Most of our collection of cacti and succulents in this greenhouse come from a donation made in 1980 by Pierre Locuty, PhD (1910–2000), a chemical engineer who retired to nearby Fregiécourt. Pierre Locuty was fascinated by these unusual plants and particularly interested in problems related to the ecology of succulents. His aim was to find a simple way to cultivate cacti.
The greenhouse that is now home to this incredible collection was funded by the generous support of another leading patron, Father Georges Jeanbourquin (1904–1996). For most of his life, Father Jeanbourquin was fascinated by orchids, regularly entering into correspondence with the Botanical garden, which today is home to his collections and publications.
