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MEMBERS' REPORTS
Here you will find links to illustrated reports or brief summaries of past excursions and events Bursary reports are here.
VISIT TO RHS LINDLEY LIBRARY, VINCENT SQUARE, LONDON
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Monday 25 November 2019
MPG members had an interesting tour of the RHS Lindley Library archive. We saw a small sample of the vast store of books - an edition of Gerard’s Herbal, the seed catalogue drawn by Ernst Benary and an insight into the early world of garden design in the book ‘A new orchard and garden’ first published 1618 ... more |
PLANT-HUNTING IN CRETE
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Thursday 17 October - Thursday 24 October 2019
Another wonderful trip to Crete led by expert John Fielding. Despite a very dry autumn, members found plenty of interest. Read Jane Furse's account here |
SECOND LAZIO TOUR
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Friday 30 September - Friday 7 October 2019
We offered members another chance to visit Lazio and the tour was, once again, fully booked. Some repeat visits and some new gardens to see. Geoff Hughes and Anne Rendell have put together a beautiful report here |
MONA'S GARDEN
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Saturday 17 August 2019
It was a sunny Saturday for the MPG members to visit the exotic garden of MPG member Mona Abboud who was kindly hosted us for our second visit. Mona was generous with her time and plant stories explaining how she topiarises things to fit the garden. "My garden treads a fine line between messy and natural" she jokes. This year again Monas contributed the money raised to the MPG bursary fund and to Plant Heritage. More photos here. See also www.monasgarden.co.uk |
THEOBALD’S FARMHOUSE
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Wednesday 17 July 2019
A full and illustrated report from Sue Tymon can be seen here |
DORSET SUMMER GARDENS
SIR HAROLD HILLIER GARDENS AND CADLAND
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Wednesday 12 June 2019 Several members to the opportunity of a private tour of Sir Harold Hillier's famous Gardens by the current curator David Jewell and also the first curator of the Gardens, Roy Lancaster, OBE. Members then visited the gardens at Cadland, at the invitation of member Gilly Drummond. The report of the day can be found here |
VISIT TO CATALONIA
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Sunday 19 - Saturday 27 May 2019 Twenty-four members had an interesting and enjoyable trip to north-eastern Spain - Barcelona, gardens around the Costa Brava, plant-hunting in the Montseny National Park and a special private garden in the mountains further north. Read more ... |
BOTANISING IN THE MAREMMA
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Sunday 5 to Saturday 11 May 2019 Our first plant-hunting trip in Italy was a memorable experience for members who walked, in almost perfect weather, the beautiful limestone hills and pine forests of the area led by professional botanist, Goffredo Filibeck. Finds included such as Orchis morio (left). Heather Martin's report can be found here |
SPRING FLOWERS IN PELOPONNESE
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Thursday 21 to Thursday 28 March 2019
At the end of March MPG members spent a spectacular botanising week, with excellent weather, in the Peloponnese region of Greece. Vida Svahnström held an MPG bursary for this trip. Her beautifully illustrated report can be seen here. Vida says, " “It was the most productive, well planned, and enjoyable botanising trip I have ever been on. Most of the trip was spent hunting for native wildflowers and other plants in stunning natural landscapes with our very knowledgeable and helpful guide John Fielding" |
CHISWICK HOUSE TOUR
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Friday 8 March 2019
In mid March MPG were given a guided tour of the Camellia house with Head Gardener Geraldine King. The conservatory, built for the 6th Duke of Devonshire in 1820, was originally designed for growing fruit but by 1828 they grew the fashionable camellias form China, Korea and Vietnam. On display is a lovely collection of very old varieties, Camellia rubra plena being one of the original plants. This was followed by a tour of the gardens, propagation area and the Palladian house and we got to purchase some special camellias propagated by Geraldine’s team. |
VISIT TO CAMBRIDGE BOTANIC GARDENS and ORCHID HOUSE
