Pinya De Rosa again

 This is a place I have been to twice. The last time was when we took part in a garden bus tour a good ten years back, and cost us 10 euro to travel to two gardens and had to deal with holding a parrot! to get in. only to find that it had declined from when we were here last.  Why bring this up now, well I have found a new article from the 1960's in the old Cactus Society of Great Britain Journal, describing its creation and such. If I'm checking old Hard drives I'll put up a few photos from there to tide you over, but for now have a reprint of the article. 

Acclimatisation garden "Pinya De Rosa" Juan Panella Bonastre botanist at the Barcelona Gardens.

A meeting of a few friends, lovers of the vegetable kingdom and specialising in the study of succulent plants, held at Zurich (Switzerland) in September,  1950, afforded a personal touch to found the I.O.S. (International Organisation of the study for Succulent plants). Further, they duly arrived at certain agreements regarding the task to be undertaken concerning this significant group of plants.

One of the problems to be resolved was to arrange certain groups of succulent plants in Europe, in the open air, so that they might be able to retain as much of their natural characteristics as possible, which is not possible with plants cultivated in greenhouses. To succeed in the study of these characteristics it became necessary to have the use of a garden in a place with a mild climate, on a ground large enough to embrace several hundred of species, chiefly large ones, belonging to this interesting vegetable group. 

Thanks to the magnanimous contribution of Mr. Fernando Riviere de Caralt, member of the I.O.S., owner of grounds on the shores of the Mediterranean, at the touristically well known Costa Brava, Catalonia, Spain, this lack, which was the preoccupancy of all specialised lovers of these plants, has been satisfied; the Acclimatisation Garden called 'Pinya de Rosa' is maturing and developing its activity. The garden is still young, but already well advanced throughout the field of activities regarding succulent plants.

'Pinya de Rosa' lies about 70km, north of Barcelona at Blanes, Costa Brava, Catalonia, near the first cliffs, between the sea and mountains. Its position is the best for the realisation of our project. Plantations are in the open air, protected against north winds, facing south, and meet with the demanded requirements, so that their growth emulates that of their native countries. Winters are normally near 0 C, but a few days of January and / or February they reach sometimes to -1 or -2 below 0 C. Notwithstanding, it has been noticed that most plants are still growing perfectly. But last winter was extraordinarily abnormal and, at 'Pinya de Rosa', the thermometer recorded -8.5 below 0 C during these three or four days. Though some plants have not withstood this temperature, many of them are still standing and beginning new vegetation. The ground now arranged for garden has a surface of about eight