Potty Time - around the year in umpteen pots by Harriet Rycroft

MGAP/Clube dos Bons Jardins Joint Event 

Tuesday 9th October - Quinta da Figueirinha, Silves

Talk and Workshop on Container Gardening by Harriet Rycroft 

Tamsin Varley opened the meeting for Clube dos Bons Jardins by welcoming Harriet Rycroft and reminded everyone that many people live in apartments and can only garden on terraces and balconies, containers are essential for such situations. Harriet is a well known, UK based gardener who specialises in Container Gardening. Harriet has worked in the garden at Whichford Pottery for nearly fourteen years, in sole charge for the last 10 or 11 planning, planting and maintaining large displays of planted pots all year round and providing text and photographs for two Whichford Pottery books.

 

Now looking after her own garden (including several hundred pots…), visiting and photographing gardens and gardeners and learning more about this wonderful, infinitely interesting world of horticulture. She teaches container gardening at LearningWithExperts.com and thoroughly enjoys helping people from many parts of the world to make the most of their container collection. 

The busy morning started with an illustrated talk by Harriet “Potty Time – around the year in umpteen pots”. The gardening year starts in autumn, with removal of summer colour, trimming, replanting and resting plants. Propagation is a great way to have continuity for good plants and save the expense of buying new each season. If pots look a bit bare after this, try and use some ´props´ to add interest, they can be removed later when plants grow back. Prepare pots for the winter months by dividing and splitting plants into smaller pots and place them under protection if you have bad weather coming.

Winter in the Mediterranean can be the main growing season so Harriet advised hand watering by hosepipe as this helps ´observing´ containers and any problems can be seen and dealt with early. Spring is peak time for bulbs, especially tulips, small narcissi and mid season snowdrops. Summer is show time for lilies, begonias, fuchsias. In late summer dahlias and salvias take over. Foliage plants such as cordyline, grasses and some herbs can provide colour, movement and contrast. 

Use stone mulches or place smaller pots onto larger pots to avoid moisture loss – Harriet does not use saucers under most of her pots so that drainage is not impeded.

When starting a new pot, she advises using a slow release fertiliser which can be added to the compost and will last a whole season. Bulbs are a great addition to any container and can be planted deep, especially in warm dry conditions. Crocks can be placed over the drainage holes in the base but not too many, enough to keep the hole clear is enough. Harriet recommended using a nitrogen rich compost and a potassium rich feed such as tomato food to promote flowers. 

Always water after planting except in the case of cacti and succulents, they need a couple of days to acclimatise and there is also the risk of rotting. It is possible to grow vegetables and salad leaves in containers, feed and water can be better controlled than in the ground.

Harriet recommended everyone to think about ´Right pot, Right plant and Right place´ when considering a container garden. Colour contrasts work well, for instance, deep red with silver foliage and fresh greens with white flowers. Dead head regularly and check for dryness by digging into the compost with a finger, dry soil on the top might not mean dry soil further down. A good ratio of plant to pot is about 1 to 1 ½ times foliage to pot. Do not overpot but move on gradually. Pots placed together closely can help to protect from bright sun and provide a humid atmosphere. Try to build natural communities so that the pots might disappear altogether and you get an impression of a garden flower bed. Everyone then moved outside for the workshop, during the workshop Harriet planted up four pots which were later raffled.

When  planting, always put pre-watered rootballs at the same level in a mixed pot, and keep clear 2 – 5cm below the rim to allow for future watering. Some safety hints were included together with more general advice, 

· Always plant the pot in situ to save heavy lifting

· If possible, bang down the pots to remove air pockets

· Keep the compost fluffed, not compacted, and add pearlite or grit for drainage

· Use larger plants within the pot to shade smaller plants

· Put in a layer of bulbs

· Wear sturdy shoes, not open sandals

· Always lift with a straight back

· Use more drainage for cacti and succulents

· Add broken pot shards to give crevice garden effect

· Use broken pots for small plants on surface of larger pots

· Put compost around all rootballs, even those on the edge of pots

Harriet was an enthusiastic and inspiring speaker, obviously very experienced but aware of how different conditions are here on the Algarve to those in her own UK garden. The lucky new owners of the planted containers were very happy with the additions to their own gardens.

Illustrated Talk by Sean O´Hara of Northern California Mediterranean Garden Society

 

Our Mediterranean Climate – understanding, 

accepting, embracing

Wednesday 3rd October 2018  in the Lecture Room, Museu do Traje, São Bras de Alportel

Sean O´Hara has been making gardens and providing horticultural consulting services to homeowners in the greater San Francisco Bay Area since 1970. He is active in a variety of local horticultural groups and educational gardens. Sean´s own hortulus-aptus (a garden suited to its purpose) has provided a space for him to experiment in from 1975 to the present (43 years). Since his retirement from the University of California Digital Library he has been busy developing an online presence for mediterranean gardeners worldwide, travelling with his wife Deborah, undertaking speaking engagements and writing. This is their first visit to Portugal.

