The Herboretum Association News

September 2007

Natural Heritage Days:
Great Success for The Herboretum!

In the framework of the European Heritage Days last 15^th and 16^th September, many visitors answered the invitation to discover The Herboretum! The unique Garden of Gardens offered guided tours which happen to be privilege moments to discuss on Nature's numerous secrets and wealthness. Kids and parents were very interested in and sensitive to the impassioned speeches of the Herboretum's guides.

June 2007

‘Rendez-vous aux jardins’
Come and Discover The Herboretum!

Since 2003, the French Ministry of Culture and Communication has organised a yearly ‘Rendez-vous aux jardins’ (‘Rendez-Vous in the Gardens’), an annual cultural day aiming to bring forward the heritage of French gardens.

For three days, form Friday to Sunday, during the first week-end in June, public and private gardens will open to the public, some very exceptionally. On this occasion, The Herboretum Association invites you to come and discover its wonderful natural site and offers the privilege to meet with other nature-lovers.

Saturday 2^nd June and Sunday 3^rd June: guided visits, 90 minutes approximately
Beginning 9.00am, 9.30am, 10.30am, 11.00am, 2.00pm, 2.30pm, 3.30pm and 4.00pm
Friday 1^st June will be booked for school visits.

February 2007

The Herboretum’s Garden of Temptations

The Herboretum’s orchard grew last autumn with 29 varieties of Pear trees and 37 varieties of Apples tree coming in a dozen espalier forms. Some of these were already cultivated in the 16^th Century.

Preserving species is not enough to protect Biodiversity: safeguarding genes is also essential. Keeping and cultivating old varieties helps create a useful genetic stock to compose future varieties or regenerate current ones.
Wild Apple trees, just like wild Pear trees, grow in forests in France. Their fruit are small and bitter, however thanks to much observation, variety selection and multiplication, Man has obtained a larger, sweeter fruit, with a fruit-bearing period spreading from July to March. These trees can now be found in gardens and courtyards, in appropriate forms and sizes, often growing on espaliers along the walls. Dwarf forms are also available now. They can be grown in large pots and kept on balconies and terraces. Regular trimming helps keep the desired shapes, regulate production, and concentrate sap in the production organs, consequently improving the quality of the fruit.
Apple trees and Pear trees both belong to the rosaceous family. In order to adapt these varieties to changing soils and climate, the trees are grafted. The Apple tree varieties have a choice of non-grafted Apple trees as graft carriers whereas Pear trees are usually grafted on Quince trees or sometimes even Hawthorne. Some producers go as far as offering different varieties (red or yellow Apples) from the same shrub!
Strolling in the Herboretum orchard, precisely called the Gardens of Temptation, and reading their evocative and century-old names: the ‘Martin sec’ (Dry Martin, discovered in 1530), ‘Calville du Roi’ (King’s Calville), Reinette dorée de Versailles, fondante de Croncels (Concel melt), Mouille bouche (Mouth-waterer), bon chrétien (Good Christian), it would be difficult not to mention Jean-Baptiste de la Quintinie who cultivated many of these varieties when he created the orchards and vegetable gardens of Vaux-le-Vicomte and Versailles, and who wrote a famous book on gardening: Instruction pour les jardins fruitiers et potagers (Instructions for Orchards and Vegetable Gardens).

January 2007

The Herboretum has welcomed Mr. Xavier Riffet,
its Managing Gardener

The Association is proud to have welcomed a Horticulture specialist at the beginning year, Mr. Xavier Riffet, who previously worked at the ‘Jardin des Plantes’ in Paris (French Natural History Museum).

He was Technical Manager for the gardens and greenhouses for almost thirty years and he is a renown expert amongst his peers. In charge of directing plant development and upcoming plantations at The Herboretum, he will work in collaboration with the three gardeners currently in action!

December 2006

A Natural Reserve Near The Herboretum

The Herboretum now has a Natural Reserve close by. This is additional proof of the site’s exceptional character.

A decree in the Official Journal on 14th December declares a perimeter of approximately 263 hectares around the town of Saint-Mesmin a National Natural Reserve. The area contains a remarkable natural heritage, and an adequate status and regulations were necessary. Considering heritage risks, the ground will be managed with a protective aim in view for future generations.

The decision illustrates the government’s high interest in biodiversity in the region, which is already classified UNESCO World Heritage (the Val de Loire Region).

November 2006

The Herboretum Recreates a Rural Hedge
at the Service of Biodiversity!

The wooded hedge is a newfound paradise for numerous Plant species, a true shelter and food reserve for some animals. It is a very welcoming cocoon for Biodiversity in general.
But not only that!

Step One: Putting the Plants in Place.

It also presents many more advantages in fact, for example:
- Draining and filtering water, for better micro-organism action,
- Protecting cultures thanks to its role as a screen from the wind,
- Preventing erosion and reducing consequences in case of floods, etc.

For all these reasons, The Herboretum association has recently planted a rural hedge, perfectly integrated to its environment, since it is made up of twenty indigenous species, including: Fly Honeysuckle, Mahaleb Cherries, Dogroses, Field Maples, Hazel trees, Hawthorns, Medlars, Red Oaks, etc.

Our hedge thus faithfully reflects the diversity of species present on the edge of the region’s forests, at the same time being perfectly adapted to the local climatic particularities. In addition, thorny bushes (Dogrose, Hawthorn, etc.) will delight the avifauna in particular, providing fruit for it to feed on and an appreciated shelter from predators.