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Thursday 28 February 2019
Organised by Denise Pawlett, our group of 25 members was split and led by three very knowledgeable volunteer tour guides around the heritage listed garden. On a lovely winter afternoon we discovered the rare and notable plants of the garden more .... |
BOTANISING IN THE DRAKENSBERG AND CAPE TOWN
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Wednesday 7 - Wednesday 21 February 2019
Members had a wonderful tour of South Africa in February, visiting the Drakensberg and Cape Town, botanising. Becky Cross was awarded an MPG Bursary to help her to fund this trip. You can read her illustrated report here |
LAZIO TOUR OF GARDENS
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Sunday 14 - Friday 19 October 2018
In the autumn members visited nine classic gardens in the Lazio area of Italy, from Hadrian's summer villa dating back to c110 BC to the fascinating and astonishing gardens of the Sacro Bosco, with amazing oversized sculptures and Villa Lante, featuring a water chain, thought to be the first in horticulture. Read Celia Jones' report here. All Guy Cheeseman's beautiful images from this tour can be viewed here click on 'Lazio' and then the monitor icon. |
MONA'S GARDEN
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Saturday 8 September 2018
In early September 25 members visited the exceptional garden of one of our members – Mona Abboud, after meeting for lunch nearby. Mona’s Garden, in north London, has been created entirely by opera singer Mona herself and contains a tremendous range of plants, many from the southern hemisphere and Mediterranean-climate areas. Mona contributed all the money raised to the MPG bursary fund, Plant Heritage and the NGS. See www.monasgarden.co.uk |
BURSARY REPORT
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Thursday 30 - Friday 31 August 2018
Shelley O'Berg was awarded an MPG bursary to attend the Beth Chatto Symposium entitled 'Ecological Planting in the 21st Century'. There were a number of speakers including Olivier Filippi, Dan Pearson, and the director of horticulture of the High Line in New York, Andi Pettis. You can read Shelley's report here. |
LULLINGSTONE CASTLE, WORLD GARDEN
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Monday 6 August 2018
Tom Hart Dyke showed us around his garden at Lullingstone Castle. He designed it in his head while held hostage in the Colombian jungle in 2005, after being captured when he was hunting plants in the Darien Gap. Once released, he implemented his design in the walled garden of his home. The area is divided into continents and includes a collection of Mediterranean plants mostly grown from seed including the national collection of Eucalyptus. Cacti, orchids and other tender plants are housed in special hothouses. |
GARDEN VISITS, DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY
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Sunday 24 – Thursday 28 June 2018
Members travelled to Scotland for the Annual General Meeting this year. This was followed by visits to some interesting gardens, both private and public where many of us were enticed to buy plants to take home. Briony Marriott's report can be seen here. You may also like to view the gallery of Flickr photographs of this visit from member, Guy Cheeseman ...more |
TOM STUART-SMITH'S BARN GARDEN
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Monday 18 June 2018
On one of the first very warm days of summer members gathered near Kings Langley for a guided tour around The Barn and Serge Hill, the gardens of landscape architect and garden designer, Tom Stuart-Smith and his sister Kate. Tom's repeat planting combines naturalism and modernity and make for a fresh look with plants very much in the water-wise gardening style ....more |
CHELSEA VISIT
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Tuesday 22 May 2018
Many members took up the opportunity to visit the Chelsea Flower Show early on Members' Day, with entry to the grounds at 6.30am. |
FULHAM PALACE GARDEN TOUR
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Saturday 19 May 2018
The tour of Fulham Palace Gardens, sited alongside the Thames, was guided by volunteer Jane Swithinbank who explained the importance of the site. Bishop Henry Compton (b 1632) was one of the botanising bishops, said to have selected missionaries for their botanising skills. His most talented and prolific protégé was John Bannister, who sent back seeds and specimens from North America, North West Africa, Gibraltar, India, the Virgin Islands and West Indies. Finds included seeds of Cedrus atlantica, Sequoiadendron giganticum, Liquidambar and Quercus coccinea. A highlight was the walled garden with its Wisteria from the late 1800s and the restored glass house. |
