Wednesday 4 April 2012

21ST APRIL 2012 VISIT TO CULTIDELTA & RAIMON CORBERO'S



This is a great opportunity to visit an amazing nursery and member’s garden in Tarragona.  Although a long day it will be well worthwhile.  I have attached further information.  If you are interested in attending please contact me on joanball53@gmail.com. (I also have recommendations for overnight accommodation if required)

09:45  - All meet at Exit 41 of AP-7, in the parking after the peage

10:00 am SATURDAY, APRIL 21 2012 - VISIT TO CULTIDELTA – AMPOSTA - TARRAGONA
Cultidelta concentrates on plants from all the Mediterranean regions throughout the world. They have 450 species and are producing about 3 million pieces in plant trays; 400.000 pieces in pots of 1.3, 2 and 3 liters; 25.000 pieces in pots of 10 liters; and 400.000 pieces for green roofs grown in horticultural cells.

We will visit the following show gardens where we will see about 125 to 150 of different Mediterranean plant species:
  • Mediterranean Garden
  • Mixed Hanging-species Garden
  • Garden without growing medium
  • Mountain Garden
  • Continental Garden
  • Xeric Garden
  • Hanging Garden 2
  • Aquatic Garden
  • Dune garden
  • The Office Garden
  • Green Roof

As the end for this visit, we will go on a short trip to Els UIlals de Baltassar wetland, which are fresh water surges that create small natural lagoons with specific vegetation made of caladium mariscus and nymphaea alba. The whole area (about 500 m) is equipped for walking around as it has wooden footbridges and viewpoints.

13h-14h - LUNCH
We will lunch in Amposta at Hotel Ciutat d’Amposta, price about 15-16€.

After lunch we will visit Raimon Corbero´s garden  "la nau" ´ at Moli de pomeri - El Catllar (Tarragona)

The house is an ancient industrial building which was previously used as pig farm.  Over the years Raimon has made many changes to the house adding gardens, patios and pérgolas.

The garden is very interesting and has been created without any previous criteria or plan. Step by step the garden was increased in size and 90% of the plants in the garden have come from different gardening projects that Raimon has worked on. The garden blends into the amazing Tarragona countryside between oliva trees and vines.

APRIL 2012 NEWSLETTER




Hi Everyone
Spring has sprung and our gardens are bursting with new growth.  I wish you all a Very Happy Easter!!
Forthcoming Events

21st April – Visit Irta – Reus Mas Bover & Visit Raimon Corbero’s Private Experimental Garden in Cambrils – starts at 10:00 a.m.

This is a great opportunity to visit an amazing nursery and member’s garden in Tarragona.  Although a long day it will be well worthwhile.  I have attached further information.  If you are interested in attending please contact me on joanball53@gmail.com. (I also have recommendations for overnight accommodation if required)

SATURDAY, APRIL 21 2012 - VISIT TO CULTIDELTA – AMPOSTA - TARRAGONA
Cultidelta concentrates on plants from all the Mediterranean regions throughout the world. They have 450 species and are producing about 3 million pieces in plant trays; 400.000 pieces in pots of 1.3, 2 and 3 liters; 25.000 pieces in pots of 10 liters; and 400.000 pieces for green roofs grown in horticultural cells.
We will visit the following show gardens where we will see about 125 to 150 of different Mediterranean plant species:
  • Mediterranean Garden
  • Mixed Hanging-species Garden
  • Garden without growing medium
  • Mountain Garden
  • Continental Garden
  • Xeric Garden
  • Hanging Garden 2
  • Aquatic Garden
  • Dune garden
  • The Office Garden
  • Green Roof

As the end for this visit, we will go on a short trip to Els UIlals de Baltassar wetland, which are fresh water surges that create small natural lagoons with specific vegetation made of caladium mariscus and nymphaea alba. The whole area (about 500 m) is equipped for walking around as it has wooden footbridges and viewpoints.






