Mediterranean Garden Society
Mediterranean Garden Society
The Crete Branch of the MGS
The Crete Branch is for those who enjoy mediterranean gardens. Members originate from several different countries and for most of us gardening in the Mediterranean is a new challenge. This mix adds interest to the group as backgrounds and gardening experiences are shared in our adopted new or second homes. Gardening here has been traditionally vegetable and olive cultivation; there are few public gardens. Promoting the aims of the society, we exchange ideas and share experiences of particular plants, water management, propagation methods, and controlling pests and diseases. Valuing the landscape and its flora, our programme of events includes wildflower walks and talks.
Our Branch Head is Annika Kyparissi (biography) . Current and prospective members are welcome to contact Annika by email and to follow the Branch on the MGS Facebook page.
The photograph at the top of this page shows Balos lagoon, western Crete. Famous for its turquoise water and wild natural beauty, the lagoon and its wider environs have rare species of flora and fauna protected by Natura 2000. Photo Sara Gilding
Ελληνικό ιστότοπος του MGS
Forthcoming Events
Monday 25 November - Kefalas
Easy hike through Kefalas forest
We will meet at 10 am in the Kefalas village square then embark on a guided hike by David Capon (ecologist) of about 2 to 2.5 hours. Followed by lunch at a local tavern (Meterizi, Kefalas). Bring: suitable sturdy shoes and, if desired, a hiking pole and some water for on the go. Pre-registration at: annika.mgs@gmail.com
Beginning of December - Omalos/Chania
Trip to the Botanical Park
Our Pre-Christmas get-together. An introductory talk by Annika: review of 2024 and outlook for 2025, wish list: what would you like to see next year? What days and times are best for events (Tuesdays and Thursdays)? Collection of ideas. Hike through the park followed by a meal in the tavern.
Beginning of February - Kalyves Apokoronas
Pruning workshop at Chloroplastes Nursery
Together we will prune various shrubs and trees. Instruction by a trained horticulturist. Combined with a tour of the plant nursery and show garden. More information to follow.
Thematic lectures
In addition, there will be a few opportunities during the year to attend interesting talks on environmental and nature-related topics. These will be organised by David Capon at no charge. Voluntary donations are welcome. The money from the donation box goes to the maintenance of the community hall in Kokkino Chorio. David Capon is an ecologist and deals with various environmental issues here in Crete. Various people will give talks on different topics. The events will be held in the community hall (old school building) in Kokkino Chorio starting at 11.00.
The next three dates for this are:
Thursday 28 November
Our footsteps in the White Mountains. Informative and illustrated talk by local expert and guide Sophie Chapman.
Thursday 23 January
Bob Burlumi will talk about biofarming in the Middle East.
Thursday 6 March
“Orchids and their ecology”
Past Events
May 2024 - Kefalas
Visit to “Cassiopea”
A dozen or so members of the Crete Branch of the MGS spent an entertaining morning touring the garden of “Cassiopea”, a villa overlooking the sea at Kefalas. Andy Lunt, who designed and carried out the work on the garden talked us through his process of designing the garden and bringing it up to its present condition at the commencement of its second summer since completion. Andy came to Crete and joined the MGS a decade ago and has carried out 12 private garden projects over the past six years, this being one of the smaller ones.
The owners of the villa had requested a theme of “colour and interest” on a tight budget. The initial brief was for a drought-tolerant, easy-to-maintain garden with year-round plants flowering in season. Prior to commencing work, an existing reinforced concrete driveway had to be taken up and removed, some semi-mature conifers, Plane trees and Ligustrum had to be cleared, with a new entrance gate and driveway at the top corner of the site stepping down to the villa.
This cleared the sloping area between the pool and the road for development of paths and terraces surrounded by low level plants set amongst a general surfacing of gravel on a permeable membrane for weed control. Several cypresses have been planted, the locations determined partly by choice and partly by the constraints of areas of rock within the garden area.
The extent of demolitions required quite a bit of rubble had to be removed before the work proper could commence. The original driveway and planting divorced the roadside part of the plot from the areas around the house and pool: opening it up has integrated the garden with house and its amenities. Wisteria along the fence to the road will eventually provide the privacy screening that was the requested intent of the original layout.
A shaded barbeque area at the corner of the pool terrace is the fulcrum of the layout, with stepping stones meandering through the garden to link the terraces. The west side of the plot had been partially developed with flagged paths enclosing planting which has largely been cleared, leaving a few existing rose bushes and other plants, whilst the rest of the plot remains in its natural state for the present.
Gravel for the garden came from the Tavronitis River, west of Chania, which has been regularly dredged in recent years to reduce the risk of flooding.
Planting was carried out following completion of the civil works in February and March 2023. Andy’s philosophy is to “plant small” to minimise the risk of failure. The strategy works - failure rate for the new planting was less than 5%, with most plant managing without irrigation. Only a third of the plants are irrigated, mainly the fruit trees. The irrigation is typically set to run for 30 minutes every second day during the summer months. Here is a list of plants used in the design (pdf download).
The owner has installed small stake floodlights to illuminate some of the trees, supplemented by bollard lights along the retaining wall to the new driveway, solar lights along the fence at the west end of the pool terrace, festoon lights under the barbeque canopy and kerosene lanterns that are set out as the occasion requires. The garden was busy with bees and butterflies and a little lizard lives in a gap under the skirting of the villa.
A leisurely tour of the garden was preceded by Andy’s narration of the design, followed by a wide-ranging series of questions about the garden and gardening in general. Andy’s advice follows:
Following a tour of the gardens, members were invited to take cuttings prior to moving on to the Meterizi Taverna Restaurant in Kefalas, where a splendid lunch was enjoyed by all. There was a lot of enthusiasm for another outing in June, details to follow.
Andy’s future plans are to scale back his commercial projects in order to spend more time enjoying life and to concentrate his efforts on completion of his own garden in the villa adjoining “Cassiopea”.
December 2023 - Vamos, Apokoronas
Egyptian Urban Landscapes by Doug Langmead
Our Christmas meeting took place in a cosy atmosphere with cake, tea and coffee in the Donkey Cafe in Vamos.
This time Douglas Langmead took us on a trip to Egypt, into a different Egypt we might think of: wealthy, top end luxury developments with large scale landscaping projects. Doug told us about his daily work as a landscape quality manager in northern Egypt, where he is currently working with Emaar on various major projects.
Emaar is the company that built things like Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the tallest building in the world when it opened. The projects in Egypt are basically new towns, or new suburbs, with thousands of villas and flats in each, with six master projects, two on the Mediterranean coast and four in Cairo.
Landscaping is a major component of these gated communities, with a significant amount of land devoted to recreation and leisure - golf courses, parks, pedestrian trails, beaches and pools. Lush planting lines all the roads and community spaces, whilst homeowners are free to develop their individual plots. The contrasts with the densely crowded cities and litter-strewn villages is stark.
The talk included examples from the developments, discussion of sustainability criteria for selection of plants, planting palettes and irrigation for the various communities. A full report is available to download here as a pdf.
November 2023 - Spili, South Rethymno Region
Exploration, Education, Emersion and the Healing Power of Nature: a tour of Maravel Botanical Gardens
The first MGS event of autumn 2023 was our visit to Maravel Gardens in Spili.
We gathered at Vamos Square, excited for a full day of garden exploration ahead. After a short introduction from Annika we hopped on the bus and started our journey to Spili.
It was a beautiful, clear day and as we climbed up the winding road, we enjoyed the stunning views of the mountain landscape - bathed in sunlight, touched here and there with a splash of autumn colour.
After a journey of about an hour, we pulled through the gate of Marvel Gardens. We take a short break to rest and stretch our legs and then we head out into the park.
The tour began with a short introduction to the history and scope of the garden. The park covers an impressive 7 acres of land and includes over 2.500 species of herbs and medicinal plants - both traditional and exotic. All plants in the garden are selected and combined to make the best out of their useful properties. This includes not only the production plants (herbs, teas and spices) - pollinators and nitrogen fixers create self-sustaining ecosystems and ensure the longevity and vitality of the garden.
Starting down the winding footpath, flanked on either side with aromatic herbs, we make our first stop at the tropical greenhouse. When scanned, the barcodes on the labels provide detailed information about the plants in the garden.
Moving through the lush vegetation we see an intriguing variety of exotic tropical fruit trees, shrubs and aromatic plants. Amongst the standouts here is the Australian Finger Lime plant, which produces small dark green fruits in the shape of a bean pod, filled with jelly-like seeds. The seeds are strongly aromatic, bringing the scent and flavor of lime. We move through lush tropical vegetation in the greenhouse.
We continue down the slope, as our helpful guide gives us a brief overview of the plants we pass along the way - their origins, medicinal uses and interesting facts.
Rose arches decorate the path: Rosehip (Rosa canina) has many beneficial properties and can be made into delicious teas and jams. Origanum dictamnus grows amongst the olive trees and we see Cardamom bush (Elettaria cardamomum).
Stepping off onto an informal path, leading into the mountain tea garden there is Malotira (Cretan Mountain Tea = Sideritis syriaca) growing amongst olive and other fruit trees.
Our next stop – the terraced succulent garden - forms an intriguing focal point amongst the productive landscape. Cacti and succulents in all different shapes and sizes show off the variety of rich ecosystems supported by the Cretan climate.
Beyond their ornamental properties, some species have other uses - for example, the Golden Barrel cactus (Kroenleinia grusonii) is edible, although it is an expensive treat.
A beautiful archway creates shelter and a sense of visual anticipation as the visitor walks into the open area of the succulent garden.
Succulent plants and cacti are arranged sparsely along the slope to accentuate their unique shape and texture - using the features of the natural landscape to create contrast and visual interest
We continue down the slope until we reach the beautiful riverbank - the perfect place for our short break.
The green tea plantation area is located in a special sheltered spot facing the river, to maintain the temperature and humidity levels needed for production. The natural landscape is seamlessly integrated into the garden experience.
We take some time to visit the traditional flour mill from the Venetian period - an impressive monument, which provides insight into the history of the landscape and its importance for local production.
While it is planted with some medicinal species (e.g. Vitex agnus-castus, Equisetum), the area by the river is kept wild and natural with much of the original vegetation still intact.
After a short pause for exploration and recovery, we head back up the slope for the second part of our tour. This path takes us to past the renovated Byzantine church – a fascinating historical remnant, revealing another layer of archaeological significance.
Our last stop on the way up is the distillery, and the production section of the garden. The plants in this area make useful ingredients for different cosmetic purposes – skin and hair treatment, fragrance etc. Rosa damascena trained into archways created an impressive feature in the distillery garden, even outside the blooming period.
The second greenhouse extends the garden’s selection of tropical and exotic plants.
A Chia plant (Salvia hispanica) was in bloom outside the distillery
Finishing our extensive tour, we collapse at Marvel garden's restaurant where awaits an impressive vegetarian spread, along with fine local wines and good conversation.
After lunch and we spend some time at the gift shop where we find a great selection of teas, herbs, essential oils and cosmetics, all produced from the plants in the park. With our shopping done, we pile up on the bus, happy and tired, and we begin our journey back towards Vamos.
We extend our thanks to the staff and management at Marvel Gardens for making our visit both very informative and enjoyable. The tour was a fascinating delve into the world of medicinal flora and after nearly 2 hours of walking we still did not manage to see all areas of the park. Our guide also informed us about a planned expansion of the garden grounds, giving us all the more reason for a repeat visit.
Text and photos by Katerina Ivanova
June 2023 - Kokkino Chorio, Apokoronas
Happy King Kamahamehe Day. A new era, a new garden and new members
Cindy Nelson Tigh and Mike Nixon’s Garden
Sunday 11 June 2023 saw the first meeting of the Crete Branch of the MGS under the new administration of our sole Branch Head, Annika Kyparissi. Welcome Annika, I think I speak for all of the Crete branch members of the MGS in saying we look forward to an equally successful future under your stewardship and guidance.
