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COMING UP ....
SPRING FLOWERS IN the PELOPONNESE, GREECE
Thursday 21 - Thursday 28 March
Following last year’s successful autumn bulb-hunting in Greece trip (see report here),
John Fielding will be leading a one-week spring trip to see the great variety of wild plants in flower, in the beautiful contrasting habitats and landscapes of the Peloponnese, with a mix of local plant hunting and sight-seeing including day trips to Monemvasia and the Outer Mani.
Following last year’s successful autumn bulb-hunting in Greece trip (see report here),
John Fielding will be leading a one-week spring trip to see the great variety of wild plants in flower, in the beautiful contrasting habitats and landscapes of the Peloponnese, with a mix of local plant hunting and sight-seeing including day trips to Monemvasia and the Outer Mani.
WILD PLANTS, WALKING AND BEAUTIFUL SCENERY IN THE MAREMMA
Sunday 5 - Saturday 11 May - NOW FULLY BOOKED
This trip in northern Lazio and southern Tuscany will focus on wild plants, many endemic, with walks every day. It is being led by botanist Goffredo Filibeck of Tuscia University. Click here for the itinerary and details of walking required. Accommodation for the first four nights is right beside the sea followed by two nights in a medieval fortress in the hills. Pictured left is Cistus creticus ssp. eriocephalus (formerly known as Cistus incanus) on Giglio Island. For further information email Heather Martin.
This trip in northern Lazio and southern Tuscany will focus on wild plants, many endemic, with walks every day. It is being led by botanist Goffredo Filibeck of Tuscia University. Click here for the itinerary and details of walking required. Accommodation for the first four nights is right beside the sea followed by two nights in a medieval fortress in the hills. Pictured left is Cistus creticus ssp. eriocephalus (formerly known as Cistus incanus) on Giglio Island. For further information email Heather Martin.
VARIETY IN CATALONIA
Sunday 19 to Saturday 25 May - NOW FULLY BOOKED
Our visit to Catalonia is being organised by member Brian Constable. This will be a six-day relaxed-style trip with limited walking, including visiting the Barcelona and Marimurtra Botanic Gardens and several private gardens, interspersed with two plant-hunting walks with a local guide. For the last two nights there will be a particular treat, staying in a medieval castle while visiting a very special Mediterranean dry garden. Full details are available here. Places are limited to 20. Any queries should be sent to Brian Constable.
Our visit to Catalonia is being organised by member Brian Constable. This will be a six-day relaxed-style trip with limited walking, including visiting the Barcelona and Marimurtra Botanic Gardens and several private gardens, interspersed with two plant-hunting walks with a local guide. For the last two nights there will be a particular treat, staying in a medieval castle while visiting a very special Mediterranean dry garden. Full details are available here. Places are limited to 20. Any queries should be sent to Brian Constable.
EARLY entry to chelsea with champagne breakfast
Tuesday 21 May
What magic to be inside the Chelsea Flower Show showground at 6.30am on the first members’ day! You can be there when almost nobody else is around, just a few exhibitors freshening up their stands, and before the judges present the awards. Gardens and displays are at their best and for the first couple of hours the place is almost eerily empty. Tickets give entry for the whole day and include breakfast in the Rock Bank Restaurant between 08.00 and 09.30. Cost per ticket is £139 (including postage by a signed-for service). Please complete the booking form here and make sure your payment is received at MPG’s bank by 21 March.
What magic to be inside the Chelsea Flower Show showground at 6.30am on the first members’ day! You can be there when almost nobody else is around, just a few exhibitors freshening up their stands, and before the judges present the awards. Gardens and displays are at their best and for the first couple of hours the place is almost eerily empty. Tickets give entry for the whole day and include breakfast in the Rock Bank Restaurant between 08.00 and 09.30. Cost per ticket is £139 (including postage by a signed-for service). Please complete the booking form here and make sure your payment is received at MPG’s bank by 21 March.
HAMPSHIRE - SIR HAROLD HILLIER GARDENS AND CADLAND ESTATE
Wednesday 12 June
Famous British plantsman Roy Lancaster (left) will accompany MPG’s morning tour of the Sir Harold Hillier gardens with the head of collections David Jewell. After spending a couple of hours with these two outstanding gardeners, there will be soup and a sandwich in the Hilliers café before continuing to Cadland House, set within beautiful grounds laid out by Capability Brown and overlooking the Solent. The Drummond family still own the house, estate and gardens and MPG member Gilly Drummond has invited us for tea and cakes. Contact Heather Martin if you wish to car-share. Cost £33 per person. Apply here.
Famous British plantsman Roy Lancaster (left) will accompany MPG’s morning tour of the Sir Harold Hillier gardens with the head of collections David Jewell. After spending a couple of hours with these two outstanding gardeners, there will be soup and a sandwich in the Hilliers café before continuing to Cadland House, set within beautiful grounds laid out by Capability Brown and overlooking the Solent. The Drummond family still own the house, estate and gardens and MPG member Gilly Drummond has invited us for tea and cakes. Contact Heather Martin if you wish to car-share. Cost £33 per person. Apply here.
