This year, the event will take place on October 18 and 19 at the FATACIL Showground in Lagoa with its excellent facilities for visitors and exhibitors.
Autumn is the best time to buy your garden plants and best time to do your planting – giving time for the all-important development of root systems during the more humid months of autumn and winter.
The event is organised by a not-for-profit association dedicated to promoting best practice in landscaping and gardens in the Algarve. The Mediterranean Gardening Association is dedicated to education and run entirely by volunteers. We could not hold this event without the help we receive from our members and friends. Thanks also go to our sponsors, the Portugal Resident and Sementes de Portugal.
This year, we have even more plant nurseries and exhibitors, a record-breaking total of 70-plus exhibitors, including over 20 growers. We are very grateful for the support of Lagoa Câmara.
Many people are already familiar with the site. It has a lovely open-air aspect with many trees.
Please follow the signs to the entrance for the large free car parking area on the site with designated disabled parking near the pedestrian entrance. There are covered stands and a large marquee for our talks and information displays.
Among the selection of plants available are robust mediterranean species, succulents, water plants, fruit trees, native plants and seed, aromatic herbs and a good range of house plants and orchids. The popular Felco garden tools free maintenance workshop will be present.
There will be three presentations on both days, free to attend, as well as demonstrations on stands. Also, a solar cooking display, advice on growing drought-resistant bromeliads in your garden and a very special presentation on ‘Salvias for Algarve Gardens’. The full schedule is available on our website and Facebook event page (see below).
Entry donations of €1 per adult will be used to support our educational activities with schools, Câmaras, Freguesias and the general public. This includes helping them to make native plant and drought-resistant gardens that need no irrigation, with the hands-on involvement of students and employees.
The water issues, and changes in weather patterns, have made it more important than ever that we take a long hard look at how we manage our gardens – with a focus on water, needless use of chemicals and plant choices. In this vein, there will be a presentation on ‘How to get rid of your lawn and what to plant instead’.
- New exhibitors for this event include a new grower with 20 varieties of Salvia, also Benji’s Heirloom Vegetable seed varieties and plants, a Plumeria grower and the Orchard of Flavours specialising in fruit trees. The popular water plant nursery, Aguaflora, will also participate.
- Bulbs on the MGAP stand include those for naturalising, including native varieties such as the rarely available Paperwhite narcissus. Pre-order bulbs on request mgapsec@gmail.com
- Refreshments and bar service will be available on site all day, including the popular curry house lunches and vegetarian options from Convent’Bio.
- Free advice on the MGAP stand with plant clinic to provide support for making sustainable gardens using native and climate appropriate planting.
- A full list of exhibitors will be published online near to the date so that you can make your orders for collection at the event.
- New and second-hand books on mediterranean gardens, natural history and wildflowers of the Algarve.
- Please help us to cut down on waste – bring your own bags and boxes for the plant crèche.
Helpers are always welcome and if you are visiting the event with one or two hours to spare, we would love to hear from you. Contact mgapevents@gmail.com
Join us to celebrate the end of the long dry summer season and enjoy browsing the extensive range of plants, organic products and garden-related crafts on offer. See you there!
See website www.mgaportugal.org and Facebook ‘Mediterranean Gardeners – Portugal’ for further details or contact mgapfairs@gmail.com
