Ma will present her collection of waterlilies and aquatic plants: aponogeton, water soldier, water crowfoot, and other oxygenating plants. Make the most of this unique occasion to meet her and find plants to decorate your ponds and waterways. Marie-Ma is offering a guided tour of the garden on the theme of water and wetland plants.

This tour will take place on Saturday 12th July at 10am (enrolment: €12 per person). It is necessary to book ahead by calling Le Jardin de Berchigranges.