Jardin des Plantes – An Urban Oasis

Profitez bien du beau temps! Take advantage of the good weather! We definitely did that today as we set out to enjoy the Jardin des Plantes here in Angers. Parking close to the Jardin du Mail gave us the chance to see the newly finished work on Avenue Jean d’Arc.

Avenue Jean d’Arc

What was just a dusty avenue when we visited in October is now filled with beautiful flowers and lovely places to sit. The avenue is line with huge maison/hôtel particuliers.

It’s difficult to discern but the flowers are actually masses of blue and white wild flowers much like you would find in a field.

Jardin du Mail

We cut through just the edge of the Jardin du Mail on our walk to the Jardin des Plantes. It was so nice to be out and about in the afternoon and yet still the air was cool and refreshing!

Angers Tribunal

Next to the Jardin du Mail is Place LeClerc where the weekly Saturday market spills over to the adjacent sidewalks. It is HUGE! Facing the Place is the Tribunal.

Angers’ Tribunal

Jardin des Plantes

Winding our way through the construction for the second tramway, we finally arrived at the Jardin des Plantes. It has a magnificent entry gate that is at least twice my height or more. However, the construction prevented taking a picture. I have a good image of it from a prior visit but it is hiding in my files somewhere.

More of Angers’ lovely sculptures!

Angers has many other wonderful fountains and sculptures that you can see here.

Cheeky swan

This cheeky swan swam right up to the edge of the bank where he promptly tried to munch on the toe of my shoe. I was certainly glad I had opted not to wear sandals!

Butterflies in flight

Searching for a handout.

This little guy was quite interested in us until he learned that we had no food to offer.

In the little enclosure are chickens, roosters and a goat with two babies. This always proves to be an attraction for the children in our group. On the fence is written:

Une poule sur un mur qui picore du pain dur, Picoti, picota, lève la queue et puis s’en va. which is part of a French nursery rhyme/song :

A hen on a wall
Pecking some dry bread
Pecky, peckay
Raises her tail
Then goes away.

The wide avenues throughout the garden are the perfect place to turn a cartwheel or two!

Street Art Angers

And now for the final piece to my search for the street art that has popped up everywhere in Angers! Here is just a peak at the piece we found in the Jardin des Plantes. In a day or two, I’ll have the post ready with all of the street art I have discovered!