Jean-Louis Dugasse, the man who grows and pollinates coco-de-mer |30 August 2014

‘I feel blessed to be able to grow this unique nut’

The Vallée de Mai reserve on Praslin has always been preached about as the Garden of Eden or the lost paradise, with its uniqueness for being the home of our famous coco-de-mer, the black parrot and of its pristine lush vegetation.

But the Vallée de Mai is not the sole jewel of Praslin. On the main road one can clearly see the Zimbabwe hill, lying perfectly, displaying its array of greenery which remains untouched and well-preserved. The Zimbabwe area of Praslin is also the secret haven of a well-hidden gem on the island.

Driving up the isolated hill for several minutes, one could surely sense nature's invitation to a moment of tranquillity and meditation, or to simply admire the beauty of this unexplainable beautiful piece of this steep mountain side. An ideal place to be for those wishing for an unhurried lifestyle.

Nestled perfectly on top of the Zimbabwe hill, in a serene environment, far from the main communities, the garden provides an amazing lifetime experience once you visit there.

Our first encounter with this unique piece of nature was last week during one of the visits to tourism establishments on Praslin by Tourism and Culture Minister Alain St Ange.

We stopped at an entrance marked Maison du Soleil and were met by a tall simple-looking man who on first impression I portrayed him as a reserved but friendly person. Jean-Louis Dugasse owns this 10,000m2 land and he led us on an amazing adventure on his land. Maison du Soleil is a self-catering establishment of two bungalows.

Mr Dugasse is a man whose story is worth writing about.

The man behind this 10,000m2 wonderland

Aged 54, Mr Dugasse looks energetic and one can definitely sense that he is a hardworking man.

“My father was a planter. I never took up planting when I was young. I was more interested in the technical fields and so my first step into the world of work was as a plumber,” he said.

Mr Dugasse led us on a trip down memory lane and on how this beauty at Zimbabwe, Praslin became a reality.

“I worked for the Public Utilities Corporation (PUC) for 17 years. Construction was also a field of interest for me after my years at the PUC.”

And then, his destiny led him into buying this beautiful piece of land on the hill. Little did he know back then that this would turn into one of the most beautiful properties on the island.

For him the work does not stop there, more can be done he thinks as he shared his future plans for his property with us.

“I am doing it not only for my children but I am also leaving this asset for my grandchildren. I am happy with what I have achieved, with how I have been able to transform this green steep place into a garden which enthrals many,” he said.

“I feel blessed to be able to grow this unique nut, it is a task that not just anyone can do. It requires great devotion, patience and love for planting. I am happy when I see that people appreciate the value of our coco-de-mer.”

“My aim is to join in the conservation of our coco-de-mer for our future generations to see what we have been blessed with,” he added.

A well-hidden jewel on Praslin

Located on top of Zimbabwe hill, the gardens of Maison du Soleil offer the peace and quiet one needs after a stressful week, or a getaway weekend from our busy lives or just a tranquil moment of reflection. This place is the ideal location for such ventures.  

Giving us an overview of the place, Mr Dugasse clearly stated that most visitors to his place prefer the bungalow located at the top of his property.

Reaching there, I quickly realised that his clients were right in their choices. A breathtaking view presented itself before us as we watched catamarans and other leisure boats glide on the azure ocean in the vicinity of Praslin and Curieuse. We watched from afar as the waves lap the shores of Aride and Denis islands. A picture perfect view.

Only minutes there, we vowed to come back to this one-of-a-kind garden but I bet readers are wondering what makes this garden unique.

The little ‘vallée’ is not only the home of the coco-de-mer plants but of a variety of fruit trees such as breadfruit, orange, guava, star fruit, passion fruit among so many others. Mr Dugasse also plants other palms and a range of beautiful flowers which liven up the garden.

The answer is simple… the many coco-de-mer trees on his land.

How it works

It all started almost two decades ago when he bought the land. On his land there was one coco-de-mer tree. I was amazed by the thought that he was never taught how to grow coco-de-mer nor do pollination of the plant, but he learned on his own and now he is an expert at doing it.

Across the years, he has observed, tried and tested before knowing how to do it right. Pollinating a coco-de-mer plant is not everybody’s cup of tea. There are steps to take and one has to be careful to follow them carefully.

“When the third leaf comes out, which happens every year, you have to remove the nut and then the plant keeps growing. You get the nut and you sell it,” he said.

“But as any other living thing, it needs good nutrition and needs to be nurtured to grow well. The coco-de-mer plant needs water, fertilisers and other nutrients.”

For the pollination of the plant, he removes the yellow flower on the male part of the coco-de-mer and puts it on the female part.

But, doing this, one needs to know the right time and technique to pollinate the plants.

Mandy Bertin (STB)