News

Early this week extreme heat, low humidity and wind kicked off fires in eastern Spain near the homes of several MPG members. Around Javea, Denia and from the Tarbena area some 200 people fled their homes. Picture shows fire starting in Tarbena at the weekend.

Congratulations to MPG member Melvyn Jope, who has been awarded the 2023 Jim Archibald Award! This is given annually by the RHS Alpine and Rock Garden Plant Committee in recognition of significant personal achievement relating to rock garden and alpine plants within the committee’s remit. Melvyn was nominated not only for his significant contribution over many years promoting cyclamen, but also for his research and leadership of field trips, involvement with MPG along with several other plant societies, and much more besides. A worthy recipient indeed. Photo by Sona Harrap shows Melvyn with Himantoglossum robertianum on the recent MPG wild flower tour of Cyprus

Stephen Cole sadly cannot continue in this role and so Andrew Mayo has agreed to take it on. Andrew had a career in business and academia, but has had a 50-year interest in plants of all kinds, particularly in alpines and Mediterranean flora. He chaired an Alpine Garden Society branch for 25 years. He created a garden In Cyprus over 20 years and now has a “natives” garden in SW Australia where he spends half the year and continues to learn about the amazing flora there. He has travelled widely, with 44 years walking in the European mountains with a friend, and recently joining various botanical tours. In February this year he led the MPG tour in western Cyprus.

Matthew Pottage is moving in May to be head of horticulture and landscape strategy at the Royal Parks, which include Bushy Park, Green Park, Richmond Park and Brompton Cemetery, after 20 years at RHS Wisley where he has been curator for nine years. Matthew was the youngest ever curator when appointed but had been at Wisley for 11 years before that. MPG benefitted from Matthew’s guidance at Wisley especially during our visit in September 2016 when he showed members round and gave a fascinating talk. Photo credit: RHS / Lee Charlton

John Grimshaw, MPG guest speaker in 2017 and now director and curator of the Yorkshire Arboretum, was awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honours List for services to tree health and conservation. Thanks to John Fielding for the photo.

After months of all-day work on the bulbs in his nursery, plant-loving MPG member and tour leader Oron Peri is now in Canada giving talks about Alpines and bulbs of the Mediterranean. He starts today in St John’s, Newfoundland, then goes on to Halifax (Nova Scotia), Montreal, Victoria B.C., Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa and finally Toronto. Picture shows Allium callimischon ssp. haemostictum, found in Greece and Albania as well as in Oron’s nursery in northern Israel where the photo was taken. Our thanks to Oron for letting us use his image.