Welcome to members and friends in Portugal of the Mediterranean Garden Society.

Welcome to members and friends in Portugal of the Mediterranean Garden Society. If you know of any others who may be interested in Mediterranean gardening please pass this along to them and remember all are welcome to attend our events.

THE  MEDITERRANEAN  GARDEN  SOCIETY Portugal Branch - Members & Friends, Newsletter No. 18 July  2011 www.gardeninginportugal.com

Queremos dar as boas vindas aos sócios e amigos do Mediterranean Garden Society em Portugal. Se souber de alguém que estaja interessado em jardinagem mediterranica agradecemos que passa a palavra, ou o favor de dar um destes boletins informativos, e nao esquecer que todos estão convidados a participar nos eventos por nós organizados.

2011 Event Info 

Saturday 9th July
14h - 17h Palestra: Jardins Secos
Dry Gardening, using the right plants in the right place Rosie Peddle Talk & garden visit - Ecoteca de Olhâo in partnership with the MGS Algarve, ecotecadeolhao@gmail.com 

Saturday 30th July Garden Visits south of Viseu, Northern Portugal Beira Gardening Friends

Saturday 5th November  Mediterranean Garden Fair  Watch this space !! 

Palestra: Jardins Secos Olhos postos no futuro - a nova geração de jardinagem – como fazer um jardim com a natureza e utilizam menos água. Escolha as plantas e técnicas para um jardim de nossostempos. Discussão e visite o jardim – sem relvas !

Dry Gardening, using the right plants in the right place
Ecoteca de Olhâo Illustrated talk by Rosie Peddle followed by garden visit  Saturday 9th July, 14h - 17h Ecoteca de Olhâo, Chalé João Lúcio, Pinheiros de Marim 8700-225 OlhãoTel. 289700940 FAX: 289700948 Inscrições 5 euros Contact Fátima Monteiro ecotecadeolhao@gmail.com www.ecotecadeolhao.blogspot.com

From Marion ter Horst, “for your diary I am organizing a wonderful day on Saturday 30 July next, visiting two new gardens:

• A formal 18th century Garden in Santar 
• A private Garden in Parada de Gonta 

Both gardens are south of Viseu.  Details will follow soon, but please keep the date in your agenda."

REPORTS  OF  PAST  EVENTS
news of upcoming events are available on www.gardeninginportugal.com with photos. There are also pages available for you with information on various gardening topics. You can also use this site to post comments, send photos of your garden, pics of plants for identification and send in your gardening queries.

REPORT  Wednesday 16th March
Planting a Mediterranean Garden with Claudia Schwarzer 
Many of us long to have a truly  ‘waterwise’ garden using native Algarvean and other Mediterranean region plants and this day was about the practical side of actually putting such a garden together.

Claudia Schwarzer is an experienced and knowledgeable Landscape Architect. She showed her deep love for, and appreciation of, the native plants of the Algarve in her talk.  Bringing such plants into our gardens brings them closer to us so that we can appreciate their beauty and see them outshine the more demanding garden plants usually offered
Claudia had good advice to offer about planting seasons, techniques for success when planting, and details of how to plant. It all starts with choice of appropriate plants, look for small top growth with good root systems and preferably in pots with long straight sides to promote those all important roots.

She encouraged us to try our hand at making our own native plants from seed and small wild collected seedlings from around our own gardens. Observation is very important, look at what works in your area and choose your plants from those families - such as cistus, phlomis, lavenders and the evergreen shrubs and trees. Observing the distribution of plants in nature gives the design for integrating home grown or nursery plants into our gardens in a natural ‘star’ shaped layout which replicates seed grown plants in the wild.

Irrigation methods were discussed and Claudia recommended making a bowl around the plant which can be flooded with water during the first summer following autumn planting. This gives an opportunity to provide deep watering to encourage roots that can sustain a plant through the months without rain.  Watering should be copious but at intervals of about two to three weeks during the first summer only. A planting hole should be at least double the size of the pot in both width and depth. Using organic or inorganic mulches reduces evaporation and improves soil conditions around the plant. Shredded garden material or gravel preserves thin topsoils.  She  encouraged those who want to get rid of their lawns to diversify the plants and choose low growing thymes, oreganums and other aromatic herbs mixed with small bulbs to replace the thirsty grass.

