PARADISE, a photo from Pamplemousses, North

Photographer's Note

Between Poivre and Pamplemousses, a spicy story

The magnificent botanical garden, located in the proximity of Port-Louis, has come to be known under various names, ranging from Jardin de Mon Plaisir, to Jardin des Plantes or still, Jardin Botanique Royal. Finally, in 1988, it has been renamed to Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden, in honour of the man who led the country to independence and who once, was the Prime Minister of Mauritius. Although this name is quite a recent one, it seems to be scarcely used, even ignored by the visitors. The garden is frequently known as Jardin de Pamplemousses (Garden of Pamplemousses), which clearly originates from the adjoining village.

The garden owes its origins to François Mahé de La Bourdonnais, governor of Ile de France (ancient name of Mauritius island), who bought the property at Mon Plaisir, and had his house built and a vegetable garden created there. However, Pierre Poivre, a predestined name, was the genuine and passionate creator. When this botanist and explorer, once a seminarist, visited Ile de France, he turned out to be a real missionary of spices.
As a matter of fact, he came back some ten years later, in 1767, but this time, as the administrator of Bourbon Island (Réunion) and Ile de France. Pierre Poivre was a one-armed person (during a naval battle, a cannonball tore away his wrist and he had to undergo an amputation), but his skill, his knowledge, his tenacity and his experience helped him to overcome all obstacles. He introduced numerous trees and spices from all over the world in the Pamplemousses garden, whose names invited us on a worldwide tour: the Caribbeans laurel, Chinas camphor tree, the Philippines bread-root, or Cochin-Chinas litchi as well as many indigenous species as possible. Pierre Poivre, a noble and kind gentleman - besides, he was also against the ignominy of slavery - will be the originator of the first laws on the protection of nature. Together with his wife and daughters, he lived in the residence at Mon Plaisir (now destroyed, but substituted for an equally beautiful building, pompously named as Château de Mon Plaisir) till he decided to return in France, in Lyon, where he died in 1786. He was then sixty-seven years old.

His successor, Nicolas Céré, a botanist, tried his best to go on with the works of Pierre Poivre. He dedicated his life and fortune to enrich them with flowers and trees. Under such circumstances, the garden came to be highly valued by the most famous naturalists and is renowned worldwide today.

However, as from 1810, the British practically abandoned this magnificent garden. Yet, in 1849, James Duncan picked it up from abandon and brought back the gardens original charm. He introduced new species such as ferns, araucarias, orchids, and bougainvilleas. The whole credit of planting numerous species of palm trees should be attributed to him. Nowadays, the royal palm, one of the varieties of the palm trees, adorns two magnificent avenues of the garden.

Various botanists, horticulturists and landscape gardeners succeeded him and carried on with what is known as a work of art, which will enchant visitors in search of beauty, serenity and poetry. We can only hope that they will not be disappointed of the effect of mankind on the gardens spirits in the future

timecapturer, emilbo, ChrisJ, vasilpro, SnapRJW, shevchenko, ourania, AiresSantos, pajaran, baddori, papagolf21 oznaczył to zdjęcie jeko użyteczne

Critiques | Translate

rbassin (27472) 2012-05-26 2:19

bonjour Maria
Une trčs belle photo, d'une nature verdoyante.
Jolis effets avec le plan d'eau,bon POV.
Bon W-E
Roland

Moderator (0) 2012-05-26 2:24

Hello Maria,
Thank you for understanding!

best regards,
TE Moderator

updated message

lousat (139298) 2012-05-26 2:50

Hi Maria,what a magnificent pic from the heart of Mauritius island! These gardens a re a great spectacle to see,and i think a peacefull place too.Perfect quality as usual.Have a nice weekend and thanks,Luciano

timecapturer (49288) 2012-05-26 2:53

Hi Maria
very aptly titled and beautifully composed image. Love the lily pad stepping stones that lead you naturally into the shot. Wonderful greens and a really idyllic place. Captured and presented perfectly.

Enjoy your weekend - Brian.

mohammad_H (10178) 2012-05-26 3:13

hi maria
معمولا در تالابهای شمال ایران رویش چنین گیاهی با گلهای زیبا وجود دارد
موفقیت این عکس در انعکاس ابرها در داخل اب هست
وضوح و شفافیت " بینظیر
قاب بسیار زیبا
روز خوبی داشته باشی
Usually in such a plant with beautiful flowers there are growing pools of northern Iran
The success of this picture is the reflection of clouds in water
Clarity and transparency "unique
Very nice frame.
Have a good day

Afsanehbagheri (3228) 2012-05-26 4:09

Hello

Color and light is good. Showed beautiful.

Congratulations and best wishes.

SWEETFREEDOM (24623) 2012-05-26 4:11

Hi Maria,
beautiful place, i like the green tones and p.o.v.
Regards
Alessandro

siudzi (34141) 2012-05-26 4:33

Hi Maria,

What a beautiful place has been discovered for taking this shot! Indeed, it's a paradise!:)
Captured with superb sense of depth and excellent color management. Well done, tfs!

Have a nice WE!
Malgorzata

cornejo (61504) 2012-05-26 5:31

Hi Maria, very pretty picture of this lovely place, very good picture well framed, with clarity, depth, good color and light. Very good and nice job well done, congratulations friend of mine. Tfs.

Good afternoon and happy Sunday.
Best regards and best wishes.

