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The Founders
At what moment in life does a story, an adventure, begin?
When does one become conscious that remote and powerful
roots, with a quiet force, have brought about the realisation
of a dream?
The dream of the Jardin des Hespérides,
now concrete after fifteen years of labour is, without a
doubt, a fruit of love, faith and perseverance.
There was first the dream of a small boy
who, in his mother’s garden in Geneva, imagined that
palms and strange flowers would grow all year long. Years
later, another dream flourished in another
head. Those of a young woman who wanted to create a world
in which everything would become possible with the man of
her life. Nothing very different from what thousands of
girls dream of and will dream of some day!
The great difference lies in the fact that you believe so
hard in your dream, that one day it becomes a reality. To
dream is a good thing, but one must act, decide and listen
only to ones heart and intuition. To build! Without
this essential stage, dreams are but smoke that hinders
clear vision.
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Paul Schauenberg
Dr of Science and with a diploma in Horticulture,
made the first pickaxe stroke in the Jardin
des Hespérides in October
1988. He was beginning his sixtieth year.
Before this, and for twenty years, he served as
a public relations officer at the Museum
on Natural History of Geneva, as well as
his job as Research Curator.
An Illustrator, photographer and author of many
scientific and popular books on animals and plants,
he has produced hundreds of articles on
nature for the Swiss press. The thirty
or more books translated into many languages include
the twenty-seven volumes of the encyclopaedia Le
Royaume des Animaux (The Kingdom of Animals),
the “Safari cards” published in fourteen
languages, three Mondo books, the Guide des
plantes médicinales translated into
four languages (Guide to Medicinal Plants, Lutterworth
Press, London) the Bulb Book, Warne, London.
His most recent book, Le
Pouvoir des Fleurs, (The Power of Flowers)
was written and published at the Jardin
des Hespérides in November
1999.
He met his present partner Rose-Marie Choulat
in November 1984 when, as an independent journalist,
she presented his book Le Léman Vivant,
published by the Journal de Genève.
With this decisive encounter began love, dreams
and the Jardin des Hespérides.
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Rose-Marie Choulat
after a commercial education and gaining a diploma
in teaching, taught for ten years in a primary school
in Geneva. Attracted by other new horizons, she
left teaching and became passionate about “communication
without a loser” (Gordon’s Method),
alpha waves and the power of the subconscious.
Realising her dreams from that time, she obtained
a helicopter-pilot’s licence and then turned
to journalism, her career for several years, without
imagining that this strange path would finally lead
her to an Extraordinary Garden
on Gran Canaria!
After having met Paul Schauenberg, she specialised
in reports and texts on nature subjects and they
made many overseas trips together.
She exhibited her paintings “The Magic of
Frogs” in May 1988 and “Tropical Flora”
in September 1992, in Geneva. These days she has
taken up music again, another of her passions, and
she sings and plays the piano.
Her book Le Chemin
du Rêve (the path to the dream)
which she published in 1990, is a never-ending story.
A story that could become yours also!
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The Association «Les Amis du Jardin des Hespérides»
A Charitable Association under this
name has been constituted according to
the articles 60 and following of the Swiss Civil Code. It
has its headquarters in Geneva.
This association supports the objectives of the Jardin
des Hespérides.
You can become a Member!
Aims of the Jardin des Hespérides
- To contribute to the conservation of wild tropical plants
disappearing from their natural habitats.
- To maintain a permanent floral magic, by keeping together
in the same place a genetic heritage of top interest from
the entire world.
- To offer a place of cultural exchanges and encounters
in an exceptional natural setting of flowers.
- To provide a haven of serenity.
- To organise tours with commentary.
The Association of the Friends of the
«Jardin des Hespérides»
is also listed
in the Register of non profit Canarian Associations under
the name of
«Jardin des Hespérides» with
number 5.223.
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