A Pelion Garden: Turning bare ground into paradise in mediterranean Greece

I certainly am stretching myself as a gardener. Having spent twenty years in cool, dark basements, working as a sound engineer, I finally came up into the light and discovered the great outdoors. I never had a large garden before, but now I have one and I spend as much time as possible in it. It has been a huge learning curve. At first my enthusiasm for every flower and shrub ran away with me, and I planted many specimens in unsuitable locations. Some plants protested but lived on, while others endured a stressful death. I pruned away many a flower bud by not knowing when and how to tackle each plant. I drowned many more by watering them to death. It is all part of the process of becoming a gardener. In trying to learn each plants needs and likes I had to research the internet, on-line forums, RHS encyclopaedias, and specialist books to gather all the information I could find. I wanted to know what each leaf, flower and plant looked like so I could easily identify it as it grew, and visualise how it might eventually look in my garden. Was it beautifully perfumed or did it stink? Would it attract wildlife to my garden? Would it grow in a coastal environment and cope with wind, salt and searing sunshine, and manage the occasional burial in snow? Was it used in ancient times as a poison or symbol of love? Could I touch it? Eat it? There is so much to learn and enjoy with plants. Experiment, take risks, make mistakes, have fun. Get out there and make paradise! Olivia Elliot spent ten years working on her Pelion garden in mediterranean Greece, creating a micro-climate in which the plants could thrive. Her approach to gardening is fun and experimental, and her successes and failures are equally enjoyable to read. Everything you need to know about how to care for each plant is clearly listed, along with information about its eco friendliness and fun facts about its historical uses. The beautiful photographs help the novice to identify each plant by leaf and flower, and understand how and where the plant can contribute to a garden. The plants featured in this book often grow equally well in temperate climates so long as they are given a warm sheltered position, and the more tender varieties are overwintered indoors or in a greenhouse. A Pelion Garden is a delight to read for gardeners everywhere, and an ideal reference book. Why not create a Pelion Garden paradise in your own garden! Read more