The
Mediterranean Garden Society

The Menorca Branch of the MGS

Lorraine Ure writes: I have been gardening for as long as I can remember. When I was a very young child, my father allocated me a patch within a larger bed in our Surrey garden, and I was able to enjoy the thrill of growing from seed - a great inspiration for a youngster - and generally helping my father, a great enthusiast, with the multitude of gardening tasks throughout the seasons. Later I lived near the Hamble River in Hampshire and completely remodelled my small garden, which fortunately had a commodious greenhouse, introducing my first water feature and also growing some interesting vegetables, such as seakale.

Back in Pyrford, Surrey, I took over a completely neglected garden, redesigned it (with a little assistance from a hard landscaper), and planted it from scratch. The fact that RHS Wisley was just around the corner was the greatest possible inspiration. It did, however, take its toll on my bank account!

Marriage took me to Suffolk, where wonderful walled gardens are the norm rather than the exception. Three years ago we downsized to an elongated terrace garden, which I had a hand in designing, complete with pergola and fountain, and many interesting climbers, fruit trees and mixed borders. We simultaneously “upsized” in Menorca, where I have my first proper Mediterranean garden, right on the edge of Mahon harbour (a substantial water feature!).

I love the contrasts between the two gardens, which are so different and which share virtually no plants in common.

Marlene Maguire writes:

Living in Auckland NZ as a child I was thrilled at the speed with which plants grew, and particularly enjoyed the vegetable patch. I now find myself gardening in Menorca, with a climate fairly similar to that of Auckland, and the delight of being able to grow very similar plants to those of my childhood is enormously satisfying – especially the palm trees, of which we had two splendid specimens in our front garden back home. The only problem is that our parcel of land is small, which restricts my urge to purchase too many plants.

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