I already told you about it in the 5 previous years, but as we reach the end of May and the beginning of June, we are going to celebrate gardens with several events to encourage us to step outside, enjoy a little connection with nature, flowers, and all that, while planning some bucolic weekends.

And that’s just as well, since summer seems to have arrived already, quite abruptly in fact, even if the sun thinks it’s on a temporary contract…

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Rendez-vous aux Jardins

This year, the new edition of the national event Rendez-vous aux jardins will take place on Friday, June 2nd, Saturday, June 3rd, and Sunday, June 4th, 2017 throughout France.

This event opens the doors to visitors of public and private gardens, protected as historical monuments in partnership with the Ministry of Culture and Communication.

This meeting is an opportunity to attend workshops, participate in activities, and meet gardeners and owners of exceptional gardens in over 2000 locations, parks, and gardens across the metropolitan territory and overseas.

This event is accessible to all and free for most activities, so don’t hesitate to visit the event’s website to see what’s happening near you!

Île-de-France selection:

• The National Museum of Prehistory in Saint-Germain-en-Laye is offering guided tours of the castle gardens on several themes on Saturday, June 3rd and Sunday, June 4th.

Full event programming at http://www.rendezvousauxjardins.culture.fr

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Jardins, jardin at the Tuileries

The Jardins, Jardin event will be held at the Tuileries in Paris from June 1st to June 4th, 2017.

The 14th edition of the renowned Parisian garden and design fair focuses on promoting urban well-being, with this year’s theme centered around the “nature city,” and 30 ephemeral gardens will invade the Tuileries.

On the program: workshops for everyone (culinary ones in particular!), a restaurant, conferences, activities (some for children), flower baptisms, the project village and its 3 spaces, 13 large ephemeral gardens, around fifteen staged terraces and balconies, prize-giving ceremonies, a hundred exhibitors, nurserymen, etc.

The Franprix brand will also offer its terrace with deckchairs, Mölkky, a vegetable patch, DIY activities, and distribution of small gifts (seed packets, seasonal fruit and vegetable calendar, etc.)!

Jardins, jardin

Open from Thursday, June 1st to Sunday, June 4th, 2017

Thursday and Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm / Friday and Saturday from 10 am to 8 pm

Adults: €14

Reduced: €10 (proof required)

Children (-18 years): free (proof required)

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Paroles de Jardiniers (Gardeners’ Words)

I really like the Paroles de Jardiniers event, which returns this year for its 6th edition in a new format, at the Domaine de Madame Élisabeth in Versailles, in the Yvelines, on Saturday, June 3rd and Sunday, June 4th, 2017.

Several family activities will be on the program: cooking classes, plant swaps, workshops focused on flowers, edible plants, beekeeping, or farm animals, and, of course, guided tours of the park and its vegetable garden!

Also cultivate your curiosity by visiting the indoor garden of the future housed in the Orangery starting June 3rd, the result of innovative work by French startups.

The tip: these activities are accessible by reservation and are free for the majority.

Paroles de Jardiniers

Saturday, June 3rd and Sunday, June 4th, 2017 from 11 am to 6 pm

Domaine de Madame Élisabeth

73 Avenue de Paris, 78000 Versailles

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Photo credits: Nicolas Diolez and Melle Bon Plan