Plants across continents

Friday 20 March – 6 for 6.30pm

Emily Hazell is Head of Plant Collections at the Chelsea Physic Garden. She graduated top of her year in the Kew Diploma and went on to be Head of Horticulture and Curation at Birmingham Botanical Gardens before taking up her current role at Chelsea. Emily will talk about her experience of wild and cultivated Mediterranean plants – covering trips from the Western Cape to the Canaries and plants in gardens and under glass in three botanic gardens.

Italy’s beautiful Gargano

Saturday 11 to Saturday 18 April

The rolling limestone Gargano is not easy to farm so much is relatively untouched and has stunning wildlife including plants, birds, reptiles and insects. A large part was designated a national park in 1991 and includes the highest concentration of wild orchids in Europe, notably varieties of Ophrys (bee orchids). MPG’s expedition should be at a perfect time for wildflowers. It is based in Rodi on the north coast at the Hotel Villa Americana, then at the Palace Hotel San Michele in Monte Sant’Angelo, home of one of the oldest religious shrines in western Europe.

Wild flora of the Greek Rhodope

Thursday 30 April – Thursday 7 May 2026

This tour will start near Thessaloniki and spend the first afternoon looking at cultural sights in the City. We will then spend a day at Lake Kerkini, a major migratory bird location with good plants also. The rest of our time will be in two locations in the Rhodope Mountains. The first will be Drama, where we will visit the River Despatis in a beautiful gorge and then Mt Phalakron, the highest mountain in the Rhodope. Then via Mt Pangeon we will go to our second location, Komnina and there visit the Haidou Forest and the Nestos Gorge. The tour will be guided by experienced specialist Oron Peri. We shall travel in two minibuses and the cost is expected to be £1290 with a single supplement of £190. Maximum 13 members.

Early entry RHS Chelsea

Tuesday 19 May – 06.30

The most magical way to go to RHS Chelsea Flower Show is on the first day, starting not long after dawn when the showground is populated only by staff, judges and a few attentive exhibitors watering and tweaking their stands. Enter at half past six, walk round with hardly anyone else there then, when the public begin to be let in, adjourn for a cooked breakfast with a glass of Champagne at a reserved table. Members only. £198 but contact Heather Martin before paying as places are limited.

Bere Mill and Hardy’s nursery

Thursday 28 May 2026

MPG members Rupert and Elizabeth Nabarro have created the gardens at Bere Mill near Whitchurch, Hampshire with Mediterranean and herbaceous borders, irises, tree peonies and magnolias and small arboretums. Rupert will show us round. A light lunch will be provided at a pub, then we’ll go on to Hardy’s Cottage Garden Plants, a leading nursery for plantsmen, all within five minutes’ drive of Bere Mill.

Theobalds Farmhouse Enfield EN2 9DY

Thursday 9 July

We are looking forward to visiting this very interesting 2-acre garden in Enfield to discover new developments and enjoy the delightful mix of garden rooms and planting.
The afternoon visit makes for a very enjoyable chance to meet other MPG members and concludes with a homemade cake and tea in the garden around 5pm. £20 pp.