Right in the heart of Parc Floral in Paris, the Maison de la Nature (or House of Nature) is the perfect place to discover the richness of the capital’s flora and fauna. This place allows kids and adults to become aware and informed through several free activities available at the Jardin des Papillons (Butterflies Garden) and at the Bibliothèque Nature (Nature Library). This last one counts with over 6,500 books about the environment to consult on the spot. Kids will be delighted to learn more about nature through some hundred entertaining games, a tactile tablet is even available. On the other hand, the Jardin des Papillons invites us to discover insects and their life cycle. A magical place for little and big ones!

Photo credit: © Thierry Guillaume – Paris.fr

For more information, click here.

Rates: Admission to the park is free all year long, except Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from June to September.
Full admission: 5€ / Reduced admission: 2.50€ / free for kids under 7.

La Maison de la Nature
Pavillons 1 à 6 – Parc Floral de Paris – Bois de Vincennes
75012 Paris
France
T.: +33 (0)1 71 28 50 56

Discover all the great nature plans in Paris.

After the appreciated birth of the Russian tea house named Kusmi, the group Orientis reiterates and launches Lov Organic (Lov means leaf in Scandinavian language), an upscale bio brand! Coming from the natural Scandinavian lands, the Lov Organic teas are the result of a combination of innovative recipes and wonderful bio packagings. Like her sister Kusmi, Lov Organic cares about elegant packagings with colored, refillable and minimalist pots, marked by the Nordic culture. We fall for the “Lov is Zen” one, a gourmet and fruity mixing with orange, caramel and rooibos flavors. Take Lov Organic seriously!
Opened on Mondays from 2pm until 8pm, from Tuesday to Saturday from 10am until 8pm, and on Sundays from 10am until 3pm.

Løv Organic
15, rue Montorgueil
75001 Paris
France
T. : +33.(0)1.58.71.41.25
contact@lov-organic.com
www.lov-organic.com

It is true that when you talk about clothes « made in China » people think”low quality clothes”.Nevertheless, “made in France” clothes are less and less affordable.The newspaper Le Monde annonced recently that only less than 5% of the “ready to wear” sold in France is still”made in France” (you have to know that one minute of manufacturing is 70 times more expensive here that in a country like Thaïland for exemple) That’s why Prada, with it’s new line”made in…” decided to restore the credibility of the “made in China”, by enhancing the work of local craftsmen in some countries. In total collaboration with those craftsmen, Prada offers with its new line a collection of jeans called “Prada made in Japan”, a collection of tartan kilts, “Prada made in Scotland”, a collection of embroidered dresses, “Prada made in India”, and a line of alpaca meshes “Prada made in Peru”. Wearing Prada is a little like travelling around the world through the art of craftsmen who truly deserve to be finally under the spotlight.

www.prada.com/

Becoming parents can sometimes be a very hard thing, synonymous with struggle and hope. The Clinique de la Muette located 10min away from Hotel Gavarni is one of the major national centers for in vitro fertilization with a success rate of nearly 28%. The opportunity for couples who seek to medically assisted procreation, reside in a warm and luxurious place and environmentally friendly positioning. The Clinique de la Muette also offers courses to prepare for the birth, once the good news confirmed. Group lessons with midwives to learn care of the newborn, pilates for pregnant women up to 8 months in the presence of the father, or relaxation therapy to relax mentally and physically, prospective parents may find none, their happiness in that private health institution.

Clinique de la Muette
46-48, rue Nicolo
75016 Paris
France
T. : +33.1.40.72.33.33
info@cliniquedelamuette.com

Gavarni, the Green Hotel, is carrying out rebuilding work to enlarge its bedrooms. Some of the 25 bedrooms (including 4 suites) are being altered to become modular, accommodating between 1 and 3 people, with connecting doors between rooms. This means that families can have their privacy and children can enjoy a little more independence!

Renovation work is being carried out in a traditional, cosy style, using high-quality fabrics, wood and other materials. The work aims to incorporate high-tech features into the decor. It’s still very much a case of Parisian chic.

This refurbishment work incorporates an added green bonus, too; the Gavarni has made use of old furniture and materials that have been renovated and altered so that nothing is wasted and excess consumption has been avoided. It’s a straightforward idea: a table can be turned into a set of shelves! It’s easy – and green!

A major new feature of these new rooms is definitely the bathroom, which has a jet shower and a lead shower tray, preventing water leakage and ingress which accounts for a huge amount of water wastage. The lead is used for some distance up the walls beneath tiling, which avoids the problem of the grouting darkening. Eau Delice water jets spray 70% water and 30% air, leading to significant water savings.
The Gavarni will be continuing renovation work for a few weeks more before letting its customers have the full run of the place once again.

Gardens and landscaped areas play an important role in the life of city-dwellers.  Recognizing the ecological importance of such zones can help to improve their access and maintenance. Since 2001, the city of Paris has undertaken a sustainable development initiative which aims to provide continuous improvement of the environmental quality of these gardens. The key stage is that of certification. The Hôtel Gavarni itself is aiming to obtain an eco-label.

The Ecocert certification body has designed a label known as EVE (Espaces Verts Ecologiques) which recognizes eco-friendly management of landscapes. Launched in 2006 in 16 Parisian parks, it was progressively extended last year to another 60 or so parks in the capital. The label, awarded by Ecocert for a period of one year following an audit, can be renewed following a second inspection.

This initiative to promote eco-friendly management of green areas corresponds to a number of objectives:
- reducing ambient pollution (air, noise, etc) and other hazards (soil and water pollution, etc)
- encouraging the development of fauna, flora and biodiversity
- responsible water management
- introducing GM-free, low-maintenance plants
- responsible garden waste management
- introducing waste sorting available for the public, etc
The 60 certified parks and gardens include the Parc de Passy and the square belonging to the Musée Galliera, both located in the 16th arrondissement, just down the road from the Gavarni.

A parcel of 4.5 hectares located in the heart of the Parc Floral de Paris was closed in 1990 and closed to public attendance. After the storm of December 1999, she remained in good condition. The study of this plot can follow the evolution of the forest (sylvogénétique cycle).

Paris has 60 green green label. Spaces are neglected for the price category nature1er wild course resume its rights.
Parisians are regularly encouraged to participate in the revegetation of the city through the creation of shared gardens, floral competitions balconies and windows, courtyards and garden tips, a guide to organic gardening …

Photo credit: Hachimaki