MPG Christmas Quiz
Wednesday 6 December 5.30pm for 6pm via Zoom
We are pleased to have a Christmas quiz this year organised by member John Fielding who is a leading horticulturist and author. Many of you may know John who is a founding member of MPG, has led trips in Greece for us and is a mine of information. This is a relaxed evening focussed on catching up with members and learn about plants often seeing them in situ. No need to worry about getting things wrong as you will be marking your own paper.
Winter Meeting
Saturday 6 January 10.30 for 11.00 via Zoom
Our annual winter meeting is a chance to hear MPG’s plans for 2024 and our activities since the summer 2023 AGM. As our speaker this year we are pleased to have Timothy Walker join us to talk about the flora of north east Turkey. He will concentrate on this corner of the country where many of our common garden plants come from as well as many choice alpine species. He will take us through some 2,000 miles of landscape visiting the Pontic Mountains, the plain of Erzurum and the foothills of Mount Ararat among other places of outstanding beauty.
Wild flora and historic sights of Cyprus
Friday 16 – Friday 23 February 2024 (seven nights)
This tour will have two bases in western Cyprus and will focus on the spring flora, including orchids and geophytes, lovely scenery, walks and some historic sites. The cost will be £620 per person with a single supplement of £180. This includes accommodation, specialist guide, local transport and most meals. Maximum 20 members.
Fabulous and exclusive Corfu gardens
Monday 22 – Monday 29 April 2024
Guided garden visits, wild flower walks, and exploration of picturesque Corfu town. Visits will include Kouloura, Gastouri (pictured) and the Rothschild estate. Participants will be based in a central hotel from which it will be easy to explore the old cobbled streets, historic sights and museums of Corfu town on foot. Expeditions by minibus will be organised to explore further afield. Maximum 20 members. To register interest, please click the button below.
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 renowned 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. Booking is now open.
Autumn bulbs of Lycia
Sunday 20 – Sunday 27 October 2024
We plan to offer a one-week tour in south-west Turkey next year staying in Kalkan, Cirali and Side. There will be visits to Simena, Phaselis and Termessos, for the wild flora as well as for their history. Members should see Colchicum stevenii (shown in the picture), C. boisssieri, C. variegatum, C. sanguicolle, purple-throated Crocus mathewii with white C. cancellatus subsp. lycius, also Sternbergia clusiana and many cyclamen. The leaders will be Chris and Başak Gardner who guided our April 2023 tour in Croatia.