Annika briefed all in attendance of recent legal developments relating to the MGS charter change and legal requirements required to move matters on to a successful conclusion. Next year is the 30th anniversary of the formation of the MGS, and events to mark the occasion are being explored. It has also been proposed to host the 2024 AGM in Australia, please check out excursions for more details. Annika will also be sending out an email update on the proposed Australia AGM.
Our garden hosts, Cindy and Mike are both new members to the MGS and Cindy is certainly the best example of an enthusiastic amateur gardener with a great can-do determination and eye for planting and garden ornamentation. The day of our garden visit was Hawaii’s national holiday, King Kamahamehe Day and Cindy, a long-time resident of Hawaii themed the day for us, each visitor receiving a lei which is a traditional Hawaiian flower garland and greeting.
After delivering a very informative introduction and first solo talk as BH, Annika handed over to our host Cindy who told us about her 18-month garden journey from scrub land to beautiful garden. Her determination to make real her vision and interpretation of what a Mediterranean garden is to her.
And how developing a good relationship with local suppliers helped make that journey achievable in the short period of time it has taken for her garden to reach its present hiatus.
The poolside rock garden was first to be cleared of invasive grasses, wild bitter almond shrubs and loose rock to clear the ground for planting. Where it was possible, horticultural fabric was pinned down over the cleared red earth and covered in natural riverbed gravel, sourced from the Tavronitis river which is dredged as a flood prevention measure. The purpose of the fabric and gravel is to act as a physical barrier against weeds: Cindy’s garden is a no chemical spray garden.
Accessed by an inviting archway a good example of making a garden into rooms, is this small seating area with the painted white cement around stone slabs which recalls a recent trip to the island of Mykonos. Making a garden that leads to ‘other places’ and recalls memories, feeds the imagination and breaks down the mental barriers of how to fill a barren and flat piece of land.
From a moment in Mykonos to an olive press millstone and aloni threshing circle. The iris in front of the millstone is one of the national flowers of Greece, and so we have a snapshot of three things that bring a Mediterranean garden in Crete, Greece together. All three to do with horticulture and agriculture.
We look forward to visiting this new garden again in the coming years, to see how it develops and blooms and with many lessons learned along the way. Following our visit to Cindy’s Garden in Kokkino Chorio, we retired to Takis, a local taverna in Plaka for a delicious lunch of local food, wine and beer.
The Cretan Branch of the MGS showed its appreciation of our hosts and by way of a thank you for opening their garden, Annika presented them with a local garden centre gift token.
To all who attended, local members and friends, and others who travelled from farther afield, from the east side of the island and even California. Thank you for supporting us, we genuinely appreciate it.
Text by Andrew Lunt
April 2023 - Drapanos, Apokoronas
A farewell to Pontikorma, Valerie and Clive’s Garden in Crete
Valerie has opened her garden to MGS members on several occasions during the 18 years she and Clive have lived in Drapanos. This visit was poignant as it was a double farewell. Val is stepping down as Branch Head, and the house has been sold as it is time for them to move on to a new home and a new phase of life.
Val invited members to see the garden – very lush after a wet spring – to say goodbye, to reflect on how much gardening knowledge has been learned and shared in her 14 years as branch head, and to take away souvenir seedlings and cuttings to enhance their own gardens.
Around 40 members gathered in the sunny Avli on one of the first pleasant days of spring, welcomed by Valerie and Clive. Val described how the garden has evolved from early days of rock removal and bringing in truckloads of soil, displayed photos of the land before the house was built and during construction, and suggested we look at the surrounding fields from the roof to see the difference between the wild hillside and the garden as it is now. She also described the different areas of the garden and suggested different routes to explore.
For the past 18 months Valerie and Annike have been sharing the responsibility of Branch Head, always with the intention of eventually fully handing over the role. Annike thanked Valerie for inviting us, for sharing her experience and passion, and most of all for her enthusiastic efforts creating the strong and lively Crete branch. From early days of a few friends meeting to exchange ideas, information and cuttings, the branch has grown into a lively group, with members as well as the branch heads organising garden visits, talks, and excursions.
Annika used a German expression which suited the occasion perfectly - to leave with one eye crying, and the other eye laughing (about having more time in the UK with family and friends there).
Everyone dispersed in different directions to explore the garden, taking a moment to enjoy the views from the many sitting areas. Finally after many farewells, everyone left with souvenirs, be they cuttings, potted seedlings or plants, or even a wheelbarrow!
Text by Gillian Winter
More personal words to Valerie from our Cretan Branch:
From Pam Dunn
Geoff and I have known Val and Clive sine the early 2000’s when we all arrived in Crete and were struggling with house building and developing our gardens. We have shared our successes and our disasters both in the garden and in our houses. We have also shared magical times on MGS overseas trips visiting gardens and sites, in France and Morocco, and several MGS AGMs throughout this time Val’s enthusiasm for plants and garden layout has always been infectious and something to admire. Her plot in Crete has developed into a much admired garden, the result of many years of hard labour and devotion and of course support from Clive. She has successfully also built the Cretan branch of the MGS, through her continued enthusiasm which she has transferred to others as can be seen in her successor of branch our new branch head Anika. Thank you Val for your help and support over the years.
Pam Dunn
From Rosemary Thomas
The branch of the MGS Crete is very dear to me and the very fine group is has become is all down to Valerie, a consummate organiser and plant and garden enthusiast she had taken our branch to new horizons here on Crete. Valerie was also a dear friend, a fellow plant collector and a fine propagater of garden plants. I will miss her enthusiasm, knowledge and friendship but I'm very happy that Valerie and Clive have new horizons ahead with new challenges and I wish them both well.
Rosemary Thomas
From Annika Kyparissi
After about a year and a half of working together as Branch Head with Valerie, I am now following in Valerie's footsteps. It feels a bit strange at first to carry this responsibility alone. But I am sure that I will master it thanks to Valerie's good training. I also trust in our good team spirit and the willingness to help in our branch and our society.
My new task as Branch Head will certainly pose some time challenges for me. But I feel lucky to take on this task and I am looking forward to the many new contacts, ideas and activities.
I would like to invite everyone from Crete to opening gardens, workshops, sharing knowledge, giving a talk, writing up reports of visits, suggesting and organising activities! Please feel free to contact me for any ideas. In addition, as I realized that ideas are coming up much easier when sitting together and do a brainstorming. I am thinking of doing a meeting once or twice a year to sit together for a coffee or so and discuss ideas, wishes, improvements etc. This of course, could be also easily done after an event.
I first met Valerie at the AGM in Chania, Crete in 2010.
Since sharing the role of Branch Head with Valerie in the summer of '21, we have grown closer. Valerie is a wonderful person, full of knowledge, social skills and joie de vivre. I have really enjoyed working with her, exchanging ideas and learning to take on a role in a society.
We at the Cretan Branch owe a lot to Valerie. Thanks to her passion, enthusiasm, and effort she gave to the Cretan MGS, we are a big and strong branch in the society today. Val is not only a person with great knowledge about gardening and the MGS, but she did all those work for the MGS with her heart.
Many of us took part in many of the events, we learned about gardening and plants in the Cretan climate, made new friendships, and have many beautiful memories.
Thank you Valerie for all of this! We wish you and your husband Clive all the best for your new life in the UK. Enjoy your new home, creating your new garden and being close to your family! We will miss you both here on Crete and are happy to see you again on any of your holidays you will make here!
Annika KyparissMay 2022 - Apokoronas
“Eden Project - Connecting Plants, People and Planet”, A Talk by Rosie Henstridge
Thanks to the village community, our Cretan Branch now has a meeting place within the old school building in Kokkino Chorio in Apokoronas.
In May, several branch members and guests met in this new venue to listen to a talk about the Eden project by Rosie Henstridge.
Rosie has worked for about 4.5 years at this very special place in Cornwall, England UK. Starting as a volunteer helper, Rosie loved the work so much that she joined the permanent staff where she and her colleagues support this eco centre and its philosophy of sustainability, people living in harmony together with plants and the planet.
But what exactly is the Eden Project?
Well, it is a huge place of about 37 acres in Cornwall, England UK, originally used as a clay pit for about 160 years and then lying idle for a long time. In the mid-nineties, it was being transformed to biomes. The first part of it, the visitor center, opened to the public in May 2000 and then the first plants arrived until the full site opened in March 2001.
The biomes represent our planet’s ecosystems including the rainforests, the Mediterranean and the temperate climate zones. While the last ones are the outdoor areas, the rainforest and the Mediterranean are housed under huge, impressive glass domes. There is also an area with crops and cultivation.
You can say the Eden Project is a botanical garden with a difference. Not everything is labelled, the plants are rather presented as living beings in their natural environment.
The mission of the Eden Project is to show and teach people how our planet is working, how important is sustainability, how everything is connected and why we need to protect all of this. It should also give inspiration to live a sustainable eco-friendly life. The Eden project aspires to make science interesting and bring it to everyone. Therefore, the visitors can meet also storytellers and learn about myths, such as those of Buddha’s Hand or Dionysus.
To name just one example, the importance of plants for medical use for us humans and the influence that humans have on the ecological balance are shown. Indigenous peoples have a great deal of respect and knowledge for this. For example, the Aborigines are extremely good at plant knowledge and know how to use them.
The problem of plastic alone can unbalance our planet and pose a threat to it and thus to us humans.
The Eden project received more than 1,010,000 visitors in 2019; an average of more than 2,700 people a day! This raised the question of whether the Eden Project has perhaps become more of a (mass) tourist attraction than a place of like-minded gathering, learning, sustainability and 'waking up'?
Rosie sees this as something to be taken seriously. She explained that the main purpose of Eden Project is not to make it just a tourist attraction, but to convey the philosophy of conservation and sustainability. It should be a place to meet and communicate with each other.
After this introduction, we were allowed to delve deeper into the Mediterranean area. Rosie took us on a journey through "her" territory, through the Mediterranean ecosystems with their many different habitats:
The Mediterranean basin, California, South Africa and Western Australia.
One, among many other challenges, is creating and maintaining a healthy soil. Controlling pH and soil structure is a big part of the work in the biomes. There is a strong connection between soil health and plant health.
Particular threats in Mediterranean ecosystems are fire, overgrazing, soil erosion and invasive plants.
While fire has an important natural significance in the Mediterranean (many plants need fire or a certain chemical mix in the smoke for their seeds to germinate), fires are unnaturally common today. This is due to mismanagement and climate change.
A “normal” working day for Rosie is in the Mediterranean section the Eden project’s South Africa with four people (part time workers) giving their best keeping everything growing. Finally, the biomes are artificial and, despite their good function, must be maintained and maintained in a way that is pleasing to visitors. Watering, mostly by hand, takes a lot of time, while there is also weeding, pruning, propagation, digging and composting to be done.
The pest and disease control is another working field. Everything is chemical free, biological controls are managed also by introducing beneficial organisms as far as it is allowed by the law.
In winter, the greenhouse domes are kept with a temperature at about + 9˚C with geothermal and gas energy. During the summer, the control of a natural environment is more difficult. Ventilation and airflow reduce temperatures, but this cannot be managed in detail: the influence of wind cannot be imitated. Likewise, it is not possible to mimic the difference between sea and mountain climates.
Working within Eden means working and being connected with colleagues, students, nurseries and gardens. Creative work, such as opening up new paths and developing new areas, is also part of the job.
As Rosie is working in Eden - South Africa, she was able to visit the ‘real’ South Africa for three weeks
where she worked on a rehabilitation program on the Elim conebush Leucadendron elimense. This beautiful shrub with its yellow flowers and a height of approximately 1.5m is endangered.
Then, there is the adventure: from time to time it is necessary to go ‘on the cliff’ (= under the dome).
Rosie smiles and you can feel her happiness: ‘Working in Eden is a very diverse job! It is joy of working with plants and seeing people smiling! And it is definitely the best office to go on a Monday morning!’
Text: Annika Kyparissi Photos: Rosie Henstridge
December 2022 - Plaka Apokoronas
A visit to Rosemary and Alan’s Garden, a courtyard garden in winter.
On a very beautiful sunny December day a group of MGS members came for a visit to my courtyard garden to see how my plants deal with winter weather and how I maintain a colorful and interesting display of plants even through the darkest of days.
