Known as the Fête des Jardins, this is your once-yearly chance to discover some of Paris’ amazing green spaces, including some which are closed the rest of the year…

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You’d need lots of spare time to get to know all of Paris’ green spaces, but this festival can help out with special visits, workshops and many other exceptional events.

The theme is often (logically) eco-friendly. In the Jardin des Plantes for example you can go on a guided visit called « a biodiversity voyage », visite their seed store and the in vitro plant lab, get advice for eco- and bio-diversity-friendly gardening from professional gardeners, and take part in the grape harvest from the garden’s vines on the afternoon of the 26th. Great!

At the Jardins du Ruisseau, they’re celebrating their tenth anniversary. It’s a small garden near the Porte de Clignancourt in the north of the city, making the most of a band of green space along an old railway line called « la petite ceinture ». Over the two afternoons there will be concerts, workshops, world food, a photo exhibition, a tea room, street theatre… and of course you’ll be able to visit the garden and see the hives they recently installed. For more info (in French): www.facebook.com/jardinsduruisseau

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In the 3rd arrondissement, the Fête des Jardins 2010 is the moment to celebrate the lives of two important women. A plaque will be installed in the garden behind the Picasso museum to note its new name, the Square de l’Hôtel Salé – Léonor Fini. And our favourite secret rose garden will be renamed the Square Saint Gilles Grand Veneur – Pauline Roland.

And at the Jardin de Bercy, there will be a plant clinic with plant doctors to work out why your pot plants are looking so sad! You can also book a place for the kids workshops (3 & 5pm) that will teahc them how to build their own garden.

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All events in the Fête des Jardins 2010 are free. More info (in French) at www.paris.fr