Forthcoming events in the Catalonia Branch
Saturday 19th January– 10:00 – 17:00 –
Location TBA
Talk and Presentation on South African Plants
in A Mediterranean Garden & Planning Session for 2013
We will
watch a DVD on ‘A year in Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens – South Africa, which will
be followed a talk by South African born Plant Guru - Peter Steadman – This
will be followed by a 2013 Branch Planning Session and lunch.
If you are interested in attending the above
events or have any idea for future events please contact me joanball53@gmail.com
Past Events
Saturday 10th
November – 10:00 – 16:00
Barcelona Garden Tour
Members were very fortunate
to be guided through the gardens by MGS Member Xavier Argimon (Author, Designer
and Botanist). As Xavier was responsible for cataloguing the plants in the
gardens it was a very in-depth tour of three gardens in Barcelona – Jardins de
la Tamarita, Jardins de Palau de les heures Jardins Rodrigo Caro.
Jardins de la Tamarita
The gardens
have many fine features. On entering them, we where greeted by a semicircular
pond with little fountains, water plants and two sleepy, terracotta lions, on
either side. Behind them is filigree, a semicircular wire fence completely
covered by a similarly wire-like climber with tiny green leaves, called
Maidenhair vine.
All around
La Tamarita we found quiet corners in the shade of hundred-year-old trees,
surrounded by plant borders with a little entrance that invites us in to sit a
while on a bench. Cool places like the Font de les Granotes, at one end of the
garden, a piece of grass to sit for a moment, or places where we can enjoy the
scent of flowers.
There are
stone, marble and ceramic figures which have been turned into fountains, steps
and paving made from slabs of natural rock and, all around the garden, the
sober elegance of ornamental, terracotta plant pots, with their geraniums and
ferns.
PHOTO 1
The main
way through the garden is a walk watched over by allegorical statues from
America, Africa, Asia and Europe. It is reached by paths bordered by dense
myrtle neatly cut into geometric patterns and under the shade of tall plane
trees.
At the
centre of La Tamarita, in the Plaça dels Quatre Continents, the main feature is
a fountain. At the top, a waterfall in the form of a grotto made from pumice
stone and shells, like those many patios used to have, closes the classic part
of the garden.
Next to the
house, surrounded by trees and beautifully cut plant borders, there is a very
quiet area with grass and benches, descending some semicircular steps, it is
worth visiting one of the most charming spots in La Tamarita: the gardenia
garden, where the water flowing from a fountain to a little pond in the middle,
from where it spreads via small pipes, reminds us of Arab gardens.
The
Tamarita Gardens are eclectic. Consequently there landscaped areas with a
classical appearance and other more natural, unplanned areas, behind the house.
The wildest
part of the garden is reached via a large meadow and slopes towards the stream,
Frare Blanc. It is shady, cool with lots of thick undergrowth. You enter via a
pergola decorated with climbing plants.
A path lets
you walk along the bed of the former stream. Because it is not flat, this part
seems much more natural.
In the
Tamarita Gardens there are truly exceptional examples trees and shrubs.
Climbing, to the right of the central walk through the gardens, at the start of
the meadow and behind the sculpture representing Africa, you come across an oak
tree, which is more than a hundred years old.
PHOTO 1B
Palau de les Heures Gardens
Up in the
Montbau neighbourhood, at the foot of the Collserola hills, stands one of the
most singular buildings in Barcelona: the Palau de les Heures, built in the
late 19th century. It overlooks gardens whose merit lies both in their beauty
and in the richness of the vegetation, including an outstanding collection of
trees.
If the
house, the Palau de les Heures - with its four round towers crowned by conical
points, in the style of French châteaux - is impressive, the view of the
gardens from the terrace at the front of the building is frankly majestic.
The whole
is of a great harmony, with broad stairs on either side of the 'palace' running
down the hillside to successive sections of the gardens. Long ramps between the
flights of stairs facilitate access for people with disabilities.
Boston ivy
and rose bushes climbing the walls of the terraces adorn the paths, punctuated
here and there with large terracotta pots blooming with fragrant geranium with
its small, delicate flower.
From the
bottom of the gardens, the view is perhaps even more striking than from above:
the manor house looms high over the spectacularly landscaped terraces, elegant
and inviting.
The
south-facing gardens are laid out on terraces, the highest of which is occupied
by the house and a smaller garden. The middle and the lowest - which is the
largest - are both of greater note in terms of landscaping.
Both are
laid out geometrically, with parterres, paths and pools in contrast to the
vertical counterpoint of towering palms and the leafiness of, among other
trees, large magnolias and enormous horse chestnuts.
All around
there are benches for sitting in the shade of the trees or in the sun,
especially on the top terrace.
Due to
their height, what stand out most in the gardens are the palm trees, especially
the Washingtonia robusta with its broad fan-shaped leaves, and the Canary
Island palm, topped with majestic crowns. On their own, these palms give the
gardens a distinctive character.
Other noble
members of the tree family include magnolias, with their spectacular summer
flowers, large acacias, bitter orange, olive trees, towering cedars, pines,
holm oak and cypresses.
Small round
parterres boast roses, while the larger ones - eight in both the lower terraces
- contain big trees and palms surrounded by exquisitely trimmed and sculpted
hedges.