The garden surrounding our house on the hill is small, only 250 square metres, but it does completely surround the house and we have divided it up into four quite different but sympathetic areas. I adore garden rooms and each area has to be reached by walking around through gateways and arches, this gives each of the garden areas a very individual style, through planting and seating and completing the idea we had of intimate areas to sit, eat, maybe be a quiet haven or shady retreat and a larger area to entertain friends when the evening is a little cooler.
The garden is nearly twenty years old now and has changed and grown immensely, some trees we planted originally have had to be removed as they grew too big but with gathered knowledge, we have replaced with smaller, neater trees.
My plant favourite plants are cacti, succulents and tropical plants. They all grow very well here given the correct conditions. This is particularly necessary for the tropical plants which I find thrive in my covered Avli. In the summer they love the heat and especially shade, no direct sunshine. In my Avli I have Alocasia, Hedychium and Colocasia’s, lots of variety with palms and ferns, a green oasis in the heat of summer. During the winter they survive quite well as long as I can keep the soil dry. I cover the pot tops when we have heavy rain forecast.
I have a large collection cactus and succulents. so many favorites but Kalanchoe beharensis comes to mind as it is such a magnificent plant, I have many others around the garden, agave, aloes and Euphorbia ingens. which gives much needed height to a plant display.
I have always believed that a garden is for year-round pleasure so I try to make sure even on dark winter days there are plants of interest to look at. Evergreen shrubs displayed with some big cactus (which now spend all year outside) and you have a beautiful display. In the early days I was particularly influenced by Thomas Hobbs and his Jewel box gardens, he uses succulents to great effect, I still plant up containers in summer in his style as they are so lovely to display.
I was strongly influenced by the MGS trip to Morocco in 2015, I adored all the private courtyard gardens, heavily planted areas and such lovely garden art: it was a feast for the eyes, so much effort given to structure and display with sometimes quite simple plants. I came home from that trip bursting with ideas of how I could make additions to our garden.
On the day of the MGS garden visit the weather was beautiful but I also provide a lot of protection in winter for my special cacti and succulents. I have five pop up greenhouse which I put in place at the end of November and take down and pack away in March, experience had taught me that the very bad winter storms we get and the position of the house facing north west to the sea can do a lot of damage to my small hybrid succulents and young plants; they can cope with the cold easily but they intensely dislike the heavy rain which we can get for days on end here on Crete. The greenhouses have been fantastic and I can relax knowing all my precious plants are safe.
My Mediterranean Garden relies to a very large extent on pots and containers which happily make very happy homes for cacti and succulents, some are huge now and have to be tied to walls and structures to stop them falling over but they are happy and well fed in the summer and I try to leave them well alone until they absolutely have to be removed and stripped down. I am very keen on propagating plants especially my succulents and always have a lots of cuttings growing on eventually to give away or replace old plants in the garden.
We had a very good day in December, I think members were surprised by the greenhouses I use, but it did give everyone an idea of a solution for precious plants they might want to give extra protection to over winter.
Over the years of covid and lock downs my garden continued to be a very positive part of our lives. A good place and at a time when we were allowed to do so little away from home and a chance for us to keep busy and enjoy being outside.
May the garden continue.
Text and photographs by Rosemary Thomas
October 2022 - Rethymno
A garden in Lefkogeia, near Plakias
This was a delightful trip to the South Coast of Rethymno where we visited a re-designed Mediterranean garden. We gathered in Vamos, warmly greeting each other and chatting whilst waiting for our coach and full complement of participants. It was a beautiful warm and sunny day, perfect for our full day’s outing.
Our journey took us along the north coast with spectacular sea views, then turning inland through lovely rural scenery. En route from the north to south of the island, we drove through the Kourtaliotiko Gorge, a spectacular rugged landscape. This took me back many years; the very gorge traversed by Clive and I on our first visit to Crete in 1988. We would never have dreamed then that this lovely island would become our home many years later.
Out of my reverie, we arrived at our destination in the village of Lefkogeia. Greeted by the owners Marta and Gunter, Annika gave comprehensive details about the context and project brief. The property is about 2,200 sq m in size, an exposed site with extensive views to the coast. Previously, a monotone garden, consisting mainly of lawn, this has now been beautifully renovated into a garden that fits perfectly with the surrounding countryside.
Annika described and showed photographs of the renovation process which started in October 2019, following design ideas and planning during the spring and summer. After the complete transformation, it became a Mediterranean natural garden.
The main garden has been landscaped with Mediterranean and native plants and river pebble paths. The outstanding view stretches across the garden into the hilly landscape to the sea. We then enjoyed a guided tour of the five garden areas:
The entrance with an oleander hedge towards the neighbouring land, providing a wind break and privacy, a small succulent area near the house entrance as well as a terraced meadow with three imported old olive trees which have been underplanted with Phyla nodiflora as a grass substitute with pockets of gaura and gazania to provide summer colour.
A small herb garden has been created near the garage and a small tropical garden next to the pool. The main garden area at the house and pool terrace was completely re-designed to a Mediterranean dry garden. Some plants near the paths are irrigated to provide a fresh look in the summer. This garden area now connects well with the surrounding landscape and the fantastic view to the Bay of Plakias.
My personal response to this garden was one of sheer delight. I loved the seamless blending of the garden towards the ‘borrowed’ landscape as the land sweeps towards the sea. This has been achieved by low level planting which allows the eye to travel beyond and pick up the beautiful autumnal shades of, not only plants but soil, sandy in colour, grasses and shrubs creating a patchwork of texture and contrasting mellow shades of the natural vista to the immediate man-made planting scheme made up of lavender, myrtus, salvia, gaura, lentiscus and similar low growing mediterranean varieties. All was very restful to the eye.
Ebenus cretica, my particular favourite endemic, is thriving here and although not flowering at this time of year it is clearly happy, as is evident by self-seeding new plants. Tulbaghias stand proud within ‘grassed areas’ providing a lovely contrast to the surrounding greys of lavender and similar shrubs.
In the lowest garden area fruit trees, including tropical varieties, were planted. Annika considered the biggest challenge in this garden project and development are the strong winds. Given this windy area, the walled garden has successfully created an orchard with a variety of fruit trees such as two flourishing bananas, a persimmon laden with fruit, fig, avocado and guava.
Marta and Gunter were most welcoming hosts and very proud of their lovely home and garden. Following Annika’s guided tour of the garden we were treated to Marta’s special plum cake, coffee and assorted nibbles.
It was a most successful visit, with a mix of members from the earliest days to a first-time event for others, including two guests. There was also, a great mix of nationalities: French, Belgian, German and British. This is a particular aspect of the MGS that I love, a bringing together of like-minded people from a variety of backgrounds and places to share a joy of gardens.
Altogether, this convivial event was made complete by a delicious meal in Plakias, so close to the sea you could hear the waves lapping! A perfect end to a most enjoyable garden visit, comfortably whisked off by our small bus to our homes on the North coast – a softer greener landscape.
For more information and further detail about the development, design and construction of this special garden can be seen through the following link. It is well worth a look.
With thanks to Marta and Gunter for sharing their lovely home and garden with us.
Text by Valerie Whittington
Photographs: Marta provided photographs across seasons and weather which provide much atmosphere. Additional photos by Valerie Whittington
June 2022
A visit to a unique garden project by the sea on the Akrotiri peninsular
A group of our local members and guests were privileged to visit this very special development by kind permission of the owners. Annika Kyparissis (Chloroplastes is the Landscape garden design company responsible for the landscaping) described the concept of the project prior to a guided tour of the land.
The land of 40,000 square metres which slopes towards the sea near Marathi, was developed with two modern earth houses. The firm of architects responsible for the house construction is well known for its simple and restrained design language, transcribing a modern architectural vocabulary into the ever-changing scene of the 21st century.
Annika considered it a wonderful opportunity to be involved from the beginning of the project plan and Chloroplastes are still involved in the garden’s development. The success of the garden design, a natural and individual integration into the environment became clear through our tour.
Landscaping:
An initial investigation study of the plant stock before construction began, showed an area-wide mosaic of phrygana and maquis, but also relics of the evergreen hardwood forest of northwest Crete.
Some of the species already on the land include: Calicotome villosa, Ceratonia siliqua, Cistus creticus, Coridothymus capitatus, Erica manipuliflora, Helichrysum stoechas subsp. barrelieri, Hyparrhenia hirta, Lagurus ovatus, Myrtus communis, Olea europaea, Phlomis fruticosa, Pistacia lentiscus, Querecus coccifera, Rhamnus lycioides ssp. oleoides, Salvia fruticosa, Sarcopoterium spinosum, Satureja thymbra. Near the seashore Crithmum maritimum, Limonium sp. were found.
Landscape design / planning was based on these findings and from the start of planning, great importance was attached to preservation, renaturation and ecological new planting. They would destroy as little as possible, working mostly with native plant species plus Mediterranean plants in general that don’t require water once established. Local materials particularly rocks from the land were used.
Biodiversity was planned by careful consideration of plants, for example: Arbutus unedo, Ceratonia siliqua, Cistus creticus, Cistus salviifolius, Cupressus sempervirens, Medicago arborea, Myrtus communis, Phillyrea latifolia, Phlomis fruticosa, Pinus pinea, Pistacia lentiscus, Pistacia terebinthifolius, Rhamnus alaternus, Salvia officinalis, Salvia pomifera, Satureja thymbra, Thymus capitatus and many more.
Near to the houses, the flora was further enriched with other mediterranean plants that are well adapted to the local climate and soil conditions. Plants that attract wildlife such as bees and butterflies were used to help insects play an important ecological role, for example, Calamintha nepeta, Centranthus ruber, Lomelosia minoana.
The use of invasive plants such as Lantana camara etc. was deliberately avoided as was creating a grass lawn. Lawn areas have been created by Mediterranean ground cover such as Phyla nodiflora.
In total more than 18,000 plants were planted (in phase 1) with over 144 plant species.
Naturally, in an area of this size the implementation of the project was phased over time.
Roof gardens:
Construction started in May 2020 and planting after the summer in November 2020. During this period the construction of the buildings continued until spring 2021.
Annika described the complexity of designing and implementing the green roof with the necessity for layers on the waterproofing insulation, two layers of special soil and irrigation.
Garden construction:
This started at the end of January 2021 with planting making pathways, the completion of sloped-rockeries and irrigation systems where needed.
Completion of Phase 1 took place in June 2021 and Phase 2 in June 2022. So, we were visiting a very young garden.
Maintenance:
There were several questions regarding watering and maintenance. Although planned as a low maintenance garden nevertheless weeding until plants are established and manual watering by hand in the establishment phase took a lot of time in the first year or two.
This was a much-appreciated opportunity for our enthusiastic group to visit and we thank the owners of the property for giving their permission to enable this rewarding and fascinating experience. We all feel that another visit in a few years would be very worthwhile to see it fully established.
A delicious, convivial meal was enjoyed nearby in a traditional taverna by the sea.
Text by Valerie Whittington
Photographs by Annika Kyparissis - Photo 9 by Valerie Whittington
May 2022
Visit to Sara and Roger’s Garden, Kefalas, Apokoronas
As every gardener understands gardens are forever changing and evolving, whether it be by the hands of nature itself or decisions taken by the gardeners. Since the last visit to our garden by the MGS in June 2016 several developments have taken place, largely due to the influence of travel to Japan in 2017, Marrakech in 2019 and a visit to the Hauser and Wirth Art Gallery in Bruton Somerset in December 2019.
The influences from Japan are most acutely observed in our decision to give up on ever having a successful olive harvest from our 8 olive trees, planted as saplings in 2004, and instead to cloud prune them, creating visual, sculptural and textural interest. This was as a result of observation of the careful and contemplative process of pruning fir trees in Japan. Japanese gardens have an incredible sense of balance and harmony, creating a calm environment to encourage quiet contemplation and mindfulness, and these are characteristics we have been cultivating by incorporating water features, developing pathways through the garden, natural stone sculptures and seating areas.
