What’s happening at Sparoza

The photograph at the top of this page shows visitors to the Nursery during a spring Plant Exchange (photo Lucinda Willan)

There is always lots happening at Sparoza: tours, volunteer work sessions, plant exchanges, talks, parties ... and with nearly 1,000 different plants in the collection, you can always find something blooming in the garden. To see what is flowering right now at Sparoza and at other times of the year go here and follow Sparoza Garden on Instagram.

Sparoza is the private garden of the MGS and so is not open every day but we are open to members and non-members for pre-booked guided tours and have a programme of events throughout the year. If you would like to book a tour of the garden please email Sparoza Visits.

Volunteers’ gloves and secateurs (Photo Rosey Boehm)

Thursday mornings between September and the end of June are particularly recommended for visits so that you can also meet the ‘Vollies’ volunteers who work from 10 a.m. to 12.30 and be invited to share their post-work refreshments. The garden is close to the Athens airport and can easily be reached by airport buses or car.

Volunteers working in the garden at Sparoza (Photo Lucinda Willan)

This dedicated group of volunteers supports Head Gardener Lucinda Willan in the time-consuming routine maintenance. As well as the Thursday morning sessions there is also a monthly "Sparoza Sunday" volunteering event to address heavier tasks, such as pruning olive trees. If you would like to join us please contact Miranda, the volunteer coordinator, for more details.

Nursery and Plant Exchange

The majority of new planting is propagated in the garden’s small nursery from which surplus gems are frequently offered at Autumn and Spring Sparoza plant exchanges; head gardener Lucinda Willan has considerably increased the propagation work in the garden, and is also searching for new drought-tolerant plants across Greece to offer to local gardeners.

Talks at Sparoza (Photo Lucinda Willan)

The programme of events is organised in collaboration with the MGS Attica branch and all MGS members are welcome to attend. There are regular talks by distinguished Greek botanists and landscape architects as well as visits to sites and projects of interest around Attica.

Botanical illustration with Matina Galati

Particularly popular is the workshop on Botanical Illustration held in the garden in April, this year led by talented Garden Assistant Matina Galati.

Full Moon Party

And what better way to celebrate summer in the garden than the Full Moon party in June.