The first edition of the Gros Cailloux Garden Festival took place from October 9 to 11, offering the public a chance to explore the largest nursery on the island of Mauritius. Spanning five hectares, the nursery is home to over 100,000 plants, carefully cultivated and selected by the teams at Gros Cailloux. The festival provided an opportunity for visitors to discover a wide variety of plants, including indoor and outdoor plants, trees, shrubs, and fruit-bearing plants.
The nursery, located in the western part of the island, boasts an impressive collection of plant species. Some of the highlights included grafted bougainvilleas, fragrant French roses, twisted ficus, crotons, and dipladenias. The festival also showcased Nu Gazon, a grass service offered by Gros Cailloux, which provides five different varieties of grass for landscaping purposes. This diversity reflects the expertise developed by the Gros Cailloux teams to cater to both individual and large-scale projects.
According to Christopher Blackburn, General Manager of Gros Cailloux, the festival was an invitation to discover the exceptional nursery and its diverse plant collection. The event aimed to provide a platform for visitors to explore the nursery's spaces, interact with the teams, and learn about the various plants on offer. Blackburn emphasized that the festival was designed to be a recurring event for plant enthusiasts and gardeners.
The first day of the festival saw a significant turnout, with visitors queuing at the entrance as early as 7 am. Some attendees had traveled from different regions of the island to attend the event. The grafted bougainvilleas, crotons, and French roses were particularly popular among visitors, contributing to encouraging sales on the first day. The festival also featured children's animations, 3D cinema, and food stands to complement the plant displays.
The Gros Cailloux domain, where the nursery is located, spans over 900 arpents and has been developed by the UBP group since 2004. The domain is divided into two main areas: Gros Cailloux Racines, which focuses on agriculture, horticulture, and landscaping, and Gros Cailloux Expérience, which offers leisure activities. The domain aims to preserve its heritage and natural environment while promoting sustainable development.
The festival's organizers provided a home delivery service for plant purchases, making it convenient for visitors to take their selected plants back home. This service was available throughout the three-day event, further enhancing the overall visitor experience. The event demonstrated the potential for such festivals to promote gardening, horticulture, and environmental awareness in Mauritius.
The success of the first edition of the Gros Cailloux Garden Festival has set the stage for future events. With its diverse plant collection, interactive activities, and focus on sustainability, the festival has established itself as a significant event in Mauritius' gardening and horticulture calendar. Key points include:
Key points
- Over 100,000 plants were on display at the festival.
- The festival showcased the largest nursery on the island of Mauritius.
- The event promoted sustainable gardening and horticulture practices.