Our visit to Marrakech in February 2019 included a first time visit to the Le Garden Secret in the heart of the Medina designed by Tom Stuart-Smith and a revisit to the Majorelle Garden which is now extended to include the formerly private garden of Yves St Laurent.
Le Jardin Secret very much appealed to our design aesthetic, incorporating both an Islamic garden and an exotic garden filled with plants from all over the world and creating an oasis of peace, where you could allow yourself to indulge in idleness and contemplation thanks to the shade of the trees and the intimacy of the enclosed space.
We already have several aloes, agave’s and kalenchoes, including Aloe striata, Aloe speciosa, and Kalenchoe bharensis ‘Nuda’, Agave furcraea, Agave angustifolia, in our garden which first came from Morocco whilst on an MGS tour in 2015, and we are further extending their visibility in the garden and developing areas with succulents and cacti.
Our first fishpond was influenced by the blue waterways and ponds witnessed on our very first visit to the Majorelle gardens in 2008. But on this visit the garden and the colours of Morocco influenced the design of the most significant development in our garden, the creation of a swimming pool where the walled vegetable plot previously stood, in spring 2020! This addition has completely transformed the garden both aesthetically in terms of its design, colour and incorporation of cactus beds, but has also created a completely new perspective within the garden opening up previously unseen views across it. Needless to say, it has transformed our experience and enjoyment of the garden, and the lighting at night creates a wonderful ambience transporting us back to Morocco.
We had been aware of the Dutch garden designer Piet Oudolf for some time through his books, but our visit to the Hauser and Wirth Art Gallery in Bruton, Somerset was our first direct experience of one of his gardens and it was a revelation. We visited on a damp and overcast December day but the garden was so full of colour, texture, structure, movement and visual interest enhanced by the weather and raindrops on the seed heads. It was inspirational and inspired us to grow some herbaceous perennial plants from seed and try our hand at creating two beds planted with Rudbeckia, Echinacea, Salvia, Stipa, Pennisetum, Echinops, Heliopsis, and Coreopsis which provide summer colour, attract pollinators into the garden and continue to provide colour, structure and textural interest into the autumn and winter. We have also incorporated an organic plant mulch to help water retention and keep down weeds. these two borders are in their early stages of development.
Our garden is approximately 1,200 square metres and has been 18 years in the making to date, starting from a completely blank canvas, and with us being very inexperienced gardeners. But we have loved the journey, have learnt so much, made many mistakes but have discovered gardening to be an extension of our creative projects in which the aesthetics of the garden reflect our art and design background and visual interests.
Gardening in Crete has allowed us to indulge our love of nature, landscape and outdoor living; we spend far more time in the garden than in the house. We have deliberately created different ‘garden rooms’ to create surprises, visual interest and to encourage use of the garden throughout the seasons and at different times of day. Early planting decisions to plant trees to create provide shade, a windbreak, sculptural and textural interest and also to define spaces are maturing well. We have apricot, avocado, cherry, mandarin, orange and lemon trees, and our yuccas and palms are all tall and vigorous.
Our two wisteria are finally after 10 years flowering well and providing shade over a pergola. Some of the original perennials which we obtained from Olivier Filippi’s nursery in France, Ebenus cretica, Scabiosa cretica, Epilobium canum ‘Western Hills’, Perovskia ‘Blue spire’ and Teucrium cossonii are well established. It also gives us great pleasure that our garden is a haven for wildlife attracting bees, butterflies, toads, damsel flies and many different species of birds.
A garden is never ‘finished’, but we have reached a stage where we feel the landscaping is near completion, and that apart from the ongoing maintenance we are now in a position to spend more time enjoying, relaxing and experiencing the garden. It is both good for our mental health and helps to keep us fit.
And finally…the pink wall is no longer!
Text and photos: Sara Gilding
April 2022
Celebrating the arrival of spring with a visit Valerie and Clive’s garden, Drapanos, Apokoronas
Arriving home, after spending two and a half months in the UK, to the welcome of our glorious echiums and a meadow full of blue lupins, was quite a change from when we left in mid-January.
Crete has had one of the worst winters for some time. Spring garden visits have not taken place for three years given the pandemic, so we welcomed our local members to a spring get-together to enjoy our garden at this time of year.
I first wrote about the development of my garden ‘Designing and Working with Natural Landscape in Crete’ in MGS The Mediterranean Garden Journal No. 63. Now into our 17th year here, it has matured well and is fulfilling my aims: two further an articles on the further development and maintaining the garden, can be read in TMG 103, January 2021 and TMG 104, April 2021. Also, on this webpage there is a review of the last members’ visit in December 2018. These provide further background to seeing the garden ‘in the flesh’ at the most splendid time of year.
That year Carl and Caroline wrote: ‘It’s amazing what can be done on an overgrazed rocky hillside. Your garden is like an oasis. In fact it stands out on google maps – we looked to check directions. Your garden has many different, private areas with an abundance of plants, it must be really special in spring. We loved the trees.’ This spring visit was intended to show the seasonal contrast and developments since then.
This visit was to celebrate the arrival of spring and with it the profusion of colour from the many wild flowers in the garden alongside, and often among, those introduced over the years. The wild flowers have always been valued after – all they were here well before us. However, at this time of year the echiums are the most striking and I have several dominating different sections of the garden. All started as cuttings from the mother plant which has long since worn itself out with its prolific flowering. The vibrant blue flowering spires attract butterflies and bees in such numbers that the air hums with their activity.
I gave a brief introduction to the garden in our avli where old photographs were available for visitors to see and envisage some of the journey involved in helping the garden to reach its maturity.
Looking back, I realised that it is about 12 years since this group had visited in spring, probably because other members of our branch wish also to open their gardens at this time of year and rightly so. More recent visits have taken place after the long dry summer or late autumn to look at specific plants and strategies to survive summer heat and drought. Interestingly, it has been groups from both California and Australia that have been here in March and April.
It seemed pertinent to talk about how different the garden is in autumn compared with now. It is lush, colourful and packed full of plants gently touching each other or mulched. Hardly any soil is exposed, and this is a key strategy for keeping out unwanted grasses, thistles and the invasive oxalis at this time of year.
Looking down from the roof terrace gave the group a bird’s eye view of the shape and structure of the garden as well as insight into the land we had inherited from seeing the surroundings beyond. This path lined with Iris florentina was inspired by an early visit to Sparoza, I have continued developing the sweep of them ever since. The echium stands proud flaunting its azure blue spires.
Wildflowers co-exist, such as Smyrnium olusatrum and the stately lime green S. rotundifolium in flower beds as well as in the meadow. Anemone coronaria are usually the first to herald the spring. The meadow on the day of the visit was a sea of blue lupins with many other colours more unobtrusive filling the carpet from flora such as anthemis, artemisia, calendula, chamomile, Glebionis coronaria, Geranium robertianum, pimpernel, Tragopogon porrifolius (salsify or goat’s beard), Scabiosa maritima, silene, tordylium, trifolium, vetch and a few Muscari comosum (tassel hyacinth) starting to bloom alongside the paths.
The ‘mediterranean hillside’ area is densely planted with Teucrium fruticans, Pittosporum tobira, Santolina chamaecyparissus, atriplex, rhamnus and more.
Over the years I have learned what works in this garden, an exposed, windswept, rocky landscape, through advice, experimentation and experience gained through trial and error. Clive told everyone it is my obsession, and he is correct, I love it and walk it daily.
I explained how propagation is key in developing the garden further and keeps the passion for growing my own plants constant. Cuttings are taken from those plants proven to be tough and happy in this environment. For example, the terraces were originally developed with Carpobrotus edulis and Mesembryanthemum cordifolium to provide ground cover on a virgin ground and prevent erosion but now these areas are all made up of plants that have been propagated and produced in this way. The majority are succulents, cistus, osteospermum, agaves, aloes, valerian, pelargonium, and bulbines which fill areas between rocks forming bands or hummocks. All are hardy and cope through the drought of summer with little water, especially now that the trees provide shade for part of the day.
I invited people to visit my agave waterfall in our ravine – another creative way of using extra plants taken out from other areas.
Recycling is also a key aspect. I have four composts. All shrub and tree pruning debris is shredded. This is Clive’s responsibility and I keep him busy with plenty of material! This is composted along with kitchen waste or if very woody it is used for defining paths in the ravine or wooded areas. This looks attractive and keeps the paths open. The homemade compost is mixed with soil and small gravel that I have to buy in to provide a friable planting material for seedlings and small plants. Our own soil is heavy clay in very stony ground consisting of a considerable amount of bed rock, so much so that planting pockets have to be created in certain areas.
There was plenty of interaction from the group which elicited the aspects I have written about. We all agreed that gardens are always in progress, responding to nature too.
In September a huge carob in the field to our north was blown down in a strong gale. It fell across the small lane dumping its huge canopy onto part of the northern boundary damaging the stone wall and fencing. A considerable section was flattened, destroying a number of trees such as silk, pomegranate, cypress, oleander and cassia. A large echium was also destroyed as were numerous shrubs. This whole section was smothered and had to be cleared. Fortunately our friendly farmer came to the rescue with his chain saw and helped clear the debris from our garden but it took considerable expertise to remove the formidable double trunk from blocking the lane. As you can imagine it was a shock and caused me some upset but …. then it became a new opportunity to create a new section of the garden out of this chaos!
This agave at the top of the meadow is ready to flower. Being monocarpic, sadly it will then die.
Gardens evolve and are ever changing, and that is what is so rewarding in spite of what can be viewed as a calamity. Already very badly damaged oleanders are producing new growth. The cypresses are not. The stone wall and fence have been repaired but we have lost our borrowed landscape of what was a magnificent tree. We have a photograph of the land when we bought it and before any building or garden work. The tree was a landmark from a far distance. Interestingly, a smaller tree next to its site – probably a seedling from the original is swelling and growing but it will take many years to make such a fine replacement. Meanwhile my new garden section is taking shape.
Much discussion and time to walk the garden followed the introduction and questions. This was a real springtime celebration and a joy to share it with likeminded, interested gardeners.
Warm comments concluded this visit such as:
‘You have created the most beautiful garden, sustainable and sympathetic with the stunning landscape. It is so colourful in springtime and glorious accompanied by the birdsong. Very inspirational.’ Sara
‘Such an amazingly beautiful garden. ……The paths are an adventure and the whole thing is a jewel.’ Breda
‘I loved the overview from the roof and the agave waterfall – and all the little sitting areas.’ Gillian
‘I enjoyed strolling around, the many paths makes you curious to explore more and more. It is obvious how much love you invested over the years: You see it, listen it, feel it and smell it!’ Annika
A delicious lunch at Leonidas Taverna in the village followed a 10-minute stroll from the house.
Text by Valerie Whittington
Photographs by Annika Kyparissi and Valerie
February 2022 - Plaka, Apokoronas
A personal reflection of the MGS Jordanian excursion
Nancy and Dave Moon had promised to, ‘do a talk/slide show of what we enjoyed of our Jordanian tour. It was a fantastic mixture of history, mostly Biblical, and lovely wild flowers.’ With the pandemic and its ensuing restrictions, it has taken until now to make it happen! Nancy provides the following precis of this eagerly, long-awaited presentation: A personal reflection of the MGS Jordanian excursion in 2020 ‘through Nancy and Dave Moon’s eyes’ at their home in Plaka, Apokoronas.
‘These notes and photos are of the MGS wildflower tour to Jordan in March 2020, which was unfortunately cut short due to Covid. John Joynes wrote a very good article about the trip which is in the MGS Journal 101 of July 2020. If members read this in conjunction with that, they will get a good idea of the trip as a whole.
The tour started in Madaba, a 45-minute journey from Amman, and much of the tour was in the surrounding area. As it has a mediterranean climate which covers about twenty percent of the country, many of the wild flowers are similar to those here in Crete.
The wildflower tour started on Wednesday, 11 February. A bus took the group north towards Jerash via Mount Nebo where Moses looked down on to the Promised Land. We stopped at the roadside to walk down a stony track where among other pretty flowers we found tiny wild tulips.
Also nearby there were amazing wild irises. They could have come from a nursery. This one, in the photo below, is Iris nigricans (Black Iris); the national flower of Jordan.
