There’s a magical garden in the heart of Marrakesh. The Majorelle Gardens.
This is the spot in Marrakesh where Jacques Majorelle, a French painter, moved to in 1919 and created the gardens for himself as an ideal painting place. For years after the painter’s death, this 12-acre botanical retreat remained open for the public to enjoy the many varieties of cacti, tropical plants, handmade pottery, and koi-filled lily ponds.
However, in 1980, Yves Saint Laurent and his partner, Pierre Berge, purchased the gardens for the purpose of restoring them to their original glory. The largest building, formerly Majorelle’s workshop, now houses Saint Laurent’s and Berge’s personal collection of Islamic art and artifacts. There is a also a small cafe open for breakfast.
I remember wandering in the gardens before they were closed for renovation. And even in its faded beauty, Majorelle held a special charm.
The quietude and spell of nature surrounded by the hubbub of street hawkers, cars and donkey carts, and hordes of tourists was very unique indeed.
As it turns out, of all the colors in the garden, the boldest one became famous. The largest studio, many of the shallow pools, and decorative mosaics all boast “bleu Majorelle” – named after the artist who made it so popular.
To my mind, the color is a deep drink of the Mediterranean…the wild-child version of periwinkle with an added electric shock!
I’ve found photos of several rooms done in Majorelle Blue – quite successfully, I think. See if you agree.
Majorelle Blue is a color that seems to go with earth tones and also cool blacks and grays. It’s very chameleon in that is doesn’t upstage other brights, yet it’s strong enough to stand alone with neutrals.
My artist daughter and I are so enamored with the Majorelle Gardens that we chose it as our theme when we entered the Peeps Diorama contest last spring. Well, we didn’t win, but our darling rendition of the garden is now displayed in my studio.
Sadly, the inhabitants of the diorama – Majorelle, the artist, Mlle. Peepette, the artist’s model, and three hidden Moroccans – had to be put into storage soon after their creation…the ants found them!
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