Sean says this is the most recent version of a talk created for the 2016 San Francisco Flower & Garden Show. Usually has a very good response, even for those in the audience who felt they were already knowledgeable regarding the mediterranean climate. Sean was told that he gave audiences many things to think about relating to their personal approach to gardening. He added some extra 'California context' as he has witnessed some Europeans' reaction to the region first-hand, and so wanted to present what might not be obvious. 

To begin with, Sean took us through the many characteristics that mediterranean climate zones have in common. Not just plants but temperature, rainfall patterns, wild fires and short growing seasons. Understanding the conditions is a first step to good plant choices - look for shiny waxy foliage, succulents, small silver grey leaves, aromatic herbs. Drought resistance strategies such as summer dormancy and deep root systems are common in these climate zones. Close planting can provide a ´herbasphere´ where it is cooler inside the plant than out in the sun. There is convergent evolution as a response to the same conditions in many parts of the world. 

Accepting that drought is normal, that our growing season is the winter months – even with very variable rainfall, provides the seasonal framework for appreciating these special climate zones. Even the Pacific Horticultural Society does not issue a Journal in the ´dormant´ summer months ! In California there is a big difference between the north and south. Water from the mountains in the north is fed down to the desert-like south via a huge aqueduct, continuously running - but will it be enough ? The agriculture industry need water to produce crops. Replacing traditional style plantings with xero-scaped gardens has been encouraged and supported by local authorities. 

Sean promotes embracing the mediterranean conditions, we should share our experiences and see the tremendous potential for beautiful and sustainable gardens with minimal to nil water use. Water is a very precious resource and our outdoor spaces do not need it to provide lovely areas for us to enjoy. Take the opportunity to use winter flowering climbers, shrubs and trees. The Sunset series of garden help books can still provide much information and lots of ideas for gardens with no irrigation.

California is relatively ´new´ in geological time with rich soils but faces enormous challenges from population growth, agriculture and climate change. These challenges also face other mediterranean zones and gardeners and landscapers must accept, embrace and perhaps most important of all, understand how to respond.

This talk was part of Sean and Deborah´s first visit to Portugal – so we took the opportunity to show them some of the lovely gardens of the Algarve, many thanks to Burford Hurry, Vivian Hirst and Marilyn Medina Ribeiro for making this possible. 

Midsummer Brunch and Open Afternoon at the Barrocal Garden June 2018

 

Clematis flammula at the Botanic Garden 

Following on from the good response to our first Midsummer Brunch in 2017, another get together was organised to be held by Sue and Mike Lis at their home outside Messines on the morning of Sunday June 17th, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Many thanks to Sue and Mike for kindly offering to host our visit. Everyone was asked to bring food and drink to share. Sue and Mike provided tea, coffee and water. It was a wonderful spread with lots to choose from and no one went hungry !



As the garden visiting didn´t happen this year for various reasons, we thought it would be interesting to see what members are doing in their gardens, so we asked members to bring a photo of their garden or part of it, to share. At whatever stage, or just reconstructed, we are not looking for picture-book perfect, it was to be a good talking point. It is always interesting to see other gardens. There was also a plant table with some interesting succulents on offer.

Tim Coombs also brought along to share some Seville oranges (laranjas amargas) for marmalade from his Monchique garden . 

In the afternoon, the MGAP Botanic Garden at the Quinta da Figueirinha in Silves had an Open Afternoon. Rosie Peddle and Teresa Chuva were on hand to guide the visit and talk about the garden - or you could just have a lazy stroll on your own. This event was open to everyone, no pre-booking was necessary. The Open Afternoons are being organised on a seasonal basis to show the garden at different times of the year. There were many good comments about the new plant labels.
  

We had set up some welcome shade and some chairs at the garden. On our walk round we found much of interest as the spring this year had been cooler and more humid than usual so there was still some colour from the Centaurea erythrea and silvers, golds and bronzes from the seed heads. 

On what turned out to be one of the hottest days so far we had a good response to the Brunch and to the Open Afternoon so many thanks to everyone who participated. 

  

Ceratonia Visit - Wednesday April 25th 2018

On Wednesday, April 25th, we visited Daisy Mae´s herbal healing retreat and gardens in Calvos, between Algoz and Messines.

Daisy gathered us all onto her shady terrace and offered everyone her home made drinks on arrival. She gave an introduction and presentation of Ceratonia and the garden, followed by a guided walk. The garden is an interesting mixture of all kinds of herbs, plus fruit and other trees and plants, all in a lovely setting. There was a selection of plants to buy after the tour and our wander round the garden.