After staying the night at Jerash we visited the imposing Ajlun Castle, then carried on to the very fertile Wadi Aljan which has been farmed since Biblical times. We were lucky to come across a farmer ploughing with horse and ancient-style wooden plough. The old Syrian olive trees have amazing trunks, and a ‘skirt’ of roots round the base.
During our walk along the wadi we found another wild iris, the ‘Nazarath iris’ Iris bismarckiana.
For the afternoon Dave and I opted to look for orchids in Dibbin Nature Reserve instead of visiting Jerash archaeological site (or as Oron, our botanist, put it, ‘a pile of stones’). Unfortunately, it soon started to rain but we were still able to find many orchids similar to those found on Crete.
The next morning, we drove south towards the dead sea through more spectacular scenery. At another roadside stop, we clambered over a muddy scrubby hillside to find clumps of Iris haynei.
Also, on the hillside I noticed this unusual plant, Eremostachys laciniata.
On reaching a Dead Sea resort many of the group, including us, braved the chilly water for a float. A strange feeling, which I have no desire to repeat. It soon started raining again, and the bus had to take a long detour because sections of the desert highway had been closed due to flooding. We arrived at Petra in the dark.
Due to miserable weather it was decided to visit Little Petra next day which was spectacular.
Apart from an oleander, the only flower I noticed was a Bellevalia stepporum in a corner.
Back on the bus we drove uphill through heavy mist and rain, to stop at a very muddy hillside to look for flowers. There were many clumps of tiny Iris Regis-uzziae (King Uzziae iris) its colour ranging from white to pale blue.
This pretty Leontice leontopetalum (Lion’s Foot) caught my eye.
Due to the weather we then returned to the hotel.
That evening we learnt that, due to COVID 19, Amman airport was closing in two days. We would need to return to Madaba the next morning so people could book and catch new flights. We were all disappointed that the tour had to be abandoned. Dave and I hope to return to Jordan to visit the famous Petra archaeological site, and also Wadi Rhum.’
Jill writes:
‘It was a really lovely event today at Dave and Nancy’s. It was rather wet so the garden tour didn’t happen (though I was lucky to get a guided tour with Nancy afterwards when the rain stopped and it was looking immaculate). We had a delicious cake Nancy had made, with our coffee before the talk. Being a small group, the talk was more like a relaxed conversation - plus lots of interesting historical and other information from Nancy. Her flower photographs were amazing and we had fun trying to identify some none of us recognised.’
November 2021
Visit to Jill and Clive Pellett’s Garden in Gavalochori. As a superb extra Bob Burlumi gave a short presentation following his visit to a Bio Farm in the United Arab Emirates
Given the inclement weather during the week and the storm during the night, we were incredibly lucky to have a very pleasant morning to spend time with MGS friends having warm drinks and homemade baking as a welcome to the garden in the delightful setting of the garden.
Jill and Clive have been in their home for three years this coming January. The house was built in 2006/7 by John and Margaret McCalman. We were so pleased that they joined the group for this event. They explained that the plot was just a piece of rough hillside and after building the house they let the contours and rocky outcrops of the land dictate how the garden evolved. It is an interesting piece of land with stunning views of both sea and mountains. Photographs of the first year of garden creation were on display and it was fascinating to see the growth and development so many years later.
In this area below the pool the wild shrubs such as Euphorbia dendroides are well tended and make bold statements in this natural, mediterranean garden section. Heidi Gildemaster, author and past president of the MGS, considered this particular euphorbia as, ‘a master of drought’.
Raised beds and borders were created with the addition of brought-in topsoil. John told how after moving a large amount of rocks and stones, approximately 35 tons of gravel have been laid over membrane in the upper garden.
Over the years trees and shrubs have come and gone and the challenge of finding the right plants for the various aspects in the garden continues.
Members were encouraged to walk around the garden and Jill was especially keen to hear suggestions for plants for the large rockery below the pool and leading down to the olive grove and wildflower area.
John and Margaret agreed that it had been a great deal of work to establish the garden initially but they have enjoyed many years in it. Also the stunning views of Souda Bay and the White Mountains from the garden and terrace areas, which were sadly shrouded in cloud today, have made the dream of living here in Crete even more special for Jill and Clive.
Emirates Bio Farm: A brief overview of Bob’s presentation.
Bob provided a very interesting background to the region of the United Arab Emirates founded in December 1971. We learned that the first President, H.H. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Hahyan, wanted to recreate the fertile plains in the Arab Peninsular as they were thousands of years ago. As a result, The Emirates Bio Farm Site was created.
Located in Al Ain, Emirates Bio Farm is the UAEs largest organic farm, specialized in producing certified organic vegetables, fruits and eggs through the use of sustainable farming practices to provide customers with the freshest organic products on sale within 24 hours of being harvested.
Currently, it covers an astonishing 250,000 square metres with plans for an additional 1,000,000 square metres, nine wells 200 metres deep supply the necessary water.
Three methods of production were described: the use of greenhouses, shade cloth and outside areas.
Plants are individually drip fed, being watered twice a day. Weeds are picked manually and fertiliser hand sprayed to improve intake. Interplanting crops is deemed valuable in protecting from disease and pests. Pollination takes place by hand in the greenhouses.
Trees, such as Moras and Neis, are used to attract insects as well as provide shade. Vegetables such as cabbage and fennel are planted to attract insects away from more vulnerable crops. Corn is planted to distract birds from eating the vegetables. Many insects do not survive the summer heat.
Thoughtful organisation and planning includes double entry doors for the greenhouses as well as cross-ventilation for cooling the environment. Fans extract air across one wall and there are cardboard screens on the opposite wall with fine water spray projected across it.
It was impressive to learn that vegetables produced here are on supermarket shelves within 24 hours. There is a free-range Chicken Farm with 15,000 chickens producing 8000 eggs a day. Fertiliser is made into pellets on site from chicken manure. Bee Hives produce honey.
This was a most interesting insight into farming and food production in this challenging desert region. We were delighted to have had this interesting presentation.
A successful Bring and Buy Stall of garden-related items was held to support the development of our MGS garden in Sparoza, Sally’s Memorial Fund. These were exchanged, raising a donation from our branch to this special fund.
Text by Valerie Whittington based on the visit and notes provided by Jill Pellet and Bob Burlumi.
Photos of the garden by Valerie, the Emirates Bio Farm provided by Bob.
September 2021
Excursion to the Botanical Garden of the Monasteries of Metamorfos
On this, warm and sunny autumn day we gathered in Vamos to take a small bus to our destination: the botanical garden of the monasteries of Agia Kyriaki and Metamorphoseon, east of the village of Varypetro.
At the lower monastery of Agia Kyriaki we were warmly welcomed by the nuns. Then we continued on foot through the green valley towards the garden. There are caves and hermitages in many places along the paths and the main trail is part of the hiking route to the Lefka Ori (White Mountains).
The valley is home to around 335 species of flora, which is around a fifth of the rich Cretan flora (1,740 species, including 21 endemic).
The garden itself is located on the slope below the new monastery. Approximately 1,300 square metres it has been created explicitly for the protection and promotion of medicinal and aromatic plants of Crete.
Whilst the holy sisterhood of Chrysopigi made the land available, the project was started by the Konstantinos K. Mitsotakis Foundation ("Ydrima Mitsotakis") who financed the construction of the botanical educational garden, a reforestation project above the hiking trail near Therisso, and the expansion and signposting of the E4 hiking trail.
The Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature - HSPN was assigned to the management and co-financing of the project overall. This is the oldest society for the environmental protection in Greece, and they assigned Chloroplastes for the landscape architectural planning and construction in the summer of 2018.
Following the design study which included a topography, landscaping concept, masterplan and irrigation plan, the project was ready for construction in August 2018.
The stone paths were built in the old "Kalderimi" style with the local stones from the area. Benches and a small square were added with a spectacular view of the surrounding landscape.
As all plants are native so they did not require an automatic irrigation system. So only a water tap system was installed for manual irrigation during the establishment phase.
The collection of plants from the wild was undertaken by the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature. Miltos Gletsos from the society and the botanist Dr Eirini Vallianatou spent a considerable time in the Cretan landscape to find the relevant plants.
On the other hand, a large number of existing phrygana plants have also been preserved: the list of existing plants is available for download here. The forest authority also made donations. Today the garden itself is home to about 59 species of plants, and a list of those plants which have been added is available to download here.
However, as expected, it is still necessary to replant a few species that have not survived.
After the tour of the botanical garden we went to the new monastery Metamorfoseon up above. This was reached by a series of stone steps winding up the hillside. It was a delightful walk with a series of tiny humped backed bridges crossing the stream bed along the way. A few of us opted to take the bus.
Here, too, we were welcomed in a friendly manner by the nuns. While standing in the church, we learned about the history and philosophy of the monastery. We were astounded by the skill and beauty of the nuns’ art and textile work within the church.
We had a delightful break in the lovely courtyard with delicious home-made cakes and biscuits baked by the nuns, coffee and an unusual soft drink made from the fruits of the carob tree.
After visiting the monastery shop, buying items made by the nuns themselves, the bus continued to the neighbouring village of Therisso to the Antartis tavern. In the late afternoon we were back in Vamos, exhausted and happy from the eventful day.
For more information about the botanical garden you can visit the websites of the HSPN and Chloroplastes.
Text and photographs by Annika Kyparassi and Valerie Whittington
October 2020
A visit to the Botanical Park of Crete, Fournes, Chania
At last, after it being impossible for the past seven months to hold events due to Covid19 restrictions, we were able to recommence our Crete Branch programme whilst acknowledging that our activity would, of necessity, be modified given the current pandemic and adherence to current government guidelines. During the visit, all current rules were adhered to.
Thus, in mid-October twenty six of us visited The Botanical Park of Crete, which is particularly interesting at this time of year with its various fruiting plants, several of which are used in their homemade recipes in the taverna or produce for sale in the shop. There is also plenty of shade in the garden to ensure a pleasurable walk.
I had arranged an individual programme for us, which included:
The tea tasting allowed for a relaxed start to our visit. The majority of us had travelled a fair distance and many of us had not met this year because of the pandemic. Some, like Clive and me, had been in ‘lockdown’ in the UK, another in Ireland. Others had remained in Crete, unable to return to their respective countries in March. We shared our respective stories and were so glad of this opportunity to meet in such a relaxing and beautiful environment.
After tasting our welcome tea Petros led us to the stone, atmospheric amphitheatre to deliver his talk. It is in an excellent situation with lovely views into the valley below and hills beyond. He was interested that all of us in the group live on Crete, some full time, others part-time and love to garden here. He believes that all who come to Crete love the island and its rich diverse environment.
To illustrate this, we were tested on our knowledge of herbs as he passed several around for us to look at, smell or taste. There were examples of wild thyme and an Iranian variety to taste, rosemary, oregano, dittany (which is endemic to Crete) and a sweet lavender. The many different herbs varieties make them interesting and they have been used for different purposes throughout the ages both for medicinal purposes and in cooking. This was light-hearted and fun.
Then, he gave some of the history of the park. In 2003 an electric cable broke in the village of Lakki further up the mountainside and the resulting fire devastated 20 hectares of the family land with over 200 olive trees burned. Petros believes that some may have been the oldest on the planet.
So, what to do? How could they diversify, do something different to create and help the local economy as well as the family?
Petros enquired, ‘How do we live now? There is so much technology, we live in boxes and people are less close to nature.’
Thinking creatively and using their imagination, he and his three brothers developed their project by being enterprising and after much research and hard work realized what has been called ‘this special, earthly paradise!’ They wanted to create a garden in which visitors could walk, enjoy nature, learn about fruit, food and use plants as a vehicle for education in Petros’ words, ‘to know what produces what’.
Recognising that the area’s unique micro-climate would support this new venture they opened to the public in 2010, and have become the only garden in the EU which specialises in fruit, Mediterranean plants and herbs.
In this area of about two hundred acres there are now fruit trees from all over the world, herbs, medicinal and ornamental plants, where the soil and the microclimate of the area make it a paradise for hundreds of plants and animals. Peacocks roam, badger sets are noted, deer can be spotted as can a variety of birds. There is also a small vegetable farm and an area where Kri Kri are raised.
