Sissinghurst’s Greece-inspired garden officially opened on 1 July; MPG member Saffron Prentis was the National Trust lead gardener in the project. The planting was envisaged by Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson more than 85 years ago after visiting the island of Delos in the Aegean. More than 6,000 perennials typical of Greece and the wider Mediterranean have been introduced, along with pomegranate, cork oak and cypress trees. Saffron says it is experimental since many of the plants would naturally go through summer dormancy to cope with drought and heat. Sue Tymon, MPG chairman, represented MPG at the opening.