With Easter so late in April this year the opening of the gardens at the Château de Vullierens will coincide with this holiday weekend for the first time. While Lindt will sponsor chocolate activities for the younger members of the family on Easter Sunday and Monday there is plenty to see for everyone.
With 30 hectares of land and 80 sculptures flowers are not the only reason to visit but perhaps the most well known. Daffodils, tulips, poppies, lilacs and bluebells are in flower now with the irises already beginning to show colour, they will be followed later in the spring by peonies, rhododendrons, roses, hydrangeas and in the summer the Lys-hémérocalles, day lillies. The highlight and the reason for its fame is of course the irises. The gardens were established by the American wife of the owner almost 70 years ago. Doreen Bovet was passionate about irises and created the garden to reflect her love of these flowers. This breathtaking garden of 600 varieties is now one of the most celebrated iris gardens in the world.
Another first for the gardens is the announcement that the Château de Vullierens has been confirmed as a partner garden of the RHS Royal Horticultural Society, the well-know horticultural charity in the UK. RHS members have free access from 18 June – 28 July, plus weekends in September and October upon the production of their membership card. This is the first Swiss garden to partner with the RHS.