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The Backyard Gardener
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Jardin Majorelle: A Moroccan Garden

Smaller pond with squares of water lillies near koi pond

Jardin Majorelle is located in Marrakech, Morocco. It was originally created by Jacque Majorelle (1886-1962), a French Orientalist painter and son of the famous Art Nouveau furniture designer Louis Majorelle. He was invited to Morocco in 1917 by a friend. In 1923 Majorelle moved there, purchasing a large palm grove from which he created the Jardin Majorelle.

   
Near the beginning of the garden with a variety of citrus bushes, primarily appeared to be limes
Near the beginning of the garden with a variety of citrus bushes, primarily appeared to be limes
Section of palm and bamboo forest
Section of palm and bamboo forest
 
In 1931 Mr. Majorelle commissioned the architect Paul Sinoir to build an Art Deco style artist's studio. Its walls were painted "Majorelle Blue," which is ubiquitous in Morocco. He designed a garden, a living work of art, with many exotic and unusual plant species.
 
The garden was opened to the public in 1947, but after his death in 1962, it was abandoned.
 
Fortunately in 1980 Yves Saint Laurent and his partner, Pierre Berge, purchased Jardin Majorelle, saving it from real estate developers.  The ethnobotanist Abderrazak Benchaabane has preserved the 300 plant species from five continents that thrive in the garden. 
  
Long fountain pond landscaped with squares of water lillies
Long fountain pond landscaped with squares of water lillies
Echinopsis huascha, South Africa,
Echinopsis huascha, South Africa,
 
 
    
One of the many fountains,
One of the many fountains,
           
Bamboo arbor
Bamboo arbor
Garden near the museum
Garden near the museum
 
After Yves Saint Laurent passed away in 2008, the garden was placed in the non-profit Foundation Jardin Majorelle to ensure the ongoing maintenance of the property.
 
If Morocco intrigues you, consider taking a trip there. My tour was excellent.
 
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