In search of the origin of color. Lauris, France. Tinctorial Garden.

The Conservatory Garden of Tinctorial in Lauris, France

July 2022

The garden for the conservation of natural dye.

Continuing our trip, we came to our hidden and magic place, where we will stay for another week, which will be a world-class base, to visit the rest of our planned points.

Unfortunately, we chose the hottest period of this summer for our trip. The temperatures here now reach up to 42 C, and the forests were burning like crazy.

So, our trips were carefully thought out so that we do not visit them in the greatest heat. However, despite the late afternoon hours, the temperature was still high… But... We go to Lauris today! As the trip is mainly dedicated to Ocher, I was lucky to find extraordinary place for tinctorial plants 🌱 🤩

In the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, on the southern side of the Great Luberon massif, somewhere between Avignion and Marseille, lies the hilltop town of Lauris.

On this rocky hilltop lies the Chateau de Lauris and the imposing retaining walls of its seven terraces dominate the Durance valley.

The two central upper terraces are White Gardens.The East End is home to the Tinctorial Plant Conservatory which is our aim for today.

The rocky hilltop of Chateau de Lauris

As the note from very pleasant lady says “As a result of its remarkable geology, Lauris has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Water seeping from the rock made the site an attractive place to settle.

From 16th century, the village of Lauris was a very active center for the production of natural colorants. This was an important place for the collection and treatment of cochineal insects (the source of carmine red) . These small parasite used to multiply on the kermis oaks in the surrounding area. From 18th century up to 1900, madder was cultivated to produce another red, planed to use as a print on cotton material.

This garden was founded in 2002 thanks to the botanist-chemist Michel Garcia, who is an enthusiast and expert on natural dyes. It has been settled as a horticultural resource for chemists, natural dye researchers and botanists. He has played a key role in revitalising the practice of natural dyes in France and abroad.

The garden helps to develop renewable resources. Nearly 250 species, from which dyes are extracted for dyeing, ink or food, are cultivated there, renewing an activity very present in the village from the 16th century.

Layout of the garden

It is worth to mention, that garden is open only 2 days a week for few h. So important to plan it ahead. 😄 and entrance possible to pay only with cash.

What’s more, you can enter the garden with your beloved dog.☺️

For visiting the place you need at least an hour, but it will depend of you. Garden is placed on 2 taracces, dense with 🌱 plants. Feels a bit like in organized jungle, especially in this greatly high heat!

Entrance to castle and garden Entrance to castle and garden

The garden is divided thematically into plants for dyeing fabrics, coloring food and for medical purposes. To facilitate the search for the color for which we are interested. And so we can find the part that is dedicated to the blue color, for example. We will also find information about the colors used in a given region, e.g. Japan.

Example of Plants 🌱 with blue colorant

Each plant is nicely described with French, Common English 😄 and Latin name. What can be sometimes difficult, is when many plants are close to each other, and to know for which plant is which nameplate with description. Also, as I did know many plants, I found a need to search for them to understand more, from where the colorant comes from, as many plants were still before blooming or after. That’s life with the plants 🌱😍

I find this place very informative and inspiring to search for more.

This place is a great start to get acquainted with coloring plants, but also for those who are advanced in the knowledge of various coloring plants, and for those who are not able to have all the plants in their garden and would like to see them live.

I could not find Kermes insects either, but well, we know both they are still produced today for food industry.

Another interesting part of this botanical garden, are plants not directly related to colorants but for other usage like Yucca for medicinal purposes (The root of the non-flowering plant is used to make medicine. Yucca is used for osteoarthritis, high blood pressure, migraine headaches, inflammation of the intestine and many other. And Sisal, which I am familiar with usage for rope production, but also it finds its place for medicinal purposes. The leaves of Sisal contain hecogenin used in the partial synthesis of the drug cortisone, used in many challenges with skin for instance.

Medicinals usage of plants

Garden is full of also more known to us plants, Rubecia or Marigolds

Knowledge about plants and the study of their characteristics, or botany, is disappearing. We live farther and farther from nature and we forget or are not taught about the basics of our functioning, i.e. symbiosis with nature. Today, when we face threats, we remember or rediscover what has long been discovered but forgotten. Plants are full of surprises, and only those who, by profession, know more about them, are litters. We, those who did not grow out of nature, must learn it from the beginning. This magical place is a great start to this journey.

Greenhouse This magical place will stay in my memory for a long time, and I am already wondering how I can go back there again. I haven't paid enough attention to so many things!

I highly recommend visiting this garden.

At the end, or at the beginning, nice ladies sells seeds and some books! Worth of your attention!

Next stop. Ocher Factory in Apt and Roussillon Ocher Museum!