It is the microclimate that has made the family vision a reality. This part of Crete has three different climate zones, it is unusual; the geography and the position of the island with its high mountains, the mediterranean on the north coast and the Libyan sea on the south ensures that influences from Africa and the Mediterranean provide a particular richness and diversity. Crete has the richest flora in Europe with a great many endemic species on the island.
The flat areas of Chania are noted for high quality citrus and avocado. Olive trees thrive in the mid zone and an alpine zone exists above this in the mountains. The Park reflects this in its layout although it does not have an alpine section, it is not high enough. The land itself is shaped like a bowl which ensures the area is protected from the north wind by the mountains.
Section one is tropical at the highest part of the park with mango, guava and many other fruit varieties and ornamental trees from other parts of the world. Leading down the hillside to the Mediterranean section then local produce, all used in the taverna including vegetables and fruit such as citrus, cherries, apple and grapes for wine cultivation. The eco system provides a balance so that plants help each other grow and survive. No chemicals are used; the Park has ‘Green Key’ certification reflecting their environmental standards.
The area as a whole is supported through the restaurant with using locally produced food and the gastronomy of the Cretan diet is promoted. Petros regards this as a philosophy, a way of thinking. A diet that has been proved as one of the best in the world with the population living longer in the past. In the local village ,for example, it was not unusual for villagers to live until they were 100 years old. Traditional work patterns usually ensured regular exercise particularly walking.
He went on the explain key aspects of the traditional Cretan diet:
Having given an excellent background introduction to this visit we were introduced to the chef for our cookery demonstration. This was the dish we were to see prepared and later sample with lunch.
Ingredients assembled included the obligatory olive oil, courgette, including the flower and leaves, tomato (with leaves), horta, aubergine, solanum leaves, celery, pomegranate, orange, guava, garlic, pepper and various herbs including purslane. It was a very colourful array, all duly chopped, put into a casserole dish, sprinkled with salt and pepper then dried orange skin (for flavour!). Almost half a litre of olive oil drizzled over all ingredients completed this delicious looking dish; we looked forward to sampling it later.
Petros emphasised that the quantity of olive oil is the key to the Cretan diet. We were intrigued by the quantity of different ingredients that made up the meal. We were told that traditionally no recipes were used, instead food combinations according to what was available created a meal.
This dish was called ‘του πεθερού’ which translates loosely as sharing together, the mixing 'of the in-laws' because of the marriage of all the ingredients in the dish. Siebetherio - a relationship of mutual benefit or dependence.
Petros answered various questions, including the inevitable one regarding water use in the Park. He explained that the area has high humidity and water is plentiful underground from the White Mountains. They have their own water from a bore-hole nine metres into the ground from which plants are watered during the summer.
We were then invited to wander the paths of the Park to experience more than 150 species of fruit trees along the way with the many herbs, medicinal and ornamental plants that it hosts. He hoped we would enjoy the walk and taking the opportunity to really appreciate the beauty and character of the place.
The two-and-a-half-kilometre walk took up two hours for those who explored the full trail. The path, steep in places, is amid naturally beautiful surroundings with ample opportunity to get to know the many different plants and trees that thrive in this uniquely planted slope. Starting 165 metres above sea level the path winds its way down to the dry river-bed way below. (Dry at the time of our visit).
Helpful signage along the paths provides plant names and country of origin and the route to the various parts of the Botanical Park (tropical trees, fruit trees, citrus trees, herbs and vines).
Looking at the Park and its facilities, it is impossible to imagine that it is this same area that was completely burned in the fire of 2003 that is now literally reborn through its ashes.
This was a special place to meet as our first event after an unprecedented gap of so long. It was special that a few members’ non-gardener partners joined us. We enjoyed the spectacular scenery, examples of local flora and fauna as well as interesting tropical and subtropical varieties from all over the world. The changing seasons and the continuing maturity of the Park provide the incentive to enjoy visiting again and again.
Several people commented:
Jill and Bob wrote,
‘We had a lovely day - interesting talks, beautiful walk and an amazing lunch! Thanks for organising this event and please pass on a big thank you to Petros and his staff.’
Jeannie said,
‘I really enjoyed our visit especially meeting up again with other members. I was impressed by the way the whole garden is structured. There was always something interesting to look at around every corner. I hadn't been there for about four years but I'll definitely make the effort to visit more often, if only for the delicious food.
Mary wrote,
‘It was very enjoyable, and the lunch was excellent as was the service. I suppose my main impression was just how well everything has advanced over the eight years or so since we last visited, and the great amount of shade and variation within the garden. I wonder how they sourced so many various plants. Having just been given a dragon fruit cutting, it was interesting to see some trained against uprights, and also all the underplanting in the shade. I was surprised by the turn out, and it was lovely to meet new and renew old acquaintances.’
We all felt welcome, the talk and the cookery demonstration were excellent. There were a few who didn’t walk round the park but were comfortable, relaxing in such a pleasant environment. Some who walked round had not been for a few years mentioned the maturity and variety of the plants. Those who had not been before were impressed by the colours, aromas and variety of species. The taverna, justly proud of their use of local, organic and seasonal produce provided us with a fantastic lunch with excellent service. The ‘του πεθερού’ dish was delicious and the ladies loved their gift of a herb posy.
We enjoyed the warm welcome from the Botanical Park staff in this outstanding setting and our special programme made this visit exceptional. We look forward to our next visit.
With thanks to Petros and the team at the Botanical Park.
Text and photographs by Valerie Whittington
March 2020
Wild Flower Walk, Kefalas
Ten members enjoyed a beautiful walk on a glorious spring morning, along the new Roupakias Walking Route, a circular route of approximately four kilometres from Kefalas through to Souri.
Walking through the valley we encountered numerous wild flowers, lupins and red and purple anemones under the canopy of olive trees, pink asphodels standing proud along the pathways. White cyclamen and Byronia Cretica carpeting the woodland tracks. There were widow iris (snake’s head iris Iris tuberosa) and evidence of many barbary nuts having flowered during the previous afternoon.
Wild almond (Prunus webbii) blossomed magnificently in the sunshine against the backdrop of the White Mountains still dusted with snow. Large mediterranean spurge (Euphorbia characias) and sun spurge (Euphorbia helioscopia) provided an explosion of vivid green along with giant fennel (Ferula communis ) which were not yet in flower.
We also were fortunate to see several different orchid species including the giant orchid (Barlia robertiana), monkey orchid (Orchis italica), bee orchid (Orchys apifera), pink butterfly orchid (Orchis papilionacea) and Orchis lactea.
During the walk we also encountered two large stone monuments created by local resident Vangellis, which are both memorials to families from Kefalas and provide a place to sit and contemplate the magnificent views and appreciate nature and the forest.
Upon our return to Kefalas we were fortunate to be able to visit Vangellis in his garden and learn more about his inspiration. Vangellis returned to his home village from working in Athens 30 years ago and began making his stone creations both inside his garden and in the surrounding areas of the village. Working originally with just the local natural stone. A visit to Barcelona four years ago introduced him to the work of Spanish architect, Anton Gaudi, and upon his return Vangellis began to add colourful embellishment to his work by way of broken tiles and glass. He has become renowned for his work and visitors to his garden can visit a small museum he has created with the story of his incredible artistic journey.
We all expressed our great fortune to live in such a beautiful area of outstanding natural beauty, to be able to walk and enjoy the spring flowers and birdsong. This was just a day before Greece began to lockdown due to the Coronavirus! Hopefully it will not be too long before we can enjoy such activities together again.
Text and photographs by Sara Gilding
January 2020
A photographic journey to Corfu, a collaborative presentation was given by Sara Gilding and Valerie Whittington, at Valerie and Clive’s house in Drapanos, Apokoronas.
Sara visited Corfu last January. She provided a picture of the island at this time of year which ‘looked beautiful in the clear winter sunshine’. Valerie shared her experience through images of gardens visited in Corfu during the MGS pre-AGM tour in Autumn 2019.
Valerie’s article was published in the MGS journal The Mediterranean Garden, January 2020, ‘The Pre-AGM Tour to Corfu, October 2019’, which provides the background detail for her presentation. The abridged version linked from this webpage has a selection of different photographs.
In light of this and therefore to avoid repetition, participants at this event were invited to comment on particular aspects or images from the presentation that captured their interest.
At the outset, Valerie complimented Caroline Davies on the varied and interesting programme she had created, which took the group to several different areas on the island. They visited superb private and historical gardens, museums and a winery. Valerie said that the fascinating history of the island became clearer through these different experiences.
Nancy and Dave said how much they enjoyed the slide show and talk about the Corfu visits. What struck them most was how green and forested Corfu is, and they particularly liked the atmospheric photographs with the sun shining through the trees.
This was a quiet, tranquil landscape with plants typical of the Corfiot countryside. It was full of olive, laurel and myrtus punctuated with tall columnar cypress trees. Clive was impressed by the views down from many of the gardens and across the sea.
The garden Dave liked most was the estate at Kanonas and Strongilo, ‘although beyond the means of most, clearly the founders are great gardeners and know how to make the very best of what is already a beautiful location’. Many remarked on the views of the natural rock pool.
It was an enormous swimming pool carved out of the quarry, breath-taking, both in its concept and in the stunning views across the sea to Albania.
Valerie described how this part of the garden has an untouched natural feel. The olive grove, with its tall specimens allowed shafts of sunlight to filter through the trees creates a golden glow. It is strimmed once a year to encourage the abundance of wild flowers.
Everyone liked the carpets of pretty cyclamen seen here and in several other gardens. It was interesting to see Sara’s photographs of the local olive trees, entirely different to the ones on Crete.
Both Valerie and Sara were fascinated by the olive groves in both quantity and character. We learned that Corfiot olives are different from those in the rest of Greece belonging to the Lianolia variety (Olea europaea var. cranimorpha) which the Venetians brought from Italy to supplement the native stock. This type produces a small black olive which is very rich in oil and it lingers naturally on the tree far longer than most others. The trees are rarely pruned, are taller and more mysterious looking with sinewy trunks with distinctive holes. Valerie said that she loved the feeling that these lovely trees emanated, especially when the sun shone through them. They are different from many of the olive groves here on Crete which are pruned every two years, sometimes drastically.
Gardeners are always on the lookout for new ideas. Jill was struck by the photograph of the lovely blue plumbago in the pot in Rachel Weaving’s garden.
‘It made a nice erect, colourful bush. As it’s a plant that tends to grow fast and spread a lot in the ground this was a good idea - and it was nice to see the humble plumbago looking great in a grand garden!’ Nearby was a plumbago hedge in flower which reflected the blue of the sea beyond.
Sara liked the photographs from the Gastouri garden and felt there were many images that one could choose to highlight from others.
Sara’s images of the old villages and implements were interesting, as in the image below.
Jill found the talk very interesting and liked the focus on the underlying ‘ethos’ of the gardens, such as Lord Rothschild’s idea that the garden is about the ‘place’ and should just enhance and co-exist harmoniously with the existing landscape rather than introduce extraneous colours and styles. Acknowledging that it would not be everyone’s idea but in that stunning location it made sense!
All gardens valued their wild and natural areas and the incorporation of the cyclamen (mainly Cyclamen hederifolium), Sternbergia lutea and Amaryllis belladonna as special features impressed.
Thanks were expressed ‘for your very thoughtful and insightful talk and Sara’s excellent photos of the wider landscapes of Corfu were a very good complement to the talk about specific gardens there’.
Valerie appreciated all those people who are ready to open their gardens and often give time to talk about them. There was also time to wander in Valerie’s garden. Several agave specimens were taken to new homes.
September 2019
A visit to Bob and Liz Burlumi’s garden in Kokkino Horio, Apokoronas
Following the MGS visit to Bob and Liz's garden in May 2013, I wrote about ‘their aims: to create a native and self-sufficient garden in keeping with the beautiful natural environment and from an ecological perspective. It was an inspiring visit, particularly the collection and use of water feeding the natural ponds, and the practical but inspired planting scheme, which again created plenty of visual interest while at the same time complementing the natural landscape beautifully. It is a garden in its infancy which it would be fascinating to visit again in a couple of years’ time.’
