In the enchanting setting of the grounds at the Château de Chantilly (near Paris), every May and October, Les Journées des Plantes de Chantilly are attended by seasoned and novice gardeners, connoisseurs and collectors, regular and new visitors. This unmissable event brings together more than 200 of Europe’s most prestigious nursery professionals and exhibitors.
Each edition of Les Journées des Plantes de Chantilly provides an occasion for exchange and discovery, presentation of gardening trends and new plants, not forgetting conviviality, and proposes an extensive, varied programme: practical workshops, special events, advice, meetings, launches of new varieties, book signings…
Gardeners come to discover things they can’t find elsewhere: surprising, discreet, easy-to-grow plants; new roses; original garden furniture; effective organic products for their plants; and tools that make work in the garden easier. But also, above all, expert advice from the top professionals, with whom they can chat at leisure. The event also provides a much-awaited moment of conviviality: a lot of people meet there after online discussions via blogs, others attend with friends or family, and some get to know each other through associations.
- From an emotional point of view, plants appeal to our five senses, as effective vectors of well-being and a more fulfilling They are therefore a factor of emotional well-being. A study carried out by researchers at the Universities of Princeton and Minnesota, published in the Landscape and Urban Planning magazine in 2020, showed that, out of 15 leisure activities, gardening was in the top five for improving emotional well-being. It had a positive effect similar to that of cycling, walking and going out to a restaurant.
- From a psychological point of view, growing plants and having to take the seasons into account places us at a slower pace than that imposed by our hyperactive daily life. In more concrete terms, gardening is a tool that is used to prevent burn-out and horticultural therapy is one solution that can be used to relieve intellectual
- From a physical point of view, gardening is a source of exercise that is healthy and non-aggressive for muscles and bones and stimulates the cardiovascular system. For example, a one-hour planting session is equivalent to 1 hour of table tennis or 1 hour of cycling at 8-10 km per hour.
- From a social point of view, it can create strong connections. People swap seeds, plants, tips and advice, to improve their gardens with each passing season. People share what they grow. And shared gardens are becoming increasingly popular: in the Île-de-France region alone, there are more than 1,000 collective gardens, and this number is rising every year.
