Chronic Seasonal events that bring together nurserymen, artisans and artists driven by a passion for nature are coming to an end. They have been generating the same enthusiasm for almost forty years.
Why are plant festivals so successful?
The Chantilly (Oise) Plant Days are a benchmark in the world of gardening, with over 200 participants.
Whether it is just a few exhibitors occupying every corner of a colleague’s courtyard, or 200 stands, as in Saint-Jean-de-Beauregard or at the Chantilly Plant Days, the enthusiasm has remained the same for almost forty years since these exhibitions took place. . Both for nurserymen who address their customers and for plant lovers who hope to spot a rare bird.
Informing yourself with calm, perspective and confidence is more necessary than ever.
I know both sides because, as a former nurseryman, I took part in these meetings. Stimulating, exciting and heartbreaking! I am still so excited when I go there, now as a visitor. I am happy to meet friends of the profession there, I am amazed because I know how difficult this profession is and I am always amazed by the regular discoveries of new plants.
An endless palette of plants
I especially like the atmosphere of small regional meetings because it is easy to discuss working conditions, hobbies and discoveries with everyone. And I really like large ones, even very large ones, because the palette of plants is almost endless. In the end, I appreciate them all because of the exchanges, the word that sums it all up! The exchange of knowledge, hobbies, pieces of life, because over time we all get to know each other, clients or professionals.
I recently had the honor of being a member of the press magazine of the Chantilly Plant Days, their autumn edition, in the grandiose setting of the castle. There are several prizes – the Botany Prize, the Collection Prize, etc. The Press Prize is awarded to a nursery with an approach or presentation that can be the subject of a press release.
So we work hard. Seriously, but very cheerfully, we rush from stand to stand, often amazed by fabulous presentations or collections. Endless asters (and yes, it is the season), bunches of luxurious herbs, a grand hydrangea – Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Starlit Sky’ – a Japanese variety with curly foliage like a cabbage and large fleshy flowers, such beautiful citrus…
Myriads of apples, carefully lined up in bales of straw, displaying their names and therefore their variety… Presentation of a new pear in Delbard. As every autumn – it’s always so lovely – a large table with about forty glasses filled with rose hips, each more lovely than the last, on a Loubert rose stand. Why limit yourself to flowers when choosing a rose bush? This presentation is meant to prove to us that fruits are also decorative.
Let’s talk about the prize that will be awarded!
I could continue the list following the example of Prévert… But let’s talk about the prize that will be awarded! It’s hard to decide who to give it to! So hard that we have chosen two related prices.
► The first for Plant and Story . Imagine a cute little truck, all covered in verdigris, two young women traveling through the villages of France to sell houseplants, which are also available on their website . This first “plant truck” won us over with its personality and a real service dedicated to people who are unable to travel. As for the selection of plants, it is perfect, offering both classics and originals. A real favorite.
► Our tied prize went to the nursery Les jardin de l’Oise . The stand is stunningly diverse: unpretentious plants and some rarities. The presentation could be cacophonous in the number of plants presented, but it is not. A very colorful stand, but elegant, joyful: you immediately want to create your own garden.
A small reminder of almost the last meetings of the year , where you can meet passionate gardeners during plant festivals or in their garden. Visiting them means discovering their world, understanding their work, finding classic or surprising plants.