  

Daisy started her presentation by telling us about the drinks on the table, made with Pelagonium graveolens and mint. This is a tonic for the liver and has a general balancing benefit. Rosemary, sage, thyme and mint are anti-oxidants and work to sooth coughs.

During the guided walk we saw the lavender field, the calendula garden, the Chakra garden and tree groves. Daisy shared her wonderful knowledge of the plants and their importance. Her love of the land and the plants it supports were an inspiration to everyone. 

  

She went on to explain to us that Ceratonia is about growing plants to nourish and regenerate the earth and people. Protecting an eco system and enhancing a place that is beautiful. Creating a setting to learn about plants in a botanical, horticultural, medicinal and spiritual way. The gardens at Ceratonia are about creating a tranquil space to heal, teach and inspire so that we understand and develop our knowledge of the natural world and strengthen and develop our connection with it.​

  

Regular courses and classes are held to promote natural healing and provide education on the making and use of herbal medicines.

  

The 8 acres of land are totally organic and planted started in 2014, developing different areas with connecting pathways for vegetables, herbs, plants, trees and shrubs important for their contribution to natural health and mindfulness.

  

As it was a public holiday we decided to have a picnic at Ceratonia. Daisy and Corey provided soup, bread and drinks for us. Everyone contributed salads, cheese, desserts etc. for a lovely meal on their shady terrace overlooking the gardens.

More info http://daisymaeherbalist.weebly.com

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING / ASSEMBLEIA GERAL 2018

ASSOCIAÇÃO DE PLANTAS E JARDINS EM CLIMAS MEDITERRÂNICOS

Mediterranean Gardening Association – Portugal

The AGM for 2018 took place on Saturday April 7th 2018 at the Quinta da Figueirinha in Silves. The business meeting was followed by talks, lunch and a guided visit in the afternoon to the Botanic Garden at the Quinta where members and friends were updated on progress. 

Burford Hurry, Dr Gerhard Zabel and Prof Gren Lucas 

During the meeting, our honoured guest Prof. Gren Ll. Lucas OBE, presented to our President, Burford Hurry, the name plate received from BGCI (Botanic Gardens Conservation International) to confirm that the Barrocal Botanic Garden was a fully accredited member of BGCI. It was particularly appropriate for us to have Gren Lucas with us for this as he was a founder Member of BGCI and instrumental in its creation to support Botanic Gardens globally. 

  

Following the business meeting we had the great pleasure of welcoming Professor Manuela David, Keeper of the Herbarium at the University of the Algarve, who gave us a talk on The Challenge of Sharing Scientific Data.

Burford welcomed and introduced Manuela who spoke of her involvement in the establishment of the Herbarium at the University of the Algarve. The flora of the Algarve is well represented in the 15,000 specimens in the Herbarium, together with many from other areas of Portugal and from around the world. She spoke of the importance of data sharing and the Herbarium’s involvement in three projects to meet the EU requirement that there should be open access to all publicly funded science by 2020. The three projects are Flora On, the development of the Red List for Vascular Flora being put together by the Portuguese Botanical Society and the Global Bio-diversity Information Facility. She also paid tribute to the work of Coronel Rosa Pinto and advised that there is a hybrid Quercus, Q. rosa-pinto, named after him. She advised that if it proves possible to propagate the tree she would donate one to the Botanic Garden.

This was followed by Professor José Monteiro, of the University of the Algarve, and his talk on The Importance to the Eco-system of Parks and Gardens. Burford welcomed José who spoke about the importance of plants and plantings to the eco-system. He explained the four ways in which managed landscapes contributed to the wellbeing of man and the environment. These are in Physical Support of man, e.g. the growing of food plants; the Regulation of the environment as in climate control, erosion control, pollution minimisation, etc; Cultural Support to man by providing recreational spaces and educational facilities; and Services to nature by the re-cycling of nutrients, seed dispersal, etc.

Lunch was organised at Casinhas, near to the Quinta and after lunch Rosie Peddle and Teresa Chuva gave a guided tour and update on the Botanic Garden. Looking good in the garden were the native lavenders and lime green heads of the various members of the Apiaceae family such as Cachrys sicula and Prangos trifida. 

  

Rosie Peddle reported on progress at the Botanic Garden and future works planned for the Barrocal Garden and other areas on the site at Quinta da Figueirinha. Thanks to the Quinta access to the area will soon be possible by a service road after which the longer term agreement between APEJECM and QdF for use of the site will be completed. There had been a number of visits by academics and plantsmen, including the late Coronel Rosa Pinto, Olivier and Clara Filippi and by members of the UK Professional Gardeners’ Guild, hosted by the Quinta and Teresa Chuva.

