the “Villes et Villages Fleuris” label is on the perennials or grasses page and Boulogne-sur-Mer is fleur d’or

You have often noticed this famous yellow sign “Villes ou Villages Fleuris” at the entrance to a city or a village. For sixty years this national brand has rewarded municipalities for the embellishment of their parks and public gardens, but for several years it is not enough to flourish at all costs, climate change obliges

Gone are the geraniums and plants of the past. Fashions change and they are not just aesthetic. A municipal services gardener (and not only) must think today about what is good for the planet: consume less water, refresh and preserve the areas wet.

Today, the old label “Villas fiorito “must therefore be updated and today more widely rewards the cities and countries that innovate in sustainable development with islands of freshness in the city, controlled irrigation, protection of biodiversity in the choice of local species, etc.

In this beautiful month of May, sowing is underway in all the municipalities. Only, you need to think seriously now before starting.

In Hauts-de-France, 341 municipalities were labeled “Villes et Villages Fleuries” in 2021. And what is worth for Cannes the “Palme d’Or” is Boulogne-sur-Mer, another coastal town that has obtained for the first time the “Golden flower” in 2021.

A source of pride for Ghislain Milhamont, one of the city’s park and garden managers, who explains to us how Boulogne-sur-Mer had to adapt to new environmental requirements with water control as a primary concern. “For several years we have not flourished the city as we did in the past with flower beds everywhere, we often had to water plants and flowers with a high intensity of water”explains the head gardener of the city.

Right now it’s a race, eleven gardeners have to plant hundreds of plants and flowers across the city with very strict specifications.

Ghislain Milhamont, one of the park and garden managers of the city of Boulogne-sur-Mer

in France3 Hauts-de-France

“It’s the rush, the days are long and short at the same time, we have to plant flower beds almost everywhere and even if we plant much less than before, it’s a huge job for our plants to flower all of them. In addition, we produce our plants in greenhouse, with automated sowing and repotting systems, because it is increasingly expensive to buy from nurseries “and Guislain proudly adds that all plants are free of plant protection products.

Drinking water is at the heart of the concerns of the city of Boulogne-sur-Mer. He therefore chose to plant fewer flowers and more green plants. Certainly for the decoration it is less spectacular but it is a presumed choice explains the plantation manager.

This time it’s over, in the same street there could be 26 basins and the water flowed on the street, the same for the planters and the suspensions, it was really a waste

Guislain Milhamont, gardener of the city of Boulogne-sur-Mer

“Perennials, grasses like bell towers, verbena, sage, iris, plant species that don’t require too much water, it’s less colorful but locals like it a lot”, andGuislain explained. And the gardener adds that the city has greatly reduced the huge flower basins, which are only 19 of the 50 that the city had.

“That time has passed, in the same street there could be 26 basins and the water flowed on the street, the same for the planters and the suspensions, it was really a waste”Guislain says, relieved to have so many.

Today there are only two gardeners who water the plants every morning between 6:00 and 9:00 and this, thanks to technology. The city of Boulogne-sur-Mer has invested in integrated and automated irrigation systems. The system only supplies what is needed by the plant.

It also conducts a greener policy regarding lawns. “Just water the lawns and even if some residents complain a little bit because the grass is burnt and a few weeds grow right here and there, we assume our choices.”the city gardener explains, a little annoyed.
“Getting 4 flowers every year since 1999 and a” Fleur d’Or “today, we are proud of it, is the work of the 40 employees of the green spaces of our city and beyond the price of water, there is the moral price , we can no longer go back if we are lucky enough to have the immensity of the sea in front of us, water is too precious “adds Guislain the gardener moved.