Jardin des Plantes

The Garden of Plants

Of course there may be other kinds of gardens but I don’t believe such gardens are sufficiently common to cause confusion and thus warrant naming gardens distinctly according to their type. I’ve never seen a signed Garden of Rocks or Garden of Plastic Figurines. I am aware of The Garden of The Gods in Colorado, but this title refers to more of a ‘region’, than a specifically demarcated and subsequently tended-to site, so it is disqualified from comparison. Note we’re not talking about Jardin Botanique (botanical gardens) here. Just your average garden of plants.

Another peculiar aspect of this Jardin des Plantes involves me almost getting arrested for taking this photo.

I was standing on the grass, which apparently is a big no no. Perhaps this is what distinguishes Jardin des Plantes from Jardin Botanique. Perhaps the luxury of grass is reserved for the rats, which inhabit the local waters. These critters put The Colossus to shame and would have no trouble eating a duck, whole. Strangely, they seem to prefer the texture of a soggy baguette.

(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJbSTZi3EVL_8M1D4_AR1XejPAb_tt4eYQHd4kJkGV7uiCq5CJjneM0SH2IAV7E9mvFfJz72qt6aiWwKOI1inCQy3ZWXDkndAX-i-o8EA1yknORW8DfkfOgWafK4JfCllDipScmVHook-a/s1600/Colossus+of+Rhodes+reconstruction+(Sidney+Barclay,+c.+1875),+constructed+c.+294-282+BC.jpg)

The rats’ thoughtful contribution to biodiversity is evident as one casts their eyes across the pond in the Jardin des Plantes.