A tradition that she did not stop respecting. Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne planted a holm oak with “evergreen” foliage in the gardens of the Matignon hotel on Monday, just over six months after her appointment, faithful to a tradition started by Raymond Barre in 1978.
“We anticipate climate change”, greeted the head of government after putting earth at the foot of the tree, an emblematic species of southern France.
While shoveling in front of the photographers, Élisabeth Borne, who is in charge of ecological planning, however confided that she “was not used to doing that”. She previously visited the garden, accompanied by gardeners from Matignon and students from the Breuil horticulture school, and was grateful for the fact that chemical products were no longer used for its maintenance.
The tree “does good” in the gardens of Matignon
The tree “with evergreen foliage” was not bought from a nursery, but comes from a spontaneous seedling that took up residence in the Matignon gardens, “where it likes it”, underlines its environment. It was then planted “in an ecological and environmentally friendly way.”
A symbol of longevity, the oak has been the most chosen up to now with four trees (Pierre Mauroy, Laurent Fabius, Dominique de Villepin and Manuel Valls), ahead of the magnolia (Jean-Marc Ayrault and Bernard Cazeneuve).
Élisabeth Borne is the second female Prime Minister, after Édith Cresson, who only spent 10 months and 18 days in Matignon. Edith Cresson chose to plant a forty-year-old male ginkgo biloba in 1992. Elisabeth Borne’s predecessor, Jean Castex, had chosen an ash tree, “very resistant, solid”, when he was faced with the Covid crisis. Before him, Édouard Philippe, elected Norman, had planted an apple tree.
Since Raymond Barre’s sugar maple, donated by Canadian students, it is the 18th tree planted by as many prime ministers. Jacques Chirac, had not planted a tree during his second tenure in Matignon (1986-1988).
The largest private garden in Paris, the Matignon Garden is one of the most famous in the capital, especially for its cleverly ordered perspective.
Source: BFM TV
