Cyril Marechal’s garden is a real breath of fresh air. Not very far from Royal road in Beau-Bassin, stands a small garden full of plants and flowers. The 145 ‘toises’ of land are covered with greenery. Cyril has a real passion for his plants. And for a good reason: he has already won two prizes in the competition organised by his town Je Fleuris ma ville (Bringing my town to bloom). After being ranked second in 1996, he won the first prize in 1997. But he has not stopped there: he has also won other prizes in various competitions.

He seems to treat his plants as he would his own children. As he goes through his garden, he has soft and delicate moves towards them. Watch out for any snail that dares come and feed on his plants. This senior employee of Roger Faydherbe – 28 years – has all the appropriate products to fight these plant spoilers.

His job must have something to do with his passion for plants. However, he does not see any direct link. “Of course, it makes things easier for me. I use my knowledge acquired through the sale of fertilizers and pesticides to cultivate my plants at home. But my hobby was born when my wife first put a small plant in the house.”

He found it so cute and enjoyed taking care of plants so much – and seeing little flowers grow – that he started to cultivate more and more species… Until he reached the 4,000 varieties that he takes care of in his garden.

Unique varieties

The myth that growing plants has a good influence on stress must undoubtedly have some truth in it. As soon as you walk among his plants, you feel cool and fresh. He admits it: “With plants, you don’t get any stress.”

As you walk through the paths of his garden, you discover plants you have never seen before. Cyril has some 12 unique varieties, like the Alocasia. He had to wait some two years to buy this plant from another dedicated gardener. This plant, which has huge red or green leaves, is a variety of anthurium. “I like all my plants but I think my favourites are my various species of anthurium,” he confesses. The veichii from Bangalore is another unique species in Mauritius. Its green leaves are up to 1 meter long.

He is almost the only one to take care of his plants. Could it be because he does not want anyone to come too close to them? Because he is afraid someone may spoil them or be not careful enough? “No! My children are not really interested and my wife just does not have time with her job at the municipality. She sometimes waters them but not very often,” he answers laughing. Somehow, he wants to keep his “secret garden.”

However, his passion may have helped his daughter find her way. Priscille seizes every free minute to make up bouquets. “She does not grow plants like I do but she really has a gift for making bouquets for all occasions: weddings, engagements or even funerals. She has nimble fingers,” Cyril says in tender tones.

The plant lover is retiring from Roger Faydherbe next month. This will give him time to devote himself to his passion. “When I retire, I will do what I call a light job. I will continue to grow my plants and try to sell them. I also intend to create gardens for people with these plants. I am not a professional but I read a lot and I know quite a lot about what plants like or do not like.”

Cyril is first of all a plant collector but that does not prevent him from selling his plants to people who like them. He is the kind of devotee who enjoys sharing what he knows and advising people on their gardens.