The garden first appears as a labyrinth of densely planted mounds. The arms of the mound encircle the garden, like the folds of an enclosed seed pod, offering many routes for discovery. As visitors wander through the spiral ambulatory, all paths lead to a central hearth, where planting changes from ferns and shrubs to a carpet of undulating mosses. Mist fills the air and one senses a landscape from another time.
At the center of the hearth lies a perfect round disc, 1.5m in diameter, of floral parts suspended in clear resin. This jewel-like object consists of three iconic species of the Loire Valley, arranged as a botanical mandala of their stems, petals, stamen, and seeds. The disc acts as a large petri dish, speaking to the role of human culture in botanical cultivation. Harvested at key moments within the life cycle of each species, the floral parts are snapshots in time. A mirror sits as its base and reflects the sky onto each item to further illuminate the preciousness and surreal nature of each memento.