COSTA BLANCA, SPAIN
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Sunday 15 - Sunday 22 April 2018
Members had a memorable visit to the Elche and Denia areas of the Costa Blanca - visiting inland wild flower areas, a government research station with botanic garden, the palm groves of the city of Elche, private gardens owned by Spanish residents, a Moorish Tea Garden designed in the style of Granada's Alhambra, and two of the famous gardens of Valencia. All interspersed with delicious meals. The illustrated report from Caroline Bilsby is available here. Photo: Guy Cheeseman |
CHARMED LIVES AT THE BRITISH MUSEUM
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Saturday 24 March 2018
Members visited an interesting exhibition documenting the lives of Patrick Leigh Fermor, John Craxton and Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghika which has been on from March to July at the British Museum. Its focus is the art and friendship of these three men in post-war Greece. The exhibition was built around the places they lived: Ghika, on the island of Hydra, Leigh Fermor in Kardamyli and Craxton's home in Crete. Artwork, photographs, writings and other memorabilia give an insight into their interlinked. Members enjoyed an excellent lunch afterwards. |
SPRING WALK - HIGHGROVE
© Highgrove
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Thursday 15 March 2018
Planning a UK garden visit in March risks bad weather but the weather was perfect for our visit to Highgrove. The woodland garden with Cyclamen coum and scillas looked particularly good. The skill of the gardeners in the walled garden drew lots of positive remarks and the framework created by the topiary in parts of the garden near the house was very impressive. The opportunity to spend time talking to the head gardener Debs Goodenough was an unexpected pleasure. All in all a very enjoyable visit. |
TENERIFE - AN ISLAND OF CLIMATIC CONTRASTS
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Sunday 25 February - Sunday 4 March 2018
Members were guided on this trip by Oron Peri. They visited the laurel forests of Anaga, the volcanic plateau, coastal plains, pine forests, green valleys and botanic gardens. The picture, taken in the Park of the Dragon Tree, Icod de los Vinos, shows the iconic Dracaena drago in the foreground and snow-covered Mount Teide in the background. You can read about the trip here. Jenny Bovaird's report of a previous lecture on the island's plants may also be of interest. |
BULB HUNTING IN GREECE
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November 2017
A group of members went from Athens to Nafplio and on to the southern Peloponnese for a bulb-hunting trip led by John Fielding. Our first bursary recipient, Becky Cross, seen left with Sternbergia at the top of the ancient site of Mystra, has written an illustrated diary of the trip which can be found here. |
BUCKINGHAM PALACE GARDENS
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Saturday 5 August 2017
Members met up for a privileged tour around the private gardens of Buckingham Palace with the head gardener, Mark Lane. The gardens hold the National Collection of Morus, (mulberry), with 34 named varieties across all the royal gardens. There were many delights including an interesting Buddleja nivea from China. |
LAMBETH PALACE VISIT
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Monday 17 July 2017
30 members visited the 10-acre private gardens of Lambeth Palace. Nick Stewart, head gardener, pointed out ancient trees dating from the Reformation, Mediterranean plants such as Plumbago and Alyogne and explained the history of the garden. Highlights included the stunning herb garden, shady border and terracotta pots made for the archbishop and bearing his crest. Christopher Woodward, director of the Garden Museum, talked about the museum, showed us the Dan Pearson garden, and Tradescant's collection. |
ISLE OF WIGHT TOUR
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Sunday 25 to Wednesday 28 June 2017
Members met on the Sunday for our AGM. This was followed, over the next three days, by a tour of some wonderful gardens, mostly private ones not regularly open to the public, but also including the Ventnor Botanic Gardens, shown to the left, and the gardens of Osborne House. A full report can be found here. |