So now, six years later, this visit was most rewarding in showing further developments, such as the new area of succulents and cacti and other aspects of the garden with those early aims now coming to fruition/maturity.
On this second visit we had several members who had not been to the garden before. Seeing this with fresh eyes, three made the following responses to the visit:
Jill wrote: Visiting a garden on the very exposed coast east of Kokkino Horio provided an insight into how to tame the beautiful wild Cretan hills into an interesting and beautiful landscape. It had colour, shape, interesting plants and amazingly a fresh water swimming pond with aquatic edge plants, waterlilies and attendant dragon flies.
The use of native plants along-side Australian fig trees provided interest and height. Then around the corner we saw a beautiful area of cacti and succulents, a variety of shapes and sizes and some in flower.
Bob’s plans for the propagation of lavender and the ever-present challenge of such an exposed site will always make it a labour of love and experimentation. But it has already achieved a great amount for this corner of Crete. Looking for trees to provide natural shade but cope with the wind was a definite learning point for us as well as the concept of taming the natural plants into interesting shapes.
Nancy wrote: We enjoyed the visit to Bob’s garden - and the lovely lunch afterwards. Their garden was interesting, with enough ground to have some tended areas and some natural with great rocks in between. We particularly liked the succulents and cacti (like most members I suspect), some are amazing shapes, and also the pretty Cassia bush. Being covered in yellow flowers, it really caught your eye.
Breda wrote: I really enjoyed the garden, the new friends and the lunch. I loved how it complemented its harsh, natural environment by using so many wild, drought-resistant plants and then the delightful counterpoint of the central oasis: the natural pool and pond. Lovely.
With thanks to Bob for sharing the garden with us on a delightful, sunny day. Everyone admired the results of the endeavour in developing such a successful garden in an area which can be a dry, hostile environment, especially when the wind blows.
A write up of the garden’s background, concept and early stages can be read in the Crete Branch web page archive (May 2013).
Photographs 4,5,6,7 were provided by Bob Burlumi, Photo 9 by Nancy Moon, the rest by Valerie Whittington.
July 2019
Garden visit and ‘Let’s talk plants’ followed by our annual summer 'bring and share' buffet
Our garden visit this month was in Xerosterni where we enjoyed Esther and Mike Vredegoor’s hospitality and delightful garden.
This summer event was held during a very hot spell so a late afternoon gathering was welcome within this interesting and shady garden. We rarely meet in July and August given the heat but due to unforeseen circumstances planned events in May and June were postponed.
Esther spoke about their ‘inherited’ space and showed us the areas they are developing themselves. They have lived in the house for eighteen months and naturally have waited to see what is in the garden through the seasons before making changes.
We were shown some photographs of very early development of the garden from its inception around 15 years ago. Incredible growth has taken place, particularly by the trees.
I particularly like the mass of white agapanthus which distinguishes this lovely calm environment, we were lucky that they were still in flower. Also the positioning of one clump cleverly sited to reflect in a mirror, making a special feature of this area.
A bonus for this visit is to see Esther’s amazing garden mosaics which define the area with her personality.
Following our look around we seized the opportunity to discuss plants in a structured session, ‘Let’s talk plants.’ Currently, our local group is made up of those who are now experienced gardeners in this challenging mediterranean climate and others facing this task more recently. Thus, it was worthwhile to have recommendations of ‘plants that have worked well for me’. Photos of these were helpful as well as where they might be sourced (phones/tablets made this a simple exercise). General questions or advice was also appreciated. There was also a plant exchange.
Rounding off the evening our annual summer ‘bring and share’ supper followed in this charming shady setting. The afternoon extended into evening having proved both a useful opportunity for discussing plants and gardens and to enjoy asocial get together.
With thanks to Esther and Mike for sharing their new garden with us and being excellent hosts. Also to those who bought photographs of favourite plants and shared knowledge and experience of what works for them in their particular gardens.
Text and photographs by Valerie Whittington
April 2019
A Spring Walk in ‘Spili Bumps’, Spili, Rethymno
For several years now we have visited Gious Kambos (Spili Bumps) to see the orchids and the endemic tulips (Tulipa doerfleri) which grow here in profusion.
This small but special plateau is usually full of flowers at this time of year. The name means the Plain of Eos, who was the goddess of the Dawn in Greek mythology. It is a lovely unspoiled pocket of western Crete with stunning scenery on the drive up.
Saturday was an enjoyable day when a group of local members visited the plateau. It is always a bit of a risk as the flowers rarely bloom at the same time each year. This year we have had a particularly wet winter and the island has suffered from a recent cyclone which has caused a great deal of damage to the infrastructure, including deep ruts in the track on parts of the plateau.
Although a few Anacamptis pyramidalis intermingled with Orchis Italica the latter dominated this visit. It was interesting that, although there were fewer different varieties of orchids this year, those that were there were in their hundreds. It was an amazing sight I have never seen so many growing together.
A rare and threatened species, the Orchis boryi when seen herein the past have been mostly lone specimens. This year together with Orchis laxiflora they filled large areas, speckling the grass with purple. It is quite challenging to identify the difference between the two. Anacamptis boryi has an open lower petal with distinctive speckles, the lower petal of Orchis laxiflora appears to fold and hang down.
The delicate creamy yellow Orchis Pauciflora stood proudly on higher ground often amongst rocks.
It always amazes visitors that the small, delightful wild tulips(Tulipa doerfleri), declared as a protected species in 1981, grow nowhere else in the world. Here they were impressively widespread over a number of fields. Several were also growing happily by the roadside.
Very few bee orchids were spotted on this visit. The photograph below was the only one I saw on our walk.
The only negative was the weather. Although bright, the wind was bitterly cold and most of us wore coats and scarves and wished for gloves and balaclavas!
The walk was followed by a meal in a small, local, traditional taverna accompanied by a very warm welcome which compensated for the cold up on the Bumps.
Text and photographs by Valerie Whittington
March 2019
Gardens of Alicante and Valencia, Spain: An illustrated presentation by Valerie Whittington from the MGS AGM, Autumn 2018
The group met on a bright morning at Frances and Andy Milligan’s house in Litsarda, to listen to Val talk about her visit with the MGS to various gardens in the Alicante and Valencia areas of Spain.
Val was so enthusiastic about the trip and the gardens they visited and gave us a very entertaining and informative talk with beautiful photographs of the truly splendid gardens.
In the Alicante visit I was very interested in the Albarda Garden with its shade house and splendid palms and ferns: so green and beautiful and completely different from how we garden here in Crete. We might all have Mediterranean gardens but we all face different challenges.
Val talked us through all the gardens she visited and supported her talk with photographs, not just of the flowers but of the gardens from all different angles giving us a truly lovely view into these special places.
Elche and the amazing garden there was clearly a favourite; we were shown several photographs of the impressive palms and cacti from the Huerta del Cura and Palmeral Museum.
Val described Carmen del Campillo, which is modelled on a Moorish Tea garden, a ‘perfect treasure’. Her photographs showed this as a maze of colourful courtyards and interlocking rooms.
The garden tour then moved on to Valencia region with many great gardens to visit. I liked the idea of the Turia Garden, designed in the old river bed to give green space to the city. Diverse trees and shrubs were shown as were several varieties of palm along the Palm Walk.
I thought Bismarckia nobilis was remarkable from the photographs shown in several gardens; a palm that several of us really wish for here on Crete.
It was clear that Val was very impressed with the gardens she visited in this region and really sold it to the members present with her very informative talk and beautiful photographic journey, as many of us were making silent plans to visit this region in the future.
At the end of the talk we had the opportunity to walk around Frances and Andy's large garden, which they describe as work in progress. They have built several flower beds and planted lots of trees and its clear that is it going to be lovely, the most beautiful thing about their garden in March though is the fabulous wild flowers in the uncultivated areas, including many orchids: nature at its finest. They are so lucky to have all this on their doorstep. Read more about it and see images from the visit to their garden in May 2018 on the archived version of this web page.
A full write up and description of the MGS AGM is available in TMG Journal No. 95, January 2019.
Text by Rosemary Thomas
Photographs by Valerie Whittington
February 2019
An illustrated talk by Manoj Malde: The story of ‘Beneath a Mexican Sky’, his Silver Gilt design winning garden in the Fresh Garden’s Category, at the Chelsea Flower Show in London, May 2017.
This was a repeat of the presentation given in September 2017 as several members had been unable to attend.
Rosemary Thomas describes this occasion: We all gathered on a lovely sunny morning in Sara and Roger Gilding beautiful garden for coffee in the sunshine before heading inside to listen to the presentation by Manoj Malde who designed a garden at Chelsea flower show in 2017, winning him a Silver Gilt medal.
Manoj talked about the considerable amount of preparation required by the RHS to show a garden at Chelsea and how he came up with his award-winning design. There was so much work in the planning: it is not enough to be creative in garden design you have to submit all the engineering plans and the plant provenance.
This was all worth it when we saw the finished garden design 'Beneath a Mexican Sky,' it was so beautiful with great colour combinations and sublime plantings of mediterranean plants with a very clever pool water feature. Obviously, the judges agreed and a Manoj was a very worthy medal winner.
We all felt very privileged with this opportunity to see and hear the 'behind the scenes' workings of Chelsea Flower Show and everyone came away better informed about professional garden design, plant care and how to be brave with colour. It was a very enjoyable morning indeed.
Photographs were provided by Manoj Malde which acknowledge his design; the build by Living Landscapes and sponsorship by Inland Homes PLC Photography copyright Jonathan Buckley.
A full write up of the talk can be read in the Crete Branch web page archive with photographs showing aspects of the garden coming to fruition and a list of the plants used.
January 2019
An illustrated talk by Nancy Moon: Highlights from The MGS tour of Italian Gardens in Umbria, Italy, May 2018 held at Nancy and Dave’s garden in Almyrida.
Nancy had recommended reading John Joynes’ article in TMG journal No. 94, October 2018, ‘Excursion to Lazio and Umbria’, which provided very good background detail for her talk. She showed a map of the two centres where they had spent time, Frascati first and then Todi, about 80 miles further north.
Speaking with great enthusiasm for the tour, she took us chronologically through the gardens visited giving us a glimpse of these lovely places through her favourite images, which were of excellent quality.
I have, in turn, chosen a few photographs that the group particularly enjoyed and which provided some discussion.
The first visit was to an estate in which the owners had created a garden within the ruins of a medieval village. The garden of Torrecchia Vecchia looked delightful within the village walls, providing a real atmosphere.
This garden looked very natural and could almost be taken for an old English cottage garden with its lush vegetation and profusion of foxgloves.
A rose, Jude the Obscure, was much admired and led to an interesting discussion about the move away from the traditional rose beds in many gardens. This is a change in practise, by including roses as an integral part of herbaceous borders in less traditional planting schemes. I found this to be the case in several of the gardens we visited in South Africa, which made me look at roses in a different way, never having been keen on discrete rose beds. Nancy is keen to buy a Jude the Obscure specimen for her garden and much discussion took place regarding ease of sourcing. Roses do well in Crete and are very popular plants in Cretan gardens, often flowering for months on end.
The Ninfa Water Gardens in Sermoneta has been described by many as ‘the most beautiful garden in the world’. It certainly looked lovely, with dense planting providing a lush environment rich in colour and sprawling over the ruins of this medieval town. I liked the photograph below with the vibrant blue clematis climbing an old wall juxta composed alongside a deep red rose.
La Landriana was described as a garden of different rooms largely defined by colour. I liked several images from this garden. Purple alliums stood stately, tall. Huge sweeps of lotus plants spread in the substantial pond. There were many cheerful roses and a spectacular tulip tree. In contrast to many of the other gardens, I have chosen a formal view of ‘the room’ of orange trees with clipped box balls; it looks delightful.
There were climbing roses in profusion in the Garden of Maresa Del Buffalo: its speciality. The images showed it looking spectacular. I understand why Nancy considers this a particular highlight.