Throughout October 2012
Gardens in the Mediteranean – Identitities and
Idealised Spaces
A series
of lectures where organized in Barcelona by Carme Farre – Landscape
Gardener. The lecturers included Joan
Maria Roure, M. Jesus Buxo, Louisa Jones and Michel Racine and proved to very
worthwhile to a number of our members
September 2012
Visit to Soljardi Fruit Nursery –
Jordi
Bronsom, one of the owners of Soljardi, gave members a very informative tour
around their extensive Vivero. The
Nursery grows and cultivates an extensive catalogue of unusual fruit trees, nut
trees and fruit bushes. Jordi has
extensive knowledge and experience in growing and treating fruit trees – which
was demonstrated in an informative presentation on pests and diseases. For further information or ordering of plants
contact jordi at www.soljardi or info@soljardi.com.
PHOTO
12
June 2012
Morning - Mas
Bover, IRTA - The visit to Mas Bover
was led by Mr. Ignasi Batlle, responsible for the IRTA's subprogramme on Olive,
Nuts and Elaiotecnique . After a brief introduction in the office, we took a
walk around the collections of pistachio, olive, almond and carob trees.
Afternoon - Visit to Reus. Jordi Ingles, a member of the MGS and
responsible for the maintenance of various parks in Reus, took us around different green zones of the
city. (details and photos attached)
PHOTO 11
May 2012
Visit to
Cervantes Rose Garden - Barcelona
Members enjoyed a truly wonderful and
informative day at the Cervantes Rose Garden in Barcelona. Hosted by Anne Neuve-Eglise who was
instrumental in the design and restoration of the Rose Garden
that started in 1999 and lasted 5 years. We
all sat under a shady tree while Anne explained how the garden had been
designed, showing us copies of the original design drawings. Anne explained the classification of the
roses in the garden (copy is attached) and took us on a guided tour of the rose
garden – along a botanical pathway
PHOTO
4
There are
around ten thousand rose bushes of two thousand different species and varieties
- from Asia, the Middle East, Europe and America.
There is a
big semicircular pergola full of 233 different varieties of climbing roses.
There is shade here, with benches to sit and contemplate not only the roses,
but also the magnificent views of Barcelona.
The rose
beds are orderly and surrounded by grass. Little paths with arches covered in
roses invite you to enter. Here there are well cared for and orderly gravel
paths, but you can also walk on the grass, to get even closer to the roses.
The
entrance by the Avinguda Diagonal is full of roses planted for their wonderful
smell. There are 235 varieties, and you don't have to be up close to smell the
perfume, the whole air is full of it.
The smell
accompanies you for a while as you move on and come to a sculpture of a woman
and six olive trees admiring the roses. Nearby, the shade of the lime trees
invites you to join them and rest for a while to admire the view.
As a rose enthusiast I have never seen such a
wonderful and extensive collection of roses by country, by species and by
grower. We ended the day with a picnic
lunch – thanks so much Anne for making the visit so memorable – we will return
for sure.
PHOTO 4A
May 2012
Garden
Visits to Torre Ronsat and Mas Pica
The day
started at Torre Ronsat, which has been beautifully restored by Shaunagh and
Crispin Latymer. Crispin explained the
different stages of the restoration project and then took us for a guided tour
through their beautiful extensive gardens, which included an olive grove and
wildflower garden. We were able to see
some wild orchids including Seraplas Lingua.
PHOTO 2
We then
walked through a wildflower meadow to visit Mas Pica which has been elegantly
restored by Giles Money-Coutts. Giles
explained how he had restored the Masia and how he had designed the garden to
be mainly drought tolerant. The garden
consisted of a number of rock walled terraces, which had been made from a
attractive rock from within the garden.
It will be great to go back to see the garden when it is established as
it certainly has been well planned.
It was a
very interesting and enjoyable day thanks to Shaunagh, Crispin and Giles. The day also raised 57 euro for the Rwanda
Cricket Stadium Charity – thanks to the members contributions.
PHOTO 3
May 2012
Wildflower Walk in Montseny
Christopher
Witty took us on a truly remarkable guided walk of the area of Montseny. This
year proved to be one of the best years ever for wildflowers – the group saw
many different wildflowers including many different and unusual orchids.
Chris’s
knowledge of Wildflowers gained from his extensive travels is so interesting –
thanks again Chris. We hope to repeat it
next year if Chris is up for it. Although only 8 members attended the event it
was an exceptional day. Chris recommends
the following two-wildflower books:
- Les Orquidies del Montseny by Meritxell Maymo
I Reverter – Published by the Museu de Granollers – Christopher can help
with copies if you cannot find
- Collins ‘The Wild Flowers of Britain and
Northern Europe’ – Available from Amazon
April 2012
Guided tour of the show gardens at Cultidelta
in Amposta
This visit
encompassed 125-150 different Mediterranean plant species. It was an extremely educational visit which
ended with 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.
PHOTOS 5 & 6
After lunch we visited Raimon Corbero´s experimental garden with
its many different trees and plants together with an amazing Wisteria. We also visited the garden of
Raimon’s mother who has created an amazing English garden in the hills of
Catalonia, where she grows peonies, and orchids among other things. We sampled some gourmet pizza and wine made from
Raimon’s own vines. What a lovely end to
a great day.
PHOTOS 9/10
March 2012
Visit to Can Torres and 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.
PHOTOS 7 & 8