Angel.

emilbo (22616) 2012-05-26 5:33

Allô Maria!
Toujours intéressant ŕ visiter les jardins botaniques, il y en a un trčs populaire ŕ 5 minutes de chez-moi. Il valait la peine de prendre cette merveilleuse photo et tu as choisi ce magnifique coin. Excellente qualité d'image, bel éclairage et superbe harmonie de couleurs. L'avant-plan est des plus intéressant.
Toutes mes félicitations et bonne fin de semaine,
Emilius

Miguel82 (47110) 2012-05-26 5:48

Bonjour Maria
A very nice park with big trees and this pond
Fine colors, light
A sharp picture
Passe une bonne journée

ikeharel (113385) 2012-05-26 6:24

Fine picture show this magnificent garden with notable view on water-lilly's, Maria.
A bit a tilt to left on image - but that not too bothering, the place is incredible in it's natural beauty, and extraordinary tidy-up.
Lovely taken shot, Kalispera,
Ike

carlo62 (81265) 2012-05-26 9:42

Ciao Maria
non sono mai stato in paradiso, ma di sicuro questo gli assomiglia molto, titolo indovinato.
Buona domenica
Carlo

eldancer1 (36343) 2012-05-26 11:35

Indeed! Awesome capture of paradise! And thank you for the wonderful information. Great lighting and good details. Wonderful colors. Well done, tfs.

ChrisJ (171852) 2012-05-26 12:04

Ciao Maria

The giant water lilies look like Amazonia, a native of South America. I've seen them in Thailand. I like the reflected blue sky in the bottom right corner. Good repetition & sharpness of the lilies. A lush & tropical looking garden. Have a nice weekend!

marcan44 (6315) 2012-05-26 13:26

Ciao Maria,
una infinitŕ di nomi per questo giardino botanico, resta il fatto che č splendido e la tua foto ben studiata e realizzata lo fa capire perfettamente.
Brava
Buona serata
Mario

ciakgiak (30) 2012-05-26 17:30

Ciao Maria,
Al tuo titolo posso solamente aggiungere che hai catturato un paradiso dalle splendide sembianze, in cui la vegetazione, i colori e la natura esplodono in tutta la loro meravigliosa evidenza! Complimenti.
Un caro saluto
Giorgio

aliabazari (22233) 2012-05-26 22:04

Γεια σου Μαρία
Καλή σύνθεση, προσκήνιο και στο παρασκήνιο έχουν σημειώσει κάποια υπέροχα μοναδικό ρεκόρ.
Πολύ καλά.
Όσον αφορά

vasilpro (41801) 2012-05-27 0:02

Γεια σου Μαρία,
Ένας πραγματικός παράδεισος, όνειρο πολλών η επίσκεψη σε μαγευτικά μέρη όπως αυτό. Ωραία χρώματα σε μια πολύ όμορφη σύνθεση από την τροπική φύση.
Να περνάς καλά, Βασίλης.

Dema64 (42) 2012-05-27 3:47

Hi Maria, beautiful picture of the wonderful gardens! I like the composition of water, sky and bright green grass in the middle! Best regards,
Umberto

SnapRJW (31631) 2012-05-27 8:50

Hello Maria - Fantastic lily pads, they look so elegant and serene floating on the lake. A marvellous green garden and a pleasure to see. Warm regards rosemary

dkmurphys (79209) 2012-05-27 13:47

Hi Maria,
Splendid capture from that exotic place. Lovely natural composition, good work!

Daniel

ourania (51103) 2012-05-28 9:29

Καλησπέρα Μαρία,
μια υπέροχη εικόνα με πλούσια και ενδιαφέρουσα σύνθεση, εξαιρετική οπτική γωνία, προοπτική και βάθος. Η απόλυτη καθαρότητα και ευκρίνεια κάνουν την παρατήρηση των υφών μια ενδιαφέρουσα εμπειρία. Το φως είναι δυνατό και πολύ ευχάριστο, το διαχειρίστηκες εξαιρετικά και πέτυχες πανέμορφα ζωηρά χρώματα και μια ατμόσφαιρα που πάλλεται από ζωντάνια. Μπράβο και ευχαριστώ!
να είσαι καλά, καλό βράδυ,
Ουρανία

claudeD (47754) 2012-05-28 11:33

Hello Maria,

Wonderful picture with an excellent composition and fine colors. Very good clarity and sharpness. I like the calm atmosphere very much.TFS.

With regards from Luxembourg

JC

AiresSantos (56155) 2012-06-02 9:29

Yes Maria
It looks the paradise !
Great picture with lovely colors
Well framed and done
Regards
Aires

almoren (261) 2012-06-05 1:14

Really paradise!

Great Maria! Guapa!

pajaran (115941) 2012-08-28 13:10

Dobro vece.
Vrlo interesantan i dobar tekst o botanickoj basti, i istorija ...
Lep pogled na lokvanje i drvece.
Dobra ostrina, kontrast i perspektiva, lepe boje.
Dobar rad i kompozicija, lep park i lokvanji.
Lepo mesto za setnju i odmor.
Prijatno vece i sve najbolje.
Paja.

Good evening.
Very interesting and good article on the botanical gardens, and history ...
A beautiful view of the water lilies and trees.
Good sharpness, contrast and perspective, beautiful colors.
Good work and composition, nice park and water lilies.
Nice place for walking and relaxing.
Good evening and all the best.
Paja.

baddori (20341) 2012-09-06 23:47

Mary
Very nice to find a body of water with many "victoria regia".
The diagonal and the lagoon,
Photos that highlights the inner zone rich in sub-tropical vefgetazione fed by continuous rains.
A welcome sharing.
GF

papagolf21 (152607) 2012-09-25 5:16

Bonjour, chčre Maria,
Oh ! quel bonheur donné ŕ travers cette superbe composition.
Un morceau de paradis sur terre ! Félicitations pour ce cadrage trčs réussi.
Un véritable bijou.
Amitiés.
Philippe