EARLY BIRD VISIT TO RHS CHELSEA
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Tuesday 23 May 2017
Members took advantage of Manoj Malde's invitation to visit the Chelsea Flower Show before the crowds: at 6.30 in the morning on the Tuesday, before the results of the judging were announced. It was a beautiful summer day and of course everything was looking at its absolute best. We all felt very privileged to have this unusual opportunity, including a Champagne breakfast after the gates had opened to the general public. Manoj's beautiful 'Beneath a Mexican Sky' garden won Silver Gilt. |
GARDEN TOUR IN THE SOUTH OF FRANCE
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Friday 5 - Wednesday 10 May 2017
Sue Bennison's illustrated report describes the tour of gardens in Provence, organised by Guy Cheeseman. The group included members from Australia, Spain and South Africa and visited gardens including La Louve and Olivier Filippi's Nursery. The picture shows Olivier's demonstration garden. To read the report click here |
WALKS AND ENDEMIC PLANTS ON THE GREEK ISLAND OF EVIA
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Saturday 29 April to Saturday 6 May 2017
MPG's visit to Greece’s second largest island. Members from UK, Greece and Belgium made up the group. Pictured left is the rare endemic Campanula celsii subsp. carystea . Full report here. |
VISIT TO ECCLESTON SQUARE GARDENS, LONDON - HOME OF THE NATIONAL COLLECTION OF CEANOTHUS
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Friday 28 April 2017
Members visited one of the largest private gardens in a London square, shown round by Roger Phillips. Roger has managed the garden for decades and his expertise - combined with the input from more than one head gardener from the southern hemisphere - make this a precious sanctuary. The privacy inside the garden resulting from luxuriant planting on the perimeter amazed some of our members. Members lunched together after the visit. See our gallery of images. |
THE NORTH LONDON GARDEN OF BOTANIST E.A.BOWLES
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Thursday 13 April 2017
Members had a great day out on Maundy Thursday to the Myddleton House Garden of the celebrated horticulturist E. A. Bowles. James Hall, the head gardener, gave a memorable tour and had much to show including a dry gravel garden trying many Mediterranean plants including Nerium outside. The image shows a lovely Thunbergia in the greenhouse. (Photo: Stephen Jury) |
PLANT HUNTING IN JORDAN
MEDITERRANEAN BULBS AT KEW
Tuesday 28 February 2017
Nearly 40 members went to look at Mediterranean and other bulbs at Kew in February. They were shown round by Tom Freeth, Rock Garden, Alpine and Aquatics Supervisor, and Kit Strange, a highly experienced horticulturist. The visit included the Davies Alpine House and surrounding rockery, with the extra bonus of going into the Bulb Yard not normally open to the public. John Fielding's illustrated report can be read here
Nearly 40 members went to look at Mediterranean and other bulbs at Kew in February. They were shown round by Tom Freeth, Rock Garden, Alpine and Aquatics Supervisor, and Kit Strange, a highly experienced horticulturist. The visit included the Davies Alpine House and surrounding rockery, with the extra bonus of going into the Bulb Yard not normally open to the public. John Fielding's illustrated report can be read here
WINTER MEETING, CHELSEA PHYSIC GARDEN
Saturday 20 January 2017
Guest speaker in the afternoon was John Grimshaw on the theme Broadening the horizons - Looking beyond the Mediterranean for Mediterranean plants, giving members exotic ideas from other continents for Mediterranean basin or even UK gardens. In the morning members looked round the Chelsea Physic Gardens, had structured opportunity to put forward ideas on MPG's future programme of events, within the UK and overseas and heard a bit about 2016 events from John Fielding. The meetings and lunch were attended by more than 60 members.
Guest speaker in the afternoon was John Grimshaw on the theme Broadening the horizons - Looking beyond the Mediterranean for Mediterranean plants, giving members exotic ideas from other continents for Mediterranean basin or even UK gardens. In the morning members looked round the Chelsea Physic Gardens, had structured opportunity to put forward ideas on MPG's future programme of events, within the UK and overseas and heard a bit about 2016 events from John Fielding. The meetings and lunch were attended by more than 60 members.
