We were delighted to have Dr. Martin Hodson, plant scientist and environmental biologist, delivered a talk to visitors of Jardín de la Alpujarra.

The subject of the talk was ‘How garden plants tolerate a hot dry climate’.  Ironically, on the day we all gathered together to focus our attention on this subject the weather was neither hot nor dry.  The cloud was down, we were dressed in jumpers and fleeces, and at about 11.00am the rain started.  But we were undaunted!

We collected ourselves in the new garden building at Jardín de la Alpujarra, and after coffee and cakes we sat down to attend to the main issue of the day.  Martin was faced with a collection of avid gardeners and had to admit that, whilst a plant scientist and expert, he was no gardener himself.  He then proceeded to introduce the science of botany that had many of us searching into the back of our brains and trying to dredge remnants of old biology lessons.  We were told of stomata and boundary layers, of carbon 3 and carbon 4 plants, of the physiological interconnectivity of live organic matter, and so much more.  Our intellectual brain cells were certainly engaged, an event that does not happen up here in the Alpujarras as frequently as we might like.  Then Martin brought us back down to the day to day business of growing plants, and with a scientific background was able to give us some excellent advice on how to approach gardening in this mediterranean mountain region.  This led on to a lively question and answer session that was thrown open to the floor.

At about 12.30 it appeared that the there was a break in the clouds and Martin proposed that we take a tour of the garden here where he could elucidate his talk with specific examples of plants growing here.  It was fascinating to see his biological science come to life, and this provided another opportunity for an informal discussion of our own experiences - successes and failures.

Lunch followed at 14.00, and a great feast was enjoyed by all - including second helpings.

Such an enjoyable day, a chance to meet new people and to reconnect with those we already know.  A chance also to put an intellectual accent on our daily activities and to enjoy some very tasty food.  We are grateful to Martin and his wife Margot for giving up their time, not only on the day of the talk but in the many hours of preparation.  The day was perfectly pitched at this group of keen gardeners, it reinforced our practice, gave us a scientific background to our labours and made us keen to redouble our efforts.  The next day the sun was shining and I have no doubt we were all back in our gardens.

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