My Paris Experience as an America Palmtalker

[NC-Key-Bar]

I spent last week in Paris, and had an amazing time.  I was shocked at the number of plant shops and plant-people.  Going through my pictures to post, I'm disappointed I didn't take more.  But I'll share what I have, and try to keep it Palm related.

*First, I'd like to say that the French people I came across were very kind made me feel welcome.  I was there 8 days - and not all for fun and vacation.  I felt like I got a great idea for what that city is like, and I would def recommend it as a spot to visit.  I know there are plenty of Europeans on PT.  I hope you all feel as welcome in America and I did in France!  Merci!

I'm in zone 8a east NC - so Paris was a great 8b comparison to the sorts of plants we have native, and ones I zone push a bit.  Oleander, Camelia, and Bamboo are pretty much in flower pots at every restaurant you walk by.  Plenty Rhododendron and other evergreens used in landscaping.  As well Yuccas and a lot of Trachycarpus.  I got a ton of ideas for some new plants to try out at home.
The Trachys were dark green and seemed to grow really well.  Probably a great ex-situ climate for them. The one thing I did not see were the Phoenix sp. in Luxembourg Garden.  We went there, but I'm assuming they bring those large pots inside when its cold?...oh, and the pots...

As someone from a rural area, the number of potted plants was shocking.  I don't have a great reference for what other large cities are like - but in Paris, most every restaurant and shop had potted plants inside, or out.  When you'd look up, there were plants all on the balconies and hanging on windows.  And plant shops in almost every city block.  I'm assuming this mostly due to the inability to plant anything around a concrete jungle.  But I loved the effort they put into it.  Add on the fact that Paris has (literally) miles and miles (sorry, kilometers) of garden walkways around the city, too.
It was a great place to visit for an American palm-talker.


Beautiful tree ferns in a courtyard close to us - these were in-ground but surrounded by large walls and heated areas.
 

Just a few of the Trachys I saw

 

Local plant shops were loaded

 

Random: but there are Parakeets all over the parks

And a few shots of our walk around the EIffel.  My wife and I strolled one day from the Louvre Garden to the Eiffel Tower.  We stopped for wine and drinks (plural), and walked through shops along the way.  There were color leaves dropping everywhere.  We came around a corner and saw the Eiffel Tower for the first time set back behind the buildings. It was beautiful.  Then watched the sun set from the top.
It was one of the funnest days we've ever had together.

Au revoir!

[Harry’s Palms]

As a first American born from British immigrant parents ( Ireland / England ) , I am embarrassed to say I’ve never been to Europe . Not sure I will ever get to . I have plenty of friends that have been to Paris and never get tired of the beautiful pics. My brother lived in Scotland for over a year and spent quite a bit of time in France . He said the same thing as you , people were polite and friendly , the baguettes were heaven ! The gardens are beautiful . It’s funny , he was warned , before he moved his family over there , that the French didn’t really care for Americans . His experience was quite the opposite. The only negative was driving through some very narrow corridors, being from California , was a challenge. 
           Thank you for the lovely pics! Those Trachy look very healthy. Harry

[Darold Petty]

Thanks for posting, this brings back fond memories.  French people are not unfriendly, they are more reserved.

In California it is illegal to drink alcohol in public spaces like sidewalks or parks.  My wife and I wished to have an evening picnic on the Champ de Mars, facing the Eiffel Tower.  At the wine shop I attempted to ask the shopkeeper if wine drinking was permitted there.  We had difficulty in this conversation, I assumed because of the language barriers. 

However, it was because he, a French wine merchant, found it inconceivable that an older, well dressed couple would not enjoy wine with such a picnic !  

[Than]

The flower shops with hundreds of small pots and the green parakeets are so European. These shops look exactly the same in Greece and our cities are also full of those green winged invaders 

[Zeeth]

There's a nice Sabal palmetto at Square Boucicaut in Paris:

 

[Darold Petty]

Here is a nice Chamaerops sold at the Parisian street flower shops,

 

[Foggy Paul]

We visited Paris in July and had a similarly wonderful experience. It seemed inexpensive compared to SF 🤣 This lovely garden is a courtyard of the Biblioteque Nationale.

[happypalms]

Nice little holiday in the city of love Paris!