Our leader Eileen Brown met us at the entrance where a group of 14 were eagerly waiting for the gardens to open at 10am. Our guide for the morning was Nico, and his enthusiasm for the gardens was contagious. He explained the history and purpose of the gardens while we stood in front of a large old house covered with beautiful climbers. He asked us to guess the age of the house and after a few incorrect guesses, he said the house was just 34 years old and the whole area was created in 1990.
LāAlbarda covers an area of 50,000 m2 which belongs to the FUNDEM foundation as a demonstrative renaissance garden to protect over 700 native species, as well as roses and palms to show how to
grow organically using less water. The garden is divided into four main areas, each with its own identity. Formal, wild as well as areas with Spanish and Arabic influences. There are beautiful structures and water features including an impressive waterfall. Each turn brings you something different and beautiful ā if only we could remember the names of some of the flora.We travelled through time in the Arab garden, strolled over a stream, through woods, admiring the closely clipped myrtle hedges and the beautiful rose garden. We watched the Koi carp, took photos of the statues and sat in the large amphitheatre style building to admire the vast number of succulents in pots on every step. After passing a giant mosaic wall, we completed our tour back at the house. Although not open to the public, there is a seating area in a pretty courtyard where staff provided us with coffee, cold drinks, bread and more than enough tasty tortilla.
For such a vast area, there are only 4 employed gardeners but several volunteers and although it
would have been a bonus to see labels on some of the plants, everyone had a lovely morning.
Thank you, Eileen for organising the day.
Many thanks to Paula and Pete Brampton for providing the write-up and many of the photos.