  

Lavandula luiseri 

Cachrys sicula 

GRAFTING WORKSHOPS March and May 2018

This spring we were lucky enough to have two grafting workshops with Wilfried Ring, benefiting from his great expertise and experience gained over his many years of gardening and propagating on his land in Monte Seco in the Algarve.

  

The first workshop, in March, focused on grafting olive trees, in other words cultivated olives onto wild olives. Wilf talked about the techniques of grafting, showed us the clay we would need, told us where to find it and how to prepare it. He showed us how to prepare the twigs to be grafted and guided us through preparing our own grafts using the knives we had brought with us, few of which met with his approval. Now we know the best kind of knife to use and, from our attempts at cutting the exact shape and thickness necessary in the ends of our twigs, the importance of it being very sharp. We then set off into the garden, firstly to examine a failed graft from the previous year, which, we concluded, had probably dried out. For our attempts, Wilf had selected a suitable wild olive, so he chopped the tops of two young trunks and we set about inserting our twigs under the bark, slitting the bark gently, tying the grafts firmly with stretchable tape, covering the whole thing with clay and paper and tying that on too. Now we just have to wait a year to go back and see if they have taken.

  

In the second workshop, in May, we learned a different grafting technique for grafting plums onto almonds. This time Wilf was supported by Tissi, his wife, who told us how she and Wilf would cycle past abandoned plum trees, taste the delicious plums and make a note to go back in spring for twigs to graft. We saw the results in the garden: large, flourishing, multi-branched plum branches on the bases of almond trees. The technique this time involved removing, intact, circles of bark including an unopened bud from a plum twig, peeling the bark back on a matching-sized almond twig, slipping the ring of bark and bud over it and then binding it on with tape. Simple!  

  

Wilf gave us all twigs that he had cut previously for us to practise on, and we needed the practise! After many failed attempts and with much-shortened twigs, some of us had managed it. We then once again set off into the garden to the almond tree Wilf had selected, which had the right-sized young shoots, and tried again in situ, for some members of the group, with success. There´s no chance of going back to check on those, though – Wilf was going to cut them off as he didn´t want them there.

  

On both occasions, we were impressed by the amount of knowledge and experience of growing and propagating plants and trees and caring for his land that Wilf had gained, largely from his Portuguese neighbours, and also by his warmth and generosity in sharing these with us. He proved to be an excellent teacher. We were so pleased, too, to have met Tissi and heard her talk about her and Wilfried´s plant foraging and other stories, and to have benefited from her warm hospitality.

Tessa Hearn

(If anyone is interested, I have photos of the various stages of grafting olives, courtesy of Tamsin Varley, and also my own photos of grafting onto almonds.)

 

Spring Mediterranean Garden Fair 3rd March 2018

Once again, this event was held at Quinta da Figueirinha with the collaboration of Dr Gerhard Zabel and his family. 

Despite the run up to this years Spring Garden Fair being dogged by much needed heavy rain, not so welcome howling winds and even a mini tornado across the Algarve, the event went ahead as planned. 

  

Tree Label in the Fruit garden 

On the day itself the rain held off until early afternoon, giving the 350 or so visitors the chance to buy from the small specialist nurseries and growers offering a wide variety of plants, trees and shrubs for sale. Some visitors we learned had travelled long distances to take advantage of the unique opportunity to buy from the specialist nurseries gathered together in one place on the day. 
  

As well as the interesting plants for sale, there were also delightful offerings ranging from organic hand made soaps and candles to garden water features and delicious local produce. 

Volunteers had turned up undeterred to cheerfully man the entrance gate, plant créche, MGAP book stall and manage the car parking. All were ably assisted by a group of willing helpers from ESPAMOL (Escola Secundária Padre António Martins de Oliveira de Lagoa). 

  

The event was officially opened by Rosa Palma, Mayor of Silves and also Tito dos Santos Coelho, President of the Junta de Fregusia de Silves.

An informative presentation was given by the proprietor of Quinta da Figueirinha, Dr Gerhard Zabel, outlining the drought and fire resistant qualities of various plants and trees followed by a tour of the quinta´s exotic fruit garden. Later in the day there was also a presentation titled "If Trees could Talk, they would have so much to say" by Christian Grimm. Feng Shui solutions gave a presentation on the design and layout of our outdoor spaces.

Safe Communities Portugal were on hand to give much needed advice and guidance on the newly introduced fire prevention measures relating to rural land clearance, and they were joined later in the afternoon by Francisco Keil de Amaral from ICNF, the National Forestry Authority.
  

Unfortunately, the planned tour of the MGAP Botanic Garden to be hosted by the aptly named Teresa Chuva had to be abandoned because there was too much chuva (rain) ! However, there will be other opportunities to visit the garden in the coming months.

If you would like to have news of our events and garden fairs you can send an email to Newsletter Editor Rosie Peddle  rosie@thebtf.net  and be added to our distribution list.