News

It was Medals Day today at the Chelsea Flower Show and our backer for the early-entry tickets, Jacques Amand International, has – exceptionally – won two Gold Medals. The company had two stands, one showing special hardy garden plants and the other tender indoor ones. MPG members arrived from 6.30 am and lapped up the atmosphere and gorgeous displays well before the crowds and rain. John Fielding’s image shows part of one of the Jacques Amand stands in the great pavilion.

Member Kate Burtonwood is one of the specialists in BBC Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time today in a conversation with plantsman and garden designer Chris Beardshaw. Kate is head gardener at Trinity College, Oxford, where the new long border was redesigned by Chris. Listeners’ questions are dealt with by plant hunter Dr Chris Thorogood, who welcomed the MPG group to Oxford Botanic Gardens where he is head of science, at the start of our 2021 visit; Christine Walkden, and Chris Beardshaw. Kate was named earlier this year as one of the top 12 female gardeners by Gardens Illustrated.

As we move from the northern hemisphere’s spring equinox towards the longest day, many countries  recognise Labour Day while in Greece lots of people celebrate nature and flowers on the first day of May. We thank plant-loving Christina Fryle in the Peloponnese for her pretty wreath here.

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.