AGM AND SUMMER TOUR 2019
Sunday 30 June - Thursday 4 July
Sue Bennison is organising next year's summer garden tour in Dorset, following our Annual General Meeting. The guest speaker is Christopher Bailes, president of the Alpine Garden Society and former curator of RHS Rosemoor. Gardens on the tour include Chideock Manor, Corscombe House, Farrs, and Harvard Farm. Lunches will be at Abbotsbury, Cranborne Manor Garden Centre, and Sculpture by the Lake. Members will stay at the Springfield Country Hotel, south of Wareham. To apply for a place please click here and fill in the form.
Sue Bennison is organising next year's summer garden tour in Dorset, following our Annual General Meeting. The guest speaker is Christopher Bailes, president of the Alpine Garden Society and former curator of RHS Rosemoor. Gardens on the tour include Chideock Manor, Corscombe House, Farrs, and Harvard Farm. Lunches will be at Abbotsbury, Cranborne Manor Garden Centre, and Sculpture by the Lake. Members will stay at the Springfield Country Hotel, south of Wareham. To apply for a place please click here and fill in the form.
THEOBALD'S FARMHOUSE GARDEN Enfield EN2 9DY
Tuesday 16 July
This afternoon visit is to a two-acre garden planted in 2000 adjoining a 1650s farmhouse. The garden owner, Alison Green, has designed a number of garden rooms with a variety planting styles. We hope to add on a visit to a nearby perennial nursery afterwards. The visit will commence at 2 pm priced at £13 pp, afternoon tea included.
Booking form online here.
This afternoon visit is to a two-acre garden planted in 2000 adjoining a 1650s farmhouse. The garden owner, Alison Green, has designed a number of garden rooms with a variety planting styles. We hope to add on a visit to a nearby perennial nursery afterwards. The visit will commence at 2 pm priced at £13 pp, afternoon tea included.
Booking form online here.
GARDENS OF LAZIO, Italy 2019
Monday 30 September - Monday 7 October
Following the popularity of the 2018 autumn visit to gardens in the area around Rome, MPG will offer a similar seven-night visit in 2019, starting with three nights in Viterbo followed by four nights in Frascati. The focus will be on famous historic gardens. The cost is expected to be £970 per person sharing with single occupancy supplement of £200. Flights are not included. This tour has, once again, proved so popular that it is fully booked so we may repeat it in 2020. To register interest for 2020 please email Heather Martin.
Following the popularity of the 2018 autumn visit to gardens in the area around Rome, MPG will offer a similar seven-night visit in 2019, starting with three nights in Viterbo followed by four nights in Frascati. The focus will be on famous historic gardens. The cost is expected to be £970 per person sharing with single occupancy supplement of £200. Flights are not included. This tour has, once again, proved so popular that it is fully booked so we may repeat it in 2020. To register interest for 2020 please email Heather Martin.
CRETE, 2019
Thursday 17 - Thursday 24 October (to be confirmed)
MPG's most recent visit to Crete was in spring 2016 and - in order to benefit from John Fielding's knowledge of the flora of the island throughout the year - we will return there for an autumn visit, probably based in Omalos and Plakias. Autumn is sometimes called "a second spring" in Greeece because many plants come into flower following the first rains after the summer. More information will be available in spring 2019. This photo of the Cretan endemic Crocus laevigatus was taken on 19 October 2018 by member Roger Foden on the plain above the village of Aktounta.
MPG's most recent visit to Crete was in spring 2016 and - in order to benefit from John Fielding's knowledge of the flora of the island throughout the year - we will return there for an autumn visit, probably based in Omalos and Plakias. Autumn is sometimes called "a second spring" in Greeece because many plants come into flower following the first rains after the summer. More information will be available in spring 2019. This photo of the Cretan endemic Crocus laevigatus was taken on 19 October 2018 by member Roger Foden on the plain above the village of Aktounta.
SUMMER GARDENS TOUR, 2020
Sunday 28 June 2020 - Thursday 2 July 2020 - advance planning - date for your diaries
Geoff and Maddy Hughes are organising the 2020 summer garden tour in Yorkshire, following our Annual General Meeting. There will be plenty of opportunity to visit gardens, both large and small, and to understand how local gardeners use and adapt Mediterranean plants to the dry conditions of the Vale of York. Members will stay at Hazelwood Castle, near York. Further details, including gardens to be visited will be available later in 2019.
Photo: Hazelwood Castle ©
Geoff and Maddy Hughes are organising the 2020 summer garden tour in Yorkshire, following our Annual General Meeting. There will be plenty of opportunity to visit gardens, both large and small, and to understand how local gardeners use and adapt Mediterranean plants to the dry conditions of the Vale of York. Members will stay at Hazelwood Castle, near York. Further details, including gardens to be visited will be available later in 2019.
Photo: Hazelwood Castle ©