Claudia used illustrations from the newly created Algarve Mediterranean Garden at the Hapimag Resort Albufeira throughout her presentation and we were able to have a guided tour of this garden following her talk.

In the afternoon session we had a practical workshop with Marilyn Kahan, Gardens Manager at the resort, which included hands on seed sowing and propagation from cuttings with emphasis on native plants.  Some seed of native plants was also distributed to those attending.

Claudia is well known to MGS members and friends as an experienced and knowledgeable professional Landscape Architect with a passion for ‘waterwise’ gardens with appropriate planting. You can see more information on her work at  www.biopiscinas.pt ARQUITECTURA PAISAGISTA Gardening with Nature. There is also a good article on the Hapimag garden in Portuguese at http://www.barlavento.pt/index.php/noticia?id=50066

REPORT Monday 18th April Euphorbia Study Day with Don Witton 
Don Witton is one of the two UK National Plant Collection Holders with about 150 taxa in his collection of hardy Euphorbias. He has travelled widely, researching his plants and visiting their wild habitats. He is an experienced and very popular lecturer. We booked our date with him  two years before ! Euphorbia is one of the most animal resistant plant families, rabbits and goats will not eat it ! All Euphorbias exude a white milky sap if damaged. This sap can irritate the skin and so it is therefore recommended that disposable gloves be worn when handling cuttings or any cut plant material.

Don Witton Web site – www.euphorbias.co.uk is designed to inform readers about the delights of Euphorbias in the garden, and the great variety available. It also contains information relating to the National Collection, publications, plants and seed available for the 2011 season.  Information about forthcoming events is also listed.

Don can also be contacted via email – donshardyeuphorbias@btopenworld.com

The day was divided into an illustrated talk in the morning and a study/practical session in the afternoon. The talk began with an impressive worldwide journey showing the wide distribution of euphorbias and their varied original habitats. From the tree euphorbias of Africa to the rare herbaceous E. glauca from New Zealand. Examples of tree, shrub, succulent and herbaceous forms were all included. We then moved onto cultivation and pruning with examples of euphorbias in many colours and for every season of the year.

The talk concluded with some stunning shots of plant associations and views of Don’s own collection and garden in the UK. The afternoon study session gave everyone the opportunity to study euphorbia flower heads and their unique structure which helps with identification,  gathering and growing from seed as well as general propagation. Don brought seed from his own collection, slide lists, and work & information sheets for distribution. Everyone had work to do and the sorting of samples of mixed seed varieties was a very useful task for all.  He  also came with some copies of his new book on Euphorbia which quickly sold out on the day. There were also some plants for sale. No one went home empty handed, and my E. myrsinites seed have germinated already !

Seed List from the  Euphorbia Study Day 
Supplied by National Plant Collection Holder, Don Witton and available on request from Rosie Peddle email rosie@thebtf.net or Tel 289 791 869.

Don’s Top Ten Drought Resistant Euphorbias for the Mediterranean Climate

Euphorbia acanthothamnos – Greece/Turkey 
E. characias subsp. characias & subsp. Wulfenii – Western Mediterranean
E. coralloides – Southern Italy, Sicily
E. dendroides - Mediterranean Basin
E. myrsinites- Southern Europe, N. Africa, Central Asia
E. X nicaensis – Southern Europe to Central Asia
E. paralias – Coastal Europe and North Africa 
E. pithyusa – Coastal Mediterranean Basin 
E. rigida - Mediterranean Basin, Asia Minor 
E. spinosa – Mediterranean Basin

Having trouble finding the plants you want ? try growing from MGS seed ! http://www.mediterraneangardensociety.org/seedlist.html

And, talking of seed sowing .....

We have the following seed available for distribution from our March and April events, please send your list of wants and confirm postal address to Rosie Peddle rosie@thebtf.net

“A list of David Austin roses recommended for the mediterranean climate had already been distributed, but photos were then shown of some particularly beautiful varieties including: 'Mary Rose', 'Crocus Rose', 'Crown Princess Margareta', 'Jude the Obscure', 'Benjamin Britten', 'Tuscany Superb' (gallica), 'Molineux', 'Sophy's Rose', 'The Alnwick Rose' (hedging) and 'Paul's Himalayan Musk' (rambler). Rosa spinosissima(species) was recommended for exposed coastal situations and 'Alba Maxima' for shade.