MEDITERRANEAN VEGETABLES
Saturday 29 October 2016
Members met at Seeds of Italy in Harrow for a talk by Paolo Arrigo UK distributor for Franchi Seeds, a company that has been growing its own seed since 1783. He talked about fast-cropping lettuce, the best tomatoes for eating and cooking, the sweetest red onions, perfect sized tasty pumpkins, Moscard de Provence, how to dry Borlotti beans, grow fresh chick peas and lentils . This was followed by a tasting of delicious homemade pesto Genovese and a wonderful Italian classic sauce ‘Bagna cauda’ made with giant Italian anchovies.
Members met at Seeds of Italy in Harrow for a talk by Paolo Arrigo UK distributor for Franchi Seeds, a company that has been growing its own seed since 1783. He talked about fast-cropping lettuce, the best tomatoes for eating and cooking, the sweetest red onions, perfect sized tasty pumpkins, Moscard de Provence, how to dry Borlotti beans, grow fresh chick peas and lentils . This was followed by a tasting of delicious homemade pesto Genovese and a wonderful Italian classic sauce ‘Bagna cauda’ made with giant Italian anchovies.
RHS WISLEY
Thursday 15 September 2016
On possibly the last summer's day of the year, members made a tour of parts of Wisley’s gardens relevant to the Mediterranean which was beautifully organised by Melvyn Jope.
Some images here
On possibly the last summer's day of the year, members made a tour of parts of Wisley’s gardens relevant to the Mediterranean which was beautifully organised by Melvyn Jope.
Some images here
SUMMER GARDENS TOUR
Sunday 10 July to Thursday 14 July 2016
Members gathered in Norwich for our Annual General Meeting followed by a four-day
tour of nine Norfolk gardens, many of which had a Mediterranean, even tropical, feel.
More ...
Members gathered in Norwich for our Annual General Meeting followed by a four-day
tour of nine Norfolk gardens, many of which had a Mediterranean, even tropical, feel.
More ...
CORIANDER CLUB AND MUSEUM OF THE ORDER OF ST JOHN
July 2016
We visited Spitalfieds City Farm in Brick Lane, London where the ladies of the Coriander Club grow, sell and cook Bangladeshi vegetables. We followed this with a visit to the Herb Garden and Museum of the Order of St John. View images of the day here
We visited Spitalfieds City Farm in Brick Lane, London where the ladies of the Coriander Club grow, sell and cook Bangladeshi vegetables. We followed this with a visit to the Herb Garden and Museum of the Order of St John. View images of the day here
INNS OF COURT GARDENS LONDON
May 2016
Our visit to Inner Temple and Middle Temple Inns of Court gardens, London took place on a beautiful spring day. Read the illustrated account of the day here.
Our visit to Inner Temple and Middle Temple Inns of Court gardens, London took place on a beautiful spring day. Read the illustrated account of the day here.
PLANT HUNTING IN CRETE
April 2016
A visit to look for rare, endemic and interesting plants in Crete with John Fielding as botanical guide. A full report can be found here.
A visit to look for rare, endemic and interesting plants in Crete with John Fielding as botanical guide. A full report can be found here.
GARDENS OF SOUTHERN MOROCCO
March 2016
During our visit to Taroudant, Marrakech, the High Atlas and surrounding areas, we visited beautiful gardens created by enthusiasts of many nationalities, some designed by Eric Ossart and Arnaud Maurieres. We saw the raw, gritty side of the country too, at a poor potters' village, at a weekly market where pitiful animals were suffering, and in an oasis village where women were cracking argan nuts as part of the slow process to produce oil. For a full report click here.