About the Role of Hedges Along the Centuries

September 2006

On Saturday 16th September 2006, The Herboretum had opened its doors for the National Heritage Days. During the day, people could discover, learn and exchange on the wealth of the plant world in the region and the importance of protecting biodiversity.
A lot of visitors came and enjoy a beautiful walk on the estate!
Guided visits were proposed all around the day.

Pictures of the "National Heritage Days" at The Herboretum

Autumn 2006

Louis XIV Pear trees to be planted with the most surprising variety names: Cuisse Madame, (Lady’s Thigh), Messire Jean (Sir John), Verte longue, (Long Green) etc.

Various types of Apple trees will also be planted. They are currently being selected and will include today’s Apple varieties, (amongst others: Belle de Boskoop, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Granny Smith, Melrose, Starking Delicious, Jonagold, Idared, Braeburn); English varieties such as the Cox's Orange Pippin; as well as other, older varieties including: Belle de Magny, Winter Banana etc.

June 2006

For the fourth consecutive year, the region's parks and gardens had hosted nature-lovers at the Meeting at the Gardens, a national event organised by the Ministry of Culture. The 2006 edition was dedicated to Perfumes. The Herboretum had to be a part of it. We offered visits based on knowledge and exchange.

April-May 2006

- Peonies planted behind the orchard.

- Climbing plants on the entrance patio, and on the walls near the house and the basin: climbing Hortensias, Wisteria, and various other vines.

- In the Garden of collections:

Enlargement of the vegetable garden with forgotten species;
Creation of two flowering lawns;
Additions to the toxic plants area;
Creation of a Cereals area (symbol of the region);
Enlargement of the medicinal, aromatic and dyeing plants layout.

March-April 2006

Creation of a 1,000m² Rose garden made up of 300 shrubs and climbing Rose arches. Its new "Parfum d'Orléans" Rose will be officially baptised during the Rose Forum, 8th-10th September 2006 at the Floral Park in Orléans la Source, south of Paris.

Various fruit trees planted alongside already existing Plum trees from eastern France (a Mirabelle tree from Lorraine and a Blue Plum tree from Alsace). The fruit trees include various Cherry trees (for example the Early Rivers variety), two Apricot trees, a Nashi tree, three Peach trees and a Nectared Nectarine tree.

March 2006:

- Creation of a display of 15 fragranced Rose bushes in the entrance patio near the future laboratory: varieties created by François Dorieux, given to the Herboretum by the Renoard company, its sole producer.

- Red Currant bushes (red, white), Gooseberry bushes (red, yellow), Raspberry bushes (red, yellow), Black Currant bushes, Blackberry bushes, Vines, Kiwi trees and various Cherry trees planted in the Old Species orchard.

- New decorative and fragranced hedge planted along the estate.

February 2006

The General Assembly of the Herboretum Association took place on Thursday 16th February. It was a large gathering, and an opportunity for the President, Alban Muller, to summarise the work over the past year. The latter was "characterised by our efforts to finish adequately developing plant collections in the gardens according to our chosen concept illustrating biodiversity".

Various horticultural alterations are currently under way to set up the following according to an educational pattern:

Medicinal plant areas;
Dyeing plant areas;
The old and forgotten species’ orchard;
The Rose garden;
The hedge separating the garden from the village, to which will be added Hazel trees, Elders and Witch Hazels.

Alban Muller presented all the association’s projects and then stepped down. Due to his other duties, he has chosen to hand the presidency over to someone else.
The General Assembly then elected its new President. The new team will of course continue all the horticultural projects begun and it has also set itself the aim of making visitors more aware about biodiversity as well as developing the relationship with the Association of Parks and Gardens and the French National Horticulture Agency to discuss exchanges in know-how.

September 2005

Alban Muller presents the Herboretum Association at the 24th International Essential Oils and Extracts Days in Digne, France.

June 2005

Dyeing plant species are grown at the Herboretum thanks to the Regional Horticultural Research and Development Association (Arrdhor).

January 2005

Professor Robert ANTON, member of the National Academies of Pharmacy and Medicine, expert at the European Commission, at the Council of Europe and at the Health Ministry, is named honorary member of the Herboretum Association, by the members of the bureau.

August 2004

The Clarins Group, interested in defending biodiversity, becomes a sponsor to the Herboretum Association.

May 2004

The world of Arts also becomes interested in the Herboretum! Several painters discover the site dedicated to Nature: a source of inspiration...

Angelina Lavernia, and her entirely figurative paintings and unreal charm
Sylvie Fortin, a painter with a high sensitivity, ressembling that of old flemish masters
François Batet, famous painter and illustrator
Gérard Daran, painter of the body
Patrick Devaud, internationally known glaze painter
Michel Tardy, sculptor, painter and drawer of the beauties of Nature
Annie Hovanessian, whose painting is exclusively based on the botanical study of flowers, fruit and vegetables of nature. She is one of the rare French artists able to paint the plant world through dry watercolours
Joan Blondeel, outdoors and observation painter reflects her vision of Nature with passion
Claude Jousset, world renown painter, famous for his glistening landscapes

April 2004

Eric Doligé, President of the Regional Council and Senator of the Loiret region, visits the Herboretum. Mr. Doligé is very keen on environment protection projects and has shown great interest in the «Herboretum Spirit" whose vocation is, amongst others, to bring together knowledge on Nature, develop it and make it evolve in order to move forward and enable future generations to profit from it. The visit confirmed the Herboretum and the Department had mutual aims which may lead to mutual projects.

February 2004

On 12th February, The Herboretum Association was created.