Plant hunting in Croatia

Saturday 22 to Saturday 29 April

Members will have a tour of Croatia in two minibuses, starting and finishing at Dubrovnik airport. The event is primarily botanical with some sightseeing in old Dubrovnik and a visit to a school with an interesting botanical garden further north. As well as exploring Mediterranean-climate areas near the sea, there will be days in the Velebit highlands and Plitvice National Park. The trip is timed to catch interesting orchids and bulbs.

Gardens of western Sicily

Monday 8 – Monday 15 May 2023

This trip to western Sicily will feature visits to public and private gardens in Palermo and western Sicily, including Palermo Botanical Garden, gardens of historic villas close to Palermo and a historic family-owned villa garden restored by MPG member Alison Richards. We will also visit the ancient Greek sites of Segesta and Selinunte. The trip will be led by local horticulturist, Sergio Cumitini.

Accommodation for the first four nights will be in Palermo, followed by three nights in Trapani.

Earlybird opportunity at Chelsea Flower Show

Tuesday 23 May – 06.30 until 20.00

A limited number of tickets are available for members on the first Members’ Day of RHS Chelsea, with very early entry so members can have nearly two hours with almost nobody else in the showground. Tickets are £159 per person and include full breakfast with Buck’s Fizz or sparkling wine at a table reserved for our group in the Ranelagh Restaurant with views over the showground. Email Heather Martin  to apply for a ticket.

Epirus: Plant and scenic beauties

Sunday 28 May – Tuesday 6 June 2023 (nine nights)

Spring comes relatively late to the mountains of northern Greece so the lovely long days of late May and early June make it a perfect time to discover the rich flora, deep valleys, old stone bridges and villages of Epirus. Our guide will be Graham Kendall who has led botanical tours to this area for several years.

Essex summer garden tour

Sunday 25 – Thursday 29 June 2023 

Next June’s trip is to Essex, the driest county in the UK so ideally suited to our interest in Mediterranean plants and gardens. We will stay at Wivenhoe House, a delightful 18th century four-star hotel in historic parkland near Colchester. Each day we visit a variety of gardens.

Cheshire summer garden tour

Monday 8 – Thursday 11 July 2024

Our 2024 summer trip is to Cheshire, where we will have the opportunity to visit a number of renown gardens including Ness Botanic Gardens, Arley Hall, and RHS Bridgewater together with a variety of private gardens, not usually open to the public. We will stay at Nunsmere Hall, a delightful country house hotel, which was built for an Edwardian shipping magnate, and still retains some original features. More details regarding the event and booking will be available in early September 2023.