From a Résumé by Mavis Mercoiret of the Languedoc MGS Branch in France” see branch page on the MGS web site for more info on this event.

The 2011 International Festival of Gardens of Ponte de Lima, has the theme "The Forest in the Garden." 27th May until  30th October. See the site http://www.festivaldejardins.cm-pontedelima.pt/ing/index.htm The Festival in 2010 had approx. 100,000 visitors.

Remember the ‘Forest in a Bottle’ documentary in The Natural World series on BBC 1 ??

IF you would like to have your own copy of this excellent documentary about the cork oak forests of Portugal called ‘Forest in a bottle’ then please tell the BBC. BBC Shop can be contacted via email bbcshop@bbc.co.uk with your request for this programme to be released on a DVD, as so many others in this series have been. BBC has not yet released this one for sale, please pester them and let them know how important it is !!

This film has been made by a restaurant owner in the Virgin Isles, USA against the unthinking use of metal screwcaps on wine bottles – support the cork industry of Portugal !!
http://www.ecologicalcork.com/2010/09/24/no-screwcaps-the-tonys-protest/ 

MGS members from the Algarve are writing a series of articles in one of our local papers on the joys of getting rid of, or of never having, a lawn !! You can see these on the following links and there are more to follow ..... if you would like to contribute, please contact Rosie Peddle with your views on life without a lawn !

Tamsin Varley http://www.algarveresident.com/41927-0/algarve/life-after-grass
Rosie Peddle http://www.algarveresident.com/41755-0/algarve/to-lawn-or-not-to-lawn

MGS Annual General Meeting in Mallorca, 14th – 19th October 2011
Registration now open. More information on the main MGS web site with details of programme and accommodation.

News from Viveiro Verde, Quelfes the IVA (VAT) on plants in Portugal increased at the beginning of the year from 13 to 23%, the herbs and anything for eating to 6%. I actually have not heard about a further increase and I hope they won't do it, because plants are already expensive and nobody will be able to afford to buy them anymore!  We continue to sell well on the markets. Also the road up to our house was very bad, but now it is much better, we are always happy to have spare plant pots.
Please ring before visiting, Karin and Jens Tel. 963 550 154

Plant Heritage books by National Plant Collection Holders are available on important Mediterranean plant species Cistus, Thyme, Oreganum, Lonicera and also on Yucca from http://www.nccpg.com/

The only monograph on Phlomis is available as a download from  www.lulu.com

Árvores Monumentais do Algarve e Baixo Alentejo - arvores-do-sul.blogspot.com  gives information on important and rare big trees of the south of Portugal, good if you are looking for some shady spots for picnics .... ?

MGS leaflets now available on request – we are looking for a translator into Portuguese for some of these leaflets and would be happy to contribute to costs for this, please contact Rosie Peddle if you can help.

Current Leaflets include Making a Dry Garden – English and Portuguese versions/Mulches and Compost/The Waterwise Garden-conserving water.

Back copies TMG always welcome .... if you have any MGS journals you no longer need, please pass them along for new members.

NEW BOOK A Água nos Jardins Portugueses (Water in Portuguese Gardens)
A editora SCRIBE acaba de dar à estampa a obra intitulada “A Água nos Jardins Portugueses”, um livro sobre os projectos de restauro dos antigos sistemas hidráulicos e aproveitamento de água em 12 jardins históricos nacionais, levados a cabo pela Associação Jardins Históricos, entre 2007 e 2010, com o apoio do EEA Grants. A obra, dirigida pela arquitecta paisagista Cristina Castel-Branco, conta a história das intervenções realizadas nos Jardins do Palácio dos Marqueses de Fronteira, Claustro do Convento do Bom Sucesso, Jardim José do Canto, Quinta da Boa Viagem, Jardim do Paço Vitorino, Jardim da Casa de Juste, Jardim Botânico da Universidade de Coimbra, Quinta das Lágrimas, Quinta das Machadas, Paço de Belas e Quinta do Senhor da Serra, Quinta de Stº António e Quinta da Francelha.
O livro deverá ser colocado nas livrarias no final de Fevereiro ou no início de Março e terá o preço de capa de € 35,00.   www.scribe.pt

Associação Portuguesa de Jardins e Sítios Históricos http://www.jardinshistoricos.pt

Gardens are an indispensable part of society. Amongst the existing gardens, a particular kind stand as monuments for their heritage and beauty: the historic gardens. They represent the testimony of a past society in the landscape. The historic gardens are living art objects, a legacy from our ancestors and cultural landscape that we admire and ought to protect, understand and defend.