During our visit to Taroudant, Marrakech, the High Atlas and surrounding areas, we visited beautiful gardens created by enthusiasts of many nationalities, some designed by Eric Ossart and Arnaud Maurieres. We saw the raw, gritty side of the country too, at a poor potters' village, at a weekly market where pitiful animals were suffering, and in an oasis village where women were cracking argan nuts as part of the slow process to produce oil. For a full report click here.
winter meeting
January 2016
Oron Peri, specialist in geophytes and a hunter of beautiful and rare plants, gave two fascinating lectures to the Winter Meeting on 23 January. A recording of Oron's two lectures with illustrations is available here.
Oron Peri, specialist in geophytes and a hunter of beautiful and rare plants, gave two fascinating lectures to the Winter Meeting on 23 January. A recording of Oron's two lectures with illustrations is available here.
visit to rbg kEW
November 2015
Members visited the Alpine House and Princess of Wales glasshouse, seeing many bulbs in flower and other plants including Hypericum aegypticum, restricted to parts of Crete and north Africa in the wild. John Fielding, Rossana Porta and Gareth Stanfield showed us the Mediterranean planting, on which Rossana, a Kew horticulturist until 2012, had worked in 2007. Three areas of trees – olives, cork oaks and stone pines – predominate, with a cistus collection on the slopes up to the King William Temple. Picture shows Lynne Leveson, Gareth, John and Denise Pawlett.
Members visited the Alpine House and Princess of Wales glasshouse, seeing many bulbs in flower and other plants including Hypericum aegypticum, restricted to parts of Crete and north Africa in the wild. John Fielding, Rossana Porta and Gareth Stanfield showed us the Mediterranean planting, on which Rossana, a Kew horticulturist until 2012, had worked in 2007. Three areas of trees – olives, cork oaks and stone pines – predominate, with a cistus collection on the slopes up to the King William Temple. Picture shows Lynne Leveson, Gareth, John and Denise Pawlett.
SOUTH AFRICA TRIP
August/September 2015
This trip, led by Charles Smith, began by exploring Cape Town and taking a cable car up Table Mountain. Over the next 12 days the tour visited Kirstenbosch National Botanic Garden, the Cape of Good Hope, Clan William, Nieuwoodtville, Namaqualand, noted for fabulous wild flowers, the Babylonstoren garden, Springbok and Stellenbosch. A slide show of photographs is available here. Read Charles' diary of the trip here. Photo: Faith Butt
This trip, led by Charles Smith, began by exploring Cape Town and taking a cable car up Table Mountain. Over the next 12 days the tour visited Kirstenbosch National Botanic Garden, the Cape of Good Hope, Clan William, Nieuwoodtville, Namaqualand, noted for fabulous wild flowers, the Babylonstoren garden, Springbok and Stellenbosch. A slide show of photographs is available here. Read Charles' diary of the trip here. Photo: Faith Butt
QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK, LONDON
July 2015
Twenty years ago it was a dumping ground for abandoned cars and old fridges where the 2012 Olympic Games were held. Now a stunning park provides employment and is used by thousands of local residents. One of the largest MPG London groups visited the park on 18 July, led by three specialists now maintaining the areas and Andy Churchman, head gardener of the South Park. See John Fielding's images in the Gallery including the UK's tallest sculpture (the ArcelorMittal Orbit).
Twenty years ago it was a dumping ground for abandoned cars and old fridges where the 2012 Olympic Games were held. Now a stunning park provides employment and is used by thousands of local residents. One of the largest MPG London groups visited the park on 18 July, led by three specialists now maintaining the areas and Andy Churchman, head gardener of the South Park. See John Fielding's images in the Gallery including the UK's tallest sculpture (the ArcelorMittal Orbit).
POST-AGM GARDEN TOUR
July 2015
Our Sunday evening AGM was followed by two and a half days of visits to gardens including the famous Bryan’s Ground owned by David Wheeler and Simon Dorrell, the Laskett owned by Sir Roy Strong, both in Herefordshire, and Allt-y-Bela just over the border in Wales created by Arne Maynard. An article about the gardens can be found here. The very popular programme was organised by Sue Bennison and attended by 50 members. The picture here shows Sir Roy Strong with MPG chairman Heather Martin. More images by Guy Cheeseman may be viewed here.