Leaving the Frascati region, the group moved north to Todi, stopping on the way at a specialist peony nursery and then the Iris Umbria Nursery where many images of pretty iris varieties were shown; ‘Loreley’ was Nancy’s favourite.
The next photograph that I have selected is the focal point, a ‘natural’ swimming pond in Yvonne Barton’s garden, which I think looks most inviting. Others were less sure about swimming alongside frogs and other water creatures but liked the pond itself. One of our members on Crete has also made a ‘natural’ swimming pond which is both beautiful to look at and environmentally sound. Should more of us be developing pools in this way? Perhaps more information about doing so would be helpful.
Nancy told us that Yvonne’s garden was very much in keeping with MGS philosophy. Irrigation being provided to plants for the first year or two to allow them to establish after which ‘they are on their own’. Yvonne is an MGS member in the Italian Branch with responsibility for the main MGS website, as well as that of the Italian language website.
A very different garden was that belonging to Daniela Fe d’Ostiani. Having said that many of Nancy’s slides showed gardens much lusher than those we know on Crete, this one struck me as being particularly green. In the photograph visitors are almost dwarfed when exploring.
The next garden, overlooking Lake Bolensa, was completely unlike any of the others we had been shown. The owner, Antonella Fiaschi, has created a large-scale rock garden which included many unusual plants including both yellow and prostrate Oenothera. Several people liked the Erigeron hugging the steps on either side of the path in the slides seen.
Nancy concluded her excellent presentation by commending this MGS Tour and its organisation. She said that it was also very much a gourmet trip. Having been on several tours myself, I had to concur that good food and company are a strong feature of so many of the Mediterranean Garden Society trips and events alongside the main emphasis of garden visits or wildflower walks.
Following the talk Nancy and Dave showed us around their interesting garden, completing a convivial, informative and productive morning.
Being January both Nancy and Dave felt that the garden was not being seen at its best. They will invite the group back at a later date with the full emphasis being on the garden and its development with both ‘before’ and ‘after’ photographs. We look forward to that; meanwhile a very special thank you to Nancy and Dave for the carefully selected, high quality presentation and their hospitality.
Photographs by Nancy Moon
Text by Valerie Whittington
December 2018
A pre-Christmas get-together at Valerie and Clive Whittington’s home in Drapanos, Apokoronas
Recently returned from the MGS AGM in Spain, Valerie took the opportunity to share new developments within the society and other topics discussed at the very positive General Assembly held in Alicante.
We reviewed our annual programme for 2018: much had been achieved across the year. All events have written reports on our ‘old’ Branch web page and can still be accessed on the MGS website. Everyone contributed ideas for our branch development and the programme of events for 2019: a good balance of garden visits, presentations and a wildflower walk.
This was also a chance to get together to chat ‘gardens’ over morning coffee. Some stayed to look around the garden, completing a convivial, informative and productive morning. Everywhere was looking lush and green after so much rain this autumn. One member commented how different it looked in comparison to his previous visit in the summer when everywhere was very dry.
Valerie wrote about the development of her garden ‘Designing and Working with Natural Landscape in Crete’ in MGS TMG Journal No. 63. It has matured well and is fulfilling her aims: time for an article on the further development and maintaining the garden, and to celebrate her success.
This garden visit concentrated on the lower bank to look at particular aspects. For example, as can be seen in the above photograph, simple terracing and stones around individual plants are effective in combating erosion on the bank caused by torrential rain. All the plants in these ‘planting pockets’ have been propagated by Valerie from cuttings.
Teucrium fruticans and T. fruticans ‘Azureum’, are beautiful in bloom on the successful ‘mediterranean hillside’ section of the garden. Pyracantha and Lavandula angustafolia blend in well with this section. Providing a delightful contrast is an unusual dark evergreen Senecio, successfully grown from a cutting given by Heidi Gildemeister when Valerie visited her Mallorca garden in 2011.This is propagated frequently and now features in several parts of the terraced garden.
Since writing in the TMG Journal, some of the wild area below the bank has been developed to create a delightful flower bed with Rosemary repens, Grevilleas, Gaura lindeheimeri, Convolvulus cneorum, Tulbaghia and Lavandula angustifolia. The ‘gulley’ at the very bottom of the garden was completely overgrown until five years ago. Now it has been cleared, providing a completely different garden in an old river bed. Valerie is allowing wind-blown seeds to establish here as well as putting in a few cuttings from elsewhere in the garden. Petromarula pinnata and Scutellaria sieberi, both Cretan endemics, now grow here. The latterwas looking very lush after all the recent rain, even though growing in a very stony section. Alongside this an Agave ‘waterfall’ has been very successfully created in an area of steep scree.
June 2018
A Garden visit to Pam and Geoff Dunn’s Guest Housein Douliana, followed by an illustrated talk by Yvonne Innes
Several events have been held at Pam and Geoff Dunn’s home over the years where they have space for us both to meet informally and to enjoy more formal presentations. Members always have the opportunity to look around the garden at these events.
On this occasion, before Yvonne’s talk, Pam showed us around their immaculate garden. For more detail about this lovely garden look at the article written in June 2013. Since that time plants have matured considerably. The photograph above shows well-established succulents and agaves filling the spaces and providing a contrast between the rocks on the side of the path linking the two houses.
Further into the garden there were interesting plants such as Cascabela thevetiaor yellow oleander, Caesalpinia gilliesii (syn.Erythrostemon gilliesii) a beautiful shrub commonly known as bird of paradise tree (it is not related to Strelitzia reginae; which is also called the bird of paradise). Leucophyllum frutescens, or barometer bush, has small vibrant purple flowers when watered or after rain; this is a compact but loosely branched shrub that Pam shapes in her garden.
Following the garden tour Yvonne Innes gave a fascinating talk about her commission for the 2008 Chelsea Flower Show. Yvonne is a garden designer and plant consultant who has extensive experience, including work in Spain and France. After George Harrison’s death she designed a Chelsea Flower Show garden in his memory, commissioned by Olivia Harrison, his wife. The main focus for this evening’s presentation was the background, design and implementation of this particular garden called ‘From Life to Life, a Garden for George’. The design for this memorial garden for George Harrison was a celebration of his life, music and philosophy, created to depict his life and journey from the material to the spiritual world.
George and his wife Olivia loved going to the Chelsea Flower Show each year and they brought many ideas home. He was said to have viewed himself as a full-time gardener and part-time rock star. Yvonne spoke of ‘his incredible eye’ and considers that he could easily have been a garden designer himself. Clearly, this is what he was in his own garden of 60 acres, which had been neglected for many years when he bought the derelict property in 1980. It had originally belonged to an eccentric who had created areas of several different microclimates including rock gardens, caves, moss, water gardens and a lake.
Yvonne talked of the privilege of creating gardens at Chelsea. Given the commission, she expressed how the ‘world was her oyster’, being able to choose her team, plants and materials with no problem. This was, she said, a dream job, whatever you can draw you can build. She is immensely proud of the results, and rightly so.
To provide the context for her design, she started by giving insight into the background of George’s own garden at his home in Friar Park, Henley. She has been involved in designing and planning sections over the years and she retains her links there. This was fascinating and helped provide ideas for the design of the memorial garden. Friar Park remains a private garden; key plants and features chosen for Chelsea were those that were much loved there, such as maples, ferns, grasses, moss, Japanese anemones and other perennials.
So to the design as seen in the photograph below. The model shows the idea of the ‘moving through the ages’ pathway.
Divided into four areas representing different stages in George’s life: the Liverpool Garden representing his childhood, the Psychedelic 1960s Garden (the Beatle years), the Contemplative Garden (post-Beatle years) and the Afterlife Garden.
The implementation of the building work started four to five weeks before the show week. All materials were chosen to be as eco-friendly as possible. For example, red bricks from Liverpool and a bicycle Olivia found that was identical to the one from a childhood photograph of George were used in the first section.
The ages pathway was made in colours reflecting that stage of life. Brian Clarke, a glass artist, produced the amazing mosaic of Liverpool and the Liver Building for the childhood section. This was an impressive 1.2 metres wide. Yvonne chose to make a vegetable garden alongside this with plants such as peas, beans, parsley, cabbage and kale. George’s father was a keen vegetable grower and this was strongly reflected in his interest in gardening from an early age.
Colour changes from blue to red, orange and yellow as the path moves into the Psychedelic garden. Then it changes from blueish into white. Planting alongside reflects these colour changes admirably.
The Psychedelic Garden is jam-packed with hundreds of plants of vibrant colours. Yvonne had submitted a plant list with the design plan to provide the effect she wanted, but she explained that the planting list you start out with is not necessarily the one you end up with, as plant crops may fail or their names are changed etc. So it is really a sort of plants 'such as' list with a few definite ones which plant enthusiasts will be able to identify themselves. The whole Chelsea week is so rushed that there is not time to redo the list with the additions of plants you have managed to scavenge from local nurseries.
Plants such as Acer palmatum "Atropurpureum" and Heuchera micrantha "Palace Purple" provide purple foliage, with Allium "Purple Sensation" and Lupinus "Masterpiece" for purple flowers. Examples of yellow and orange foliage were Heuchera "Caramel" and Ligustrum ovalifolium "Aureum", while for yellow and orange flowers Achillea "Moonshine", Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus and Forsythia "Lynwood Gold" were planned choices. Centranthus ruber, Lupinus "My Castle" and various roses were examples of red flowers. Blue and silver foliage examples were Achillea "Moonshine" and Santolina decumbens (syn. Santolina incana), while for flowers Ceanothus "Blue Mound", Delphinium "Bluebird" Lupinus "Gallery Blue", and Rheum and Hosta varieties. Pittosporum "Garnettii" and Miscanthus sinensis "Variegatus" provided variegated foliage.
The post-Beatles garden was a contemplative garden. For this, Yvonne chose Betula utilis var. jacquemontii (Himalayan birch), having a more static, formal, upright habit than a silver birch with a denser crown, ideal for use as a specimen tree. Moss, a variety of ferns and wild grasses from Friar Park were also incorporated into the design. A water wall with a larger than life picture of George was featured at the end of this section.
The Indian Temple was erected with beautiful artisan touches, it was intended to be ethereal. We were shown details of the tiny mosaic finish and lattice work inside the pavilion and the benches which were covered with beautifully made cushions. The base of the pavilion was inscribed: ‘Floating down the stream of time, of life to life ... with me’ (An extract from lyrics written by George).
In the After Life garden, the planting was primarily white with choices such as white roses and lupins, Phlox paniculata, Cornus controversa "Variegata", Heucheravarieties and Hosta "Bressingham Blue. The result was exquisite.
This was a fascinating presentation. All of us at the event were of an age when we knew of George Harrison but not necessarily the details of his life and values. Listening and seeing aspects of this that led to the design and making of ‘From Life to Life, a Garden for George,’ a memorial garden at the Chelsea Flower Show, was a privilege.
Yvonne described her involvement in making this garden as an amazing experience; everyone wanted to be part of it and to give of their best. It seemed appropriate to learn that the pavilion went to Friar Park.
We were delighted to welcome Yvonne Innes to Crete and thank her for an inspiring presentation and experience. She is a fellow MGS member, now living in the South of France. Our branch prides itself on welcoming members from elsewhere.
A bring and share supper on Pam and Geoff’s delightful terrace completed the evening, thank you both. Also thank you to Pam for showing us around the garden.
Text and photographs from Pam’s garden by Valerie Whittington
Photographs from Chelsea by Yvonne Innes
For older reports and articles please check out the archived (non-responsive) Crete Branch page.
Branch Head Annika Kyparissi
Annika studied Landscape architecture and environmental planning at the Technical University Ostwestfalen-Lippe in Hoexter. After her intensive practical experience at "Planstatt Senner" in the Southwestern part of Germany, she decided to leave for Crete in 2009. Her husband Stelios had founded the landscaping company "Chloroplastes".
Today ‘Chloroplastes’ is not only a company for landscape architecture and landscaping construction but also a small native plant nursery offering Mediterranean plants plus Greek and Cretan species in particular.
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