medina gardens

The 4th Green Gardens workshop in Marrakech was even better and greener than we could have hoped for. In Morocco the past summer had quite some rainy days, so for October-standards everything was incredibly fresh and green!

We had a welcome dinner on the roof terrace at Chambres d'Amis on the eve of our first medina gardens tour. The welcome dinner was partly a reunion with friends, for no less than 5 of the 10 participants joined us for the 2nd and even 3rd time! Such great fun to meet everyone again in Marrakech.

With our green-loving group we went into the medina for a visit to the most diverse gardens imaginable early in the morning. We visited Palais Bahia and El Badi and a local (flower) market.

During our first morning 'gardens' tour we all collected leaves and seeds and some got started with their herbarium-dairy right away. There were quite some very creative and original herbarium makers among these gardenistas.

We had lunch in the courtyard of La Famille and after coffee and dessert we continued our walk to a beautiful traditional riad with an insane green courtyard garden and a public park within the medina walls. Late afternoon we ended on the roof at Nomad for drinks with a view on Place des Epices.

Wonderful day, exhausting though, but great and GREEN!

into the mountains

Entirely according to tradition, we go into the mountains on the last workshop day.

Before we cross the Ourika river, we first pay a visit to the Saffron Valley. Which, as we know before we arrive, is only blooming in the fall.

It does not make the visit less special, because the vegetable- and herb gardens are gorgeous, with a breathtaking view of the mountains.

We pick some nice 'green memories' for our herbarium, drink home-made lemonade and get in our minibus for the last few miles.

On arrival at our final destination, we have a delicious lunch, overlooking the red valley of Kasbah Bab Ourika.

The rest of the tropical day, we spend in and around the pool and everyone is loving it. Plenty to enjoy at this magical place!

Ps: Ank's 5 months old puppy Flip has accompanied us on all workshop days (cool crochet and green garden!). He is the coolest, easiest, funniest and sweetest dog. Flip has seen more in his young puppy life than many other dogs throughout their whole life.

blooming & botanical

The second day of our botanical discoveries we headed outside the city walls of the medina.

Early morning visit to Jardin Majorelle is obviously included in the program. In our private 'greenhouse', we worked on our herbarium while enjoying coffee, tea & kaab el ghazal, delicious Moroccan pastries.

Via a gigantic colorful botanical garden out of town, we continued the green trip with our minibus, up for lunch in an ancient olive grove.

After a blissful lunch, time for a relaxing afternoon in and around the pool and a some of us made another stroll through the beautiful gardens.

At the end of the day we enter the city walls of Marrakech with a botanical afterglow.