VISIT Raimon Corbero´s garden Experimental Garden "la nau" ´ at Moli de pomeri - El Catllar (Tarragona)
The house is an ancient industrial building which was previously used as pig farm.  Over the years Raimon has made many changes to the house adding gardens, patios and pérgolas.
The garden is very interesting and has been created without any previous criteria or plan. Step by step the garden was increased in size and 90% of the plants in the garden have come from different gardening projects that Raimon has worked on. The garden blends into the amazing Tarragona countryside between oliva trees and vines.

14/15th April Trip to Serignan du Comtat Rare Plant Fair - France

This plant fair is by far the largest and the best the plant fairs in France.  There are usually about 80 exhibitors who will gladly sell you plants.
A small group (4-5) will be attending the Serignan Rare Plant Fair over this weekend.  They will drive to Serignan, stay in a nearby hotel that evening and spend the next day visiting the Plant Fair  and begin the drive home that evening, staying overnight wherever is convenient.
The Languedoc Branch will have several of their members visiting the Plant Fair too and we will meet them for lunch.  This is the largest
If anybody is interested in joining the group please contact Brian at brian.constable@gmail.com or 977 059 020 or 622 283 917 for further details

5th May – Visit Cervantes Rose Garden - Barcelona

The Cervantes Rose Garden sits on a hill (San Pedro Martir) it has 2000 species and varieties of roses. There are about 10,000 rose bushes that come from all over the world. The garden occupies four hectares of land and was designed in 1965.

12th May – Two Garden Visits - First to Shaunaugh & Crispin Latymers garden and second to Giles Money-Coutts’Garden – Bisbal


12TH/13TH MAY 2012 – MGS EXHIBIT AT CALONGE MUSIC & FLOWER FESTIVAL 
I am sorry that due to lack of interest this has been postponed, however, I am designing an MGS garden backdrop to be used next year.  A member has suggested that we also may want to consider a stand for the Girona Flower Festival next year It would be fantastic exposure for the MGS and what a great experience!  If anyone is interested in being part of a working group let me know. 
July Trip to UK – has been cancelled.

PAST EVENT

Visit to Can Torres – Quart - Nr. Girona  - Talk on Organic Gardening, Companion Gardening & Worldwide Organic Movement

At our visit to Can Torres twenty-eight members enjoyed a very information presentation on the Worldwide Organic Movement given by David Pierson and an enlightening talk on Organic and Companion planting by Karen.  Afterwards two groups toured around Karen and David’s beautiful garden perched high on top of the Gavarras Mountains overlooking Girona.  They have designed both their vegetable and flower garden with precision whilst incorporating their main objectives ‘organic, recycle, sustainability’.  Thanks so much Karen and David.  Photos can be seen on the MGS Catalonia Blog.
GENERAL INFORMATION
MGS JOURNAL
If you would like to write an article for the MGS Journal I would encourage you to do so.  Before writing the article it has to be approved by the Editor.  If you require any further information on this please let me know.
Sparoza Action Group Report to ACM 18th Feb 2012 – attached is copy of minutes. 
AGM 2012 in Australia
The program is now on the website and as of the 1st May you can sign-up by going to the following http://www.mediterraneangardensociety.org/agm-2012.html
Membership of MGS
Reminder if you have not renewed your subscription it’s not too late!!

FLOWERS of GREECE by Tristan Lafranchis and George Sfikas
This 2 volume field guide published in May 2009 is beautifully and generously illustrated with 3,500 colour photos.
Text and photo are on the same double-page and describe more than 78% of Greek plants (more are found on the DVD). Descriptions emphasize the distinctive features, the most important being in italic. Large general groups have been divided into smaller units in order to assist identification. Information on the habitats, the location in Greece and the flowering time are also given.


