L'horloge fleurie, Floral clock at Jardin Anglais, Switzerland
Description
L'horloge fleurie is a floral clock in Geneva's Jardin Anglais that arranges roughly 3,000 plants in a circular pattern with a diameter of about 5 meters. The timepiece is powered by mechanical clockwork and maintained weekly by the city's gardening team.
History
The floral clock was created in 1955 by landscape architect Armand Auberson as a fusion of Geneva's horticultural and watchmaking traditions. This creation marked the beginning of a unique blend of two crafts combined in a public space.
Culture
The clock displays seasonal changes through its plantings: begonias in summer, pansies in autumn, primroses in March, and fresh pansies in April. These rotating compositions turn the garden into a place where visitors experience nature's rhythm throughout the year.
Practical
The clockwork is kept accurate through satellite synchronization and remains accessible year-round in the garden setting. The best time to visit is early morning or late afternoon, when fewer visitors are around and the plantings are seen in better light.
Did you know?
The second hand measures about 2.5 meters, making it the world's longest, and was donated by Swiss watchmaker Patek Philippe. This remarkable feature is a technical wonder that many visitors walk past without noticing.
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Geneva offers a diverse heritage combining history, science, and nature on the shores of Lake Geneva. The city houses institutions such as the Palace of Nations and CERN, religious buildings like Saint Pierre Cathedral where Calvin preached, as well as cultural spaces like the Patek Philippe Museum...
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