The historic gardens are a living patrimony which makes their maintenance sometimes very difficult. Frequently, their owners cannot face the maintenance of their gardens by themselves. Gathering these owners towards a common goal – the preservation of historic gardens – was one of the factors that led to the creation of the Portuguese Association of Historic Gardens and Sites.

The APJSH was established in 2003 due to the need to highlight and preserve the patrimony of Portuguese landscape art.

This initiative was launched by a team of professionals – currently members of the Board of Directors of the Association – and many owners aware of the fragile situation of their heritage scattered throughout the country. All together we believed that the recreational, economic and historic value of the gardens should be considered a repository of the Portuguese culture.

The APJSH now includes historic garden owners, landscape architects with a experience in the requalification of these areas, teachers in the field of garden art history, agronomy and forestry, jurists, economists and architects, of about two hundred members.

The professional objectives of APJSH are to increase the value, to maintain and conserve the historic gardens and sites, both public and private, that are viewed as areas of aesthetic value, and with a scientific, cultural, educational and landscape interest; represents and supports its members and owners; collaborates with the public administration, namely with the Portuguese Government, in the study and preparation of legal and regulatory diplomas, as well as projects that financially support the conservation and restoration of gardens.

The first three years were important to consolidate and to demonstrate the professional quality of the Association in relation to its members with the submission of applications for funds, namely the EEA Grants Program, in partnership with several of the associated historic gardens. Regarding the first application for funds, the Association was proud to be selected, amongst more than 150 applicants, in a project for the restoration of the hydraulic structures of twelve historic gardens. This work is detailed in the book described above.
In order for us to further strengthen the sense of better defences for the historic gardens we need to grow…become a member and support the work of APJSH. Full details on the web site above.

Encontro  sobre  Cozinha Solar (Meeting on solar cooking) 16 de Julho de 2011

Local: Instituto Superior de Engenharia da Universidade do Algarve
9h15 – Abertura  13h00 - Encerramento

Construção de cozinhas solares, cocção de alimentos, educação ambiental.
Cozinhas solares: tipo painel, tipo caixa, tipo parabólico.
Agradece-se divulgação do encontro junto de potenciais interessados.
Cumprimentos solares
Celestino Rodrigues Ruivo
Instituto Superior Engenharia-Universidade do Algarve Campus da Penha, 8005-139 Faro-Portugal

Informação adicional:
Prof. Celestino Ruivo (cruivo@ualg.pt, tlm 918319210, tel +351 289800100 (ext. 6571))
ou Secretariado do Dep. Eng. Mecânica Inst. Superior de Engenharia-Universidade do Algarve
Tel: +351 289800166                  Fax: +351 289888405

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION
Mediterranean Algarve Gardeners is an informal group for everyone who has a special interest in the plants and gardens of the Algarve and who wishes to  learn more about appropriate ´waterwise´ gardening. The aims of the group include encouraging the exchange of information and of experiences. The newsletter & web site www.gardeninginportugal.com contain articles on diverse aspects of mediterranean gardening as well as news, notices, practical information and comment.  All information is normally distributed via email but can also be posted on request.

If you are interested in taking a more active role in the organising of events or the running of the Group please contact Rosie Peddle – the success of the group depends on the participation of members and should reflect their interests and needs.

Some members of this group are also members of the Mediterranean Garden Society. Further information about the Mediterranean Garden Society can be found on the main web site www.mediterraneangardensociety.org There is now a facility for joining and paying subscriptions online.

Regional  MGS  Contacts:
Lisbon area – Ben Weijers, Tel: 219 291 841  Email: quintadocorvo@yahoo.com
Beira area – Marion ter Horst, Tel: 235 721 193  Email: arnold-terhorst@netcabo.pt
Algarve area - Rosie Peddle, Tel. 289 791 869   Email: rosie@thebtf.net
Minho area – Chloe Parrott Tel. 966971275 Email: chloe@meo.pt

Contact &  Newsletter Compiler: Rosie Peddle, Quinta das Sesmarias 275-M, Fornalha, Moncarapacho, OLHÃO 8700-091 

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