The gardens of La Gara

Over the past 20 years, the gardens of La Gara have been restored and recreated. Some parts, the central alley, the orchard or the canal, have been redesigned, others, such as the courtyard, the park and the small fruits garden were created as an extension of the past. This work was done thanks to the collaboration between Erik Dhont, landscape architect in Brussels and Verena Best, architect CNMHS in Geneva.

The gardens of Erik Dhont

Since the 18th century, gardens have had a vocation for pleasure and usefulness. In 2000, Erik Dhont designed the courtyard, the park, the vegetable patch and the orchard in collaboration with Verena Best. Permaculture is applied to the entire field. The canal, the only example of this type from the 18th century in Switzerland, was restored in 2015.

Visit Erik Dhont's website

The park

French garden in the 18th century, English garden in the 19th, clumps of yew trees with rigorous pruning, direct the eye and create spaces and rooms.

The orchard

The orchard was replanted in 2002 on a simple grid frame of 68 fruit trees: peach, medlar, cherry, morello cherry, quince, apple and pear trees were selected for their historical interest, their sequence of flowering and fruiting, as well as their local relevance.

The garden of small fruits

At the end of the orchard on approximately 2,000 square meters, a garden with small fruits brings together currants, gooseberries, early and late raspberries, Japanese raspberries, blueberries, cranberries, blackcurrants, blackberries, strawberries and wild strawberries. Various fruits have been associated with these fruits for domestic use (basil, thyme, lovage, coriander, verbena, etc.), but also for their floral beauty (borage, bergamot, hyssop, comfrey, Chinese chives, Roman chamomile with double flowers). Perennials are mixed, like the centaury from the mountains "Alba", poppies from the East "Picotee" or the anemone from Japan "Honorine Jobert". Sunflowers and artichokes punctuate the plantations.

The canal or « ah-ah»

The canal, a decorative and functional element from the 18th century, is classified and unique both in Geneva and in Switzerland. It is supplied by a water source and is part of the complex water system of La Gara. The canal was restored thanks to the support of the Swiss Landscape Fund and the State of Geneva.