WHATS HAPPENING IN THE OTHER BRANCHES
FRANCE
Thursday 12th April at 6.00pm in Malaucène  - Talk on vegetable gardening in a mediterranean climate by Dick Handscombe
Tuesday 22nd May at 3.00pm - Talk “Managing climate change in Mediterranean gardens” by Trevor Nottle
Please contact Christine by email at cs.savage@btopenworld.com  if you are interested in attending any of the above events.



Leaflets
Making a Dry Garden
Mulches and Compost
The Waterwise Garden

These are now available in English, Spanish Portuguese, German and French as printed leaflets or as .pdf attachments to an email. 
CATALONIA BRANCH SITE
http://mgscatalonia.blogspot.com/
The MGS Seed List
A seed exchange for MGS members run by Chantal Guiraud. New seeds added following the AGM in Majorca and visits to Costa Blanca as well as donations received in December.
 A list and information on how to order, see MGS website: http://www.mediterraneangardensociety.org/seedlist.html
MGS members entitled to 10 free packets each year
The MGS Forum
A new, live, internet forum for anyone interested in Mediterranean plants and gardening. Send your garden/plant queries to the forum.

Moderated by Alisdair Aird, Oron Peri and Fleur Pavlidis this can be accessed at www.mgsforum.org/smf/index.php
TMG Index/Archive service
Articles from past issues of The Mediterranean Garden journal
To receive the text of past articles by email contact the editor, Caroline Harbouri, at petrie.harbouri@on.gr. Find articles by going to the website, go to MGS Journal, then click on ‘General Index’ for an A-Z by topic.
Information about the administration of the MGS Minutes of General Assemblies and Administrative Committee meetings Financial Statements
Minutes of the October 2011 General Assembly and Administrative Committee meetings and this year’s Financial Statements are now available. Copies of any of these documents can be sent by email. Contact me.



WHAT TO DO IN YOUR GARDEN DURING APRIL
·       Commence or increase watering of plants as weather warms up, and keep weed free.
·       Keep compost heap damp.
·       Keep a watch for the development of pine tree caterpillars (procesionarias), and white / black flies, aphids &ants on young shoots or buds; - they can increase rapidly if not treated quickly.
·       Start to give pot /container plants a monthly feed as they begin to flower, and also give fertilizer to trees, shrubs & hedges.
·       Give hedges a good spring cut.
·       Cut out dry branches of aromatic plants, and trim to form a more compact shape.
·       Trim frost damage from succulents.
·       Check newly planted roses after winter winds and that they are firmly planted; tread-in if necessary.  Take cuttings of  Christmas cactus.
·       Plant out the first summer annuals for Easter colour, and make final sowings of annuals such as petunias.
·       Also good for continuing to sow biennials such as coreopsis, margaritas, freesia, gaillardia, lobelia, & zinnia.
·       As the autumn bulbs finish, plant more summer flowering bulbs and tubers such as gladioli, begonias, iris, galtonias, & tiger lilies.
·       Another good month for making new or renewing lawns and adding fertilizer.  Also increase watering of lawns.
FRUITS
·       Re-pot citrus trees in larger containers if needed AFTER they have made their new growth. 
·       Give a peaty compost top dressing if not re-potting.
·       Fix traps for minero moth on citrus trees.   Watch out for early leaf curl and spray.
·       Start to dust grape vines with sulphur powder. Mulch raspberries, and give strawberries a feed.
·       Give all fruit trees and plants a good watering if there has been no heavy spring rain.
VEGETABLES
·       Collect nettles and steep in water for a useful high nitrogen feed.
·       Prepare cane supports for tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, climbing beans, and cucumbers.
·       Protect newly planted plantlets and sowings against snails with comfrey encircling  the area.
·       Sow aubergine, beetroot, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, French beans, leeks, lettuce, melon, water-melon, & silver-beet. Also plant herbs – dill, coriander, basil and parsley


, lettuce, melon, water-melon, & silver-beet. Also plant herbs – dill, coriander, basil and parsley.