GARDENS, POOLS, SPAS : ROAD TO THE OUTDOORS | M6 | 66 minutes

Every spring weekend, garden enthusiasts all over France flock to the fairs where nurserymen, arborists and horticulturists come to present their plants… and sell them! At the end of March in Fontainebleau, 130 exhibitors will be present, and some 10,000 enthusiasts are expected to come in search of rare plants, collectors’ items and the most beautiful roses in France, the “star” plant of gardens for centuries… Among these visitors is Claire. At home in Seine-et-Marne, just a few kilometers from Fontainebleau, her garden is a real eye-catcher! This mom is crazy about gardening, and when the sun comes out, it’s the season of all possibilities for her. She’ll be at the Fontainebleau show to pick out the nuggets she’ll be showcasing in her garden.

And for enthusiasts like Claire, it’s also a year-round hunt for bargains. Gardening is expensive, sometimes very expensive… 20 years ago, Jean-Marc Risse had the right idea: to create France’s 1st plant destocker. Every week, Jardiprix offers a different range of plants from growers with whom Jean-Marc has worked for 20 years. With a promise: to pay 30% to 50% less for plants than in a conventional garden center. For Jean-Marc, who is due to receive a truckload of olive trees in a few days’ time, this is the most important season of the year.

Spring also means the first moments of relaxation in the garden, and there’s nothing better for that than a swimming pool or spa… But with purchasing power falling, it’s hard to sell swimming pools these days. The only growth sector is that of mini-pools… Spas are also benefiting from this “mini” trend, but the latest trend in terms of splashing about is the Nordic bath: an eco-friendly and economical all-wood spa… Cheaper to buy than a spa, and especially cheaper to use, since the Nordic bath is heated over a wood fire! So it’s nice, it’s beautiful, but don’t forget to fire up the wood-burning stove… Storvatt, a 100% French manufacturer based in the Alps, has become the specialist in this new kind of spa…