botanical, artistic & altitude gardens

Although it already seems ages ago, since we drove with our gardens group to the mountains, I would like to share a photo report of our second last day of the workshop.

In the morning we went to the impressive botanical garden, just outside of Marrakech. I can assure you it almost feels frustrating, because you want to take home so many plants, knowing that it is impossible. Just bring home a few cuttings would already be nice...
The amount of plants, the colors, the gigantic size of the garden, the diversity and abundance of flowers, trees, plants, cacti, make you feel like walking around in the plant paradise! You just don't want to leave this place, but we had to continue with the program and went via a rural route to the Atlas mountains and drove along fields full of poppies. Spring everywhere!

Before we went into the mountains, we made a stop at the Anima art garden. The garden, created by André Heller, is so colorful, surprising and so very different from all the places we went on our Green Gardens tour this week. After coffee and austrian cake in the cafe we continued our trip to the Ourika river and we visited the weekly local market.

When we arrived at our final destination of the day, Kasbah Bab Ourika, it was already pretty cloudy, but we were lucky to make a (vegetable) garden tour and have lunch on the terrace, before it started to rain.

We decided to have our desserts at the fireplace and had a wonderful afternoon despite the bad weather.
It was the first time that I have experienced so much rain in April in Morocco in all those years.
Well it did not spoil the fun, but I would have loved to give the participants the sight of the snowy mountains with bright blue sky, like the week before with the Cool Crochet workshop.

Even after my departure (when we had sunny spring weather in the Netherlands), it was still cold and wet in Marrakech, which is unusual for this time of year in North Africa.

The GG workshop was therefore the greenest sofar...

This was the last 'moroccan vibes' blogpost until October, thank you all for following our adventures!

atlas

A day trip to the mountains. Even before we leave Marrakech, we already can see the snowy Atlas peaks crystal clear afar. The road trip itself is already a treat. On the way we took a little break to visit the local market at the river Ourika. After a short bumpy ride we arrive at today's 'cool crochet hangout' with spectacular snow and sun view. But first a delicious lunch on the terrace overlooking the red valley.

After lunch we moved to a perfect spot by the pond, dressed in bikini, to start with the project of the day; a 'traditional' crochet cover for a suitcase size stool. A lot of chatter, lazing in the sun, tea and fun with crisp clear Atlas view!

urban jungle donkey basket

The green donkey basket I found at the local weekly Ourika river market last week.
Actually I bought it for my bike, but soon realized that I do not have a luggage carrier on my bike, haha...
I would definitely find another application, so I decided to buy the basket anyway...
Perhaps as planter in the garden? or wool baskets?
You can not possibly find an even more impractical souvenir to take in your suitcase, but I was facing the challenge and managed to bring it home.

Once at home I knew it right away, it's a plant box! The urban jungle donkey basket.



and the two humorous market merchants from the donkey basket stall (they insisted to have their picture taken)

oued ourika

It has become a tradition to make a stop at the Ourika river when we are on our way to the Atlas Mountains.

To take a foot bath in the icy meltwater from the mountains for enthusiasts. Our brave friend Jeroen even walked to the middle of the river.
Also a visit to the dear old merchant, where I once bought my first moroccan tajine and some plastic laundry baskets, for the large terracotta pots in our garden. This time I found a beautiful brightly colored flat berber basket.
There's always a lot of activity in the town along the Ourika river. It is the last place to buy 'whatever' before you go into the mountains.

After a short stop (for a foot bath, some shopping and a mother-son portrait), we all got back in the minibus for a bumpy ride to our final destination Kasbah Bab Ourika, in the mountains.