Our Sunday evening AGM was followed by two and a half days of visits to gardens including the famous Bryan’s Ground owned by David Wheeler and Simon Dorrell, the Laskett owned by Sir Roy Strong, both in Herefordshire, and Allt-y-Bela just over the border in Wales created by Arne Maynard. An article about the gardens can be found here. The very popular programme was organised by Sue Bennison and attended by 50 members. The picture here shows Sir Roy Strong with MPG chairman Heather Martin. More images by Guy Cheeseman may be viewed here.
WILD FLOWERS OF ARMENIA
June 2015
MPG's visit to discover the rich endemic flora of Armenia, led by Dr Anna Asatryan, senior researcher at the Institute of Botany, National Academy of Sciences, consisted of eight full days visiting contrasting habitats. Here Caroline Bilsby is photographing Anemone fasciculata in a wet meadow. Members walked in the hills near Dilijan, beside ancient monasteries, on the shores of Lake Sevan, and on mountain slopes south of Goris at over 3100 metres where a huge variety of plants were observed. Read John Fielding's illustrated report of the trip here.
MPG's visit to discover the rich endemic flora of Armenia, led by Dr Anna Asatryan, senior researcher at the Institute of Botany, National Academy of Sciences, consisted of eight full days visiting contrasting habitats. Here Caroline Bilsby is photographing Anemone fasciculata in a wet meadow. Members walked in the hills near Dilijan, beside ancient monasteries, on the shores of Lake Sevan, and on mountain slopes south of Goris at over 3100 metres where a huge variety of plants were observed. Read John Fielding's illustrated report of the trip here.
GARDEN TOUR in northern tuscany
May 2015
Carol Smith and Heather Martin led two groups each with 22 members on consecutive tours based in the beautiful walled city of Lucca. As well as grand villas such as Villa Oliva (left), the visits included many to private gardens ranging from tiny ones in the old hillside village of Buggiano Castello to magnificent ones of Italian, British and Dutch plant lovers, and a citrus nursery. An illustrated account, notes and pictures can be seen here. More photographs here.
Carol Smith and Heather Martin led two groups each with 22 members on consecutive tours based in the beautiful walled city of Lucca. As well as grand villas such as Villa Oliva (left), the visits included many to private gardens ranging from tiny ones in the old hillside village of Buggiano Castello to magnificent ones of Italian, British and Dutch plant lovers, and a citrus nursery. An illustrated account, notes and pictures can be seen here. More photographs here.
CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW win for 'perfumer's garden in grasse'
May 2015
Members of MPG and sister associations in France and Portugal arrived at the Chelsea Flower Show at 6.30 am on Tuesday 19 May, thanks to an invitation from James Basson's company Scape Design. Scape won a Gold for its main show garden "Perfumer's Garden in Grasse".
“It was a dream. Having gone to Chelsea almost every year for the past 50, I can definitely say that this was our best ever visit,” writes Rosemary Halford who sent this picture of James’s gold-winning garden.
Members of MPG and sister associations in France and Portugal arrived at the Chelsea Flower Show at 6.30 am on Tuesday 19 May, thanks to an invitation from James Basson's company Scape Design. Scape won a Gold for its main show garden "Perfumer's Garden in Grasse".
“It was a dream. Having gone to Chelsea almost every year for the past 50, I can definitely say that this was our best ever visit,” writes Rosemary Halford who sent this picture of James’s gold-winning garden.
CLEVELAND SQUARE
April 2015
Members met at Sue Baring's beautiful home in Cleveland Square, London, on Friday 24 April for a garden visit. After coffee on the south-facing terrace, members divided into two groups for guided tours and explanations of the planting and the problems of shade, honey fungus and children playing football. The guides were experts: garden manager Suzanne Etherton and head gardener James Leonard. Most of the group went on to have lunch nearby. A full report may be seen here.
