10 km from the camping on the island of Oléron, discover Les Jardins de la Boirie in Saint-Pierre d'Oléron. Small in size, but great in its botanical and aesthetic interest, it is classified as a "remarkable garden". Known for its collection of sages, its continuous blooms from April to late autumn, this charming botanical and landscaped garden is a small, unsuspected corner of the island of Oléron that is certainly worth the detour, whether you are passionate about botany, looking for inspiration for your garden or simply curious about nature.
The harmony of shapes, colors and scents...
Created from scratch in 1998 by Thierry Lecêtre, the Jardins de la Boirie are hidden in a small hamlet located between Saint-Pierre and Arceau, in the heart of the marshes. In twenty years, what was initially just a small wasteland has been transformed into a delightful botanical and landscaped garden with an ambiance that changes with the seasons. Although modest in size, the Jardin de la Boirie nonetheless presents a great diversity of perennial plants, exotic flowers, rare species and acclimatized varieties, including an astonishing collection of sages and hostas.
Here, colorful flowerbeds, semi-hardy plants and hostas come in a multitude of shapes, sizes and varied colors: green, blue, variegated with yellow or white...
Over there, a small pond planted with water lilies where green tree frogs come to rest brings a touch of freshness while the plant displays decorated with pottery and decorative objects are all invitations to dream. Further on, we discover beautiful New Dawn climbing roses in a pretty pearly pink, the overflowing beauty of tropical plants, floral shades of blue, yellow, pink, red… A true delight for the eyes!
Guided tour of the gardens with an enthusiast
A former professor of floral production, Thierry Lecêtre is a true enthusiast, constantly seeking change and novelty. If you follow him on a guided tour, the master of the house will introduce you to the garden and its history. And like any self-respecting gardener, he naturally loves to share his knowledge and passion. Never short of advice and explanations, Thierry will tell you more about the choice, planting, and maintenance of plants, the importance of plant placement, and the secrets to bringing out the beauty of plants throughout the seasons. You will also discover species that are little known to the general public and, above all, you will come away an expert on sage, the star plant of the Jardins de la Boirie! And for good reason: these plants, with their culinary and medicinal properties recognized since Antiquity, have been collected by Thierry Lecêtre for many years. To date, nearly 193 different varieties are waiting to be discovered!
PRACTICAL
- Open from late April to early October
- Prices: €5 / adult, €3 / child
- Address: The Gardens of La Boirie, 1-13 rue Centrale – La Boirie, 17310 Saint Pierre d'Oléron
- Possibility of purchasing on site certain plants discovered during the visit to the nursery
- Dogs are allowed
- Website: www.lesjardinsdelaboirie.com