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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 27, 2020 7:12:22 GMT
The Arboretum of Versailles-Chèvreloup is (I think) the old arboretum in France, as it is next to the gardens of Versailles on land acquired by King Louis XIV as a private hunting ground. In 1922 it was transferred to the Museum of National History to use as a botanical garden, but not a whole lot was done. In 1960 it became a scientific arboretum with the various species of trees arranged into geographical zones. They didn't begin opening it to the public until 1977, just 50 hectares for a start. It was only in 2018 that the entire domain was opened -- about 200 hectares total. There is also a zone of hothouses containing 5000 different species of rare and endangered plants, but this is not open to the public except durng scheduled guided tours. Anyway, the place is hardly overrun, because it is rather complicated to get there if you are a motorless peasant like me, and also the people who live in the area see no reason to pay a fee when the gardens (830 hectares) and forest (1057 hectares) of Versailles are right next door free of charge. I was still determined to go, so I took the metro to Gare Saint Lazare and then the train to Versailles and then a bus to Rocquencourt, and then there were still 500 metres to walk to the entrance. To top if off, there is a very complicated knot of expressway lanes which must be solved like a puzzle to get to the other side. But here I was at last.
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 27, 2020 7:22:46 GMT
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 27, 2020 7:31:04 GMT
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Post by lugg on Jul 27, 2020 7:52:39 GMT
Great start K2 - it appears huge and empty. I am not sure from the pic - it may be the angle but is that a funnel spiders web maybe? I have seen a few photos of the UK funnel spider recently in a photo group I am in
Looking forward to see where you head to next
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 27, 2020 8:13:40 GMT
I'm not sure what type of spider, but it was a labour of love... and hunger.
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 27, 2020 9:14:33 GMT
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Post by bjd on Jul 27, 2020 11:01:05 GMT
I assume that taking 35 minutes to walk 2 km means that you stop to look at every tree. Still, it looks like a nice place for a walk. Perhaps in autumn when leaves start to change colour?
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 27, 2020 11:17:44 GMT
The brochure says to come during every season, of course -- cherry blossoms in the spring, maple leaves in the autumn...
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Post by mossie on Jul 27, 2020 14:45:13 GMT
I was impressed by Montezuma's bald cypress, the trunk growing perfectly square. The whole place gives the impression of a wilderness where one may meet a wild animal any moment.
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Post by htmb on Jul 27, 2020 14:57:17 GMT
I enjoy places like this, especially when needing a break from the city. Too bad getting there is so complicated. When I see these nice paths it makes me think being there with a bike, if allowed, would be super helpful.
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 27, 2020 16:21:18 GMT
Bikes are allowed on the paved paths and the dirt paths but not on the grassy paths.
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 27, 2020 17:21:52 GMT
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 27, 2020 17:28:21 GMT
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 27, 2020 17:55:37 GMT
Beautiful place & so many nice pictures. Honestly, when thinking about arboretums before I'd ever been to one, I wouldn't have thought they'd be so lovely to visit. (I was probably picturing something like a Christmas tree farm.) This one looks particularly pleasant, as so many places are left semi-wild and forest-y. The sky appears to have been competing with the ground for a beauty prize.
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 27, 2020 18:56:50 GMT
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 27, 2020 19:04:12 GMT
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Post by lugg on Jul 27, 2020 19:26:53 GMT
I love the wild un-tamedness of this place and there are some really magnificent trees. Although as ever I cannot help but tut when I see ragwort, even though I accept it has a place. They kind of look like apples, but no... They kind of look like apples, but no... If not apples - what are they ? Love the photos of the red/black shield/stink bugs but also the moody skies in some of the photos. Did you get a drenching or did the rain hold off?
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 27, 2020 19:28:51 GMT
It never rained but frankly I would like to go there in the rain.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 27, 2020 19:46:53 GMT
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Post by lugg on Jul 27, 2020 20:08:48 GMT
Ahh I see that now ...thank you Bixa It never rained but frankly I would like to go there in the rain. - Me too.
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 28, 2020 5:15:21 GMT
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Post by htmb on Jul 28, 2020 13:45:35 GMT
I hope you’ll go back in the autumn for some lovely fall color. This looks like a huge space. It’s probably difficult to see everything in one day.
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 28, 2020 13:54:09 GMT
One little detail that I liked about this place was the lack of "security." As you can see, the ticket office on the right is not really blocking access at all. Absolutely anybody could probably get in without paying, particularly on a bicycle. Honour systems are becoming far too rare in this day and age.
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Post by tod2 on Jul 28, 2020 16:40:53 GMT
What a wonderful place and space that goes on and on…. I can never imagine it crowded. I would have to take some kind of map or never find the exit again!
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Post by lugg on Jul 28, 2020 19:04:50 GMT
I will be back said K2 - yes please ! No 4 of post 20 just really emphasises the vastness of this wonderful arboretum. I'm assuming that these are chestnuts well they are horse chestnuts (but not the sweet kind) ... aka Conkers beloved by a child in days gone past. I am not sure conkers receive the same appreciation today ?
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Post by mickthecactus on Jul 28, 2020 19:12:32 GMT
I was at a garden of a fellow cactus enthusiast and he had a rare Vietnam horse chestnut but the conkers are the size of tennis balls!
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Post by lugg on Jul 29, 2020 18:10:18 GMT
the conkers are the size of tennis balls! That would most likely be a winner of any contest then . It made me remember of how I used to know my conkers by the number of wins - I think the highest I had was a 39'er or thereabouts.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 29, 2020 21:51:19 GMT
Finally going through the second half of this lovely report which I predict will stir viewers everywhere to seek out arboretums in their areas.
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Post by nycgirl on Aug 4, 2020 2:22:20 GMT
I've been away too long, missed a lot of great stuff. This looks like such a peaceful place to take a hike or bike ride. I love the close-ups of the bugs and flowers, as well the strikingly beautiful clouds.
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