Members met at Sue Baring's beautiful home in Cleveland Square, London, on Friday 24 April for a garden visit. After coffee on the south-facing terrace, members divided into two groups for guided tours and explanations of the planting and the problems of shade, honey fungus and children playing football. The guides were experts: garden manager Suzanne Etherton and head gardener James Leonard. Most of the group went on to have lunch nearby. A full report may be seen here.
CITY GARDENS
March 2015
A group of members visited the Barbican Conservatory in the morning then after an early lunch were led by professional guide Tina Baxter to see a side of London most had not known before. Tina is also a volunteer with Friends of City Gardens and gave a lively and knowledgeable insight as well as taking the group to some gardens not normally open to the public.
A group of members visited the Barbican Conservatory in the morning then after an early lunch were led by professional guide Tina Baxter to see a side of London most had not known before. Tina is also a volunteer with Friends of City Gardens and gave a lively and knowledgeable insight as well as taking the group to some gardens not normally open to the public.
Salvias and Lavenders
North West Kent, 2014
We enjoyed exceptionally interesting visits to two Kent gems of specialist excellence on a cloudless summer day. Firstly, the Great Comp Garden and Dyson Nurseries followed by the Downderry Lavender Nursery. For details of the visit please click here.
We enjoyed exceptionally interesting visits to two Kent gems of specialist excellence on a cloudless summer day. Firstly, the Great Comp Garden and Dyson Nurseries followed by the Downderry Lavender Nursery. For details of the visit please click here.
The Pergola
Hill Garden and Golders Hill Park, 2014
Gareth Stanfield, a professional gardener who worked in the Hill Garden planting in the 1990s, led a visit to the Pergola at the Hill Garden, Hampstead Heath. The garden was originally created between 1906 and 1925 and was restored from 1992 using cultivars that would have been present in the Edwardian era. The kitchen garden was designed to incorporate low-maintenance plants. We went on to visit the area of Mediterranean planting in Golders Hill Park, before lunch at the Old Bull and Bush. Our Gallery has further images.
Gareth Stanfield, a professional gardener who worked in the Hill Garden planting in the 1990s, led a visit to the Pergola at the Hill Garden, Hampstead Heath. The garden was originally created between 1906 and 1925 and was restored from 1992 using cultivars that would have been present in the Edwardian era. The kitchen garden was designed to incorporate low-maintenance plants. We went on to visit the area of Mediterranean planting in Golders Hill Park, before lunch at the Old Bull and Bush. Our Gallery has further images.
Garden and Nursery Visits
Lincolnshire, 2014
A programme of visits to gardens and nurseries, with two evening talks by recognised specialists, one on peonies and one on lavenders. Accommodation near the cathedral. Please click here for the full article.
A programme of visits to gardens and nurseries, with two evening talks by recognised specialists, one on peonies and one on lavenders. Accommodation near the cathedral. Please click here for the full article.
Crete Trip
April 2014
In April 2014 Heather Martin organised a one-week trip to Crete, with John Fielding as the botanical guide. Click here for a beautifully illustrated article by John. Further pictures taken in the same week by Roger Foden may be seen here.
In April 2014 Heather Martin organised a one-week trip to Crete, with John Fielding as the botanical guide. Click here for a beautifully illustrated article by John. Further pictures taken in the same week by Roger Foden may be seen here.
Cornwall and Tresco
April 2014
A group of 16 visited Cornwall in the first week of April 2014, and spent one day at the Abbey Gardens on Tresco. The group was shown round by owners and head gardeners. Click here for the full article.
A group of 16 visited Cornwall in the first week of April 2014, and spent one day at the Abbey Gardens on Tresco. The group was shown round by owners and head gardeners. Click here for the full article.
MONTENEGRO
May 2012
A group organised by Heather Martin and John Fielding visited Montenegro. You can read John's diary of their trip here.
A group organised by Heather Martin and John Fielding visited Montenegro. You can read John's diary of their trip here.