Jardin botanique de St-Triphon

Ollon, Switzerland, Switzerland

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Jardin botanique de St-Triphon is a privately created and maintained botanical garden on the hillside of Saint-Triphon in the commune of Ollon, at the entrance to the Vaud Alps and overlooking the Rhône valley. It was begun in 1972 by plant enthusiast William Aviolat on about 14,000 square metres of sloping, rocky ground and opened to the public a few years later as a freely accessible garden. Within this terraced, rock- and pond-structured landscape, visitors can see more than 4,000 plant species, including rock-garden plants, medicinal and Mediterranean species, bulbs, carnivorous plants, trees, shrubs and several dozen orchid species, as well as a small greenhouse with cacti and other warmth-loving plants. The garden, which is tended daily by its founder, offers a peaceful, informal setting for strolling among labelled collections and enjoying views of the surrounding vineyards and mountains, with access typically free and open every day in a spirit of sharing and discovery.