[Alisdair]

The "guess what this is" plant picture competitions are great fun - even if infuriating, as my guesses about John's pictures are usually very wild of the mark!
Let's try something similar, but with interesting public gardens/parks etc in mediterranean-climate areas. Here's one to start the ball rolling - where is it, and what is the garden called?

[John]

No idea!

[Alisdair]

OK, here's a clue - he's a well-known bigot who died in 1897

[Pescalune]

Could by any chance this garden or park be in Nîmes and the statue be that of Alphonse Daudet?

[Alisdair]

The first part of your question - yes, in Nîmes! So what is the name of the garden? Further hint: no, the statue is not Daudet - my clue may slightly have misled you, it was a crossword-puzzle-type clue (i.e. slightly tricksy) though the date of death I gave is correct.

[pamela]

Is it not François Bigot??

[pamela]

or rather M. Antoine Bigot ??

[pamela]

Antoine Hippolyte Bigot, né à Nîmes le 27 février 1825 et mort à Nîmes le 7 janvier 1897, est un poète français d'expression languedocienne (provençal, dialecte de Nîmes).

[Alisdair]

Brilliant, Pamela, you've got the right poet. As a matter of interest, was that just your encyclopaedic knowledge of Languedoccian poetry, or a deft bit of googling?
Still waiting for the name of the garden itself....

[Pescalune]

Is it then the "Jardins de la Fontaine" , "près de la Tour Magne à Nîmes?"

[Alisdair]

Yes, Jean, you have it exactly right.
We visited these fascinating gardens at the MGS meeting in Uzés in 2006. I've added a note about them to the Places to Visit section, as they are very much worth a visit if you're anywhere near. Click here to see it, and a few photos.