Cityculteurs took part in the 19th edition of Chaumont’s International Garden Festival. The garden, “Les Simples, une alchimie du corps à l’âme” (garden n°6), is designed to have universal appeal as well as a stimulating encounter for all five senses. The garden has been deliberately made to be easily accessible to disabled people. It is a sustainable as well as an easily transportable garden: it can be visited at Chaumont while the festival lasts (but you can also see it on the France 3 documentary) and then, in the autumn of 2010, it will be moved and installed permanently in the grounds of a hospital in the Parisian suburb of Le Vésinet. The garden will take on a second life in the palliatic long-term treatments service to help their patients’ social interaction, cognitive ability, motivation and memory.

The garden is made up of four areas in raised square plots, each one with a theme. It is designed to be easily taken apart and transported. The four areas are the following:

• A nosegay garden: an enclosed and secretive space which is an introduction for visitors to a wide variety of medicinal herbs and the beneficial effects of various plants. There is a workspace area; a potting table and gardening tools to remind us of the help gardening provides to rehabilitation and recovery. The equipment makes a point of being easily accessible whatever the disability.
• A colour and textile garden: this area is open plan and colourful. Visitors can appreciate the plants that provide us with many textiles
• A witch’s garden: to discover new smells, touch strange plants. Savour the garden’s offerings while listening to the flow of cascading water from a giant water pot.
• A health and beauty garden: delicate, pastel-coloured flowers for an intimate treasured sensation. Skin-toned petals to inspire the acolytes of natural beauty.

With a dense and rich collection of plants, these areas not only demonstrate the beauty and the wealth of biodiversity but also how plants are a source of food, medicine, clothing and well-being.

Visitors are invited to circulate on a pathway built to represent a cloister where they can explore the garden as well as all 5 senses: sight, sound, touch, taste and smell. Afterwhich they might be inspired to taste some of the herbal recipes specially invented and assembled by Le Carré des simples. These deliciously refreshing and original inventions will be found at the sales area in the grounds. The therapeutic workshops of our ‘nursing-gardener ‘Anne Ribes, who works with autistic inmates as well as patients suffering from Alzheimer, regularly enjoy these ritual tastings with a positive effect Try some yourself for a soothing and refreshing experience while reconnecting with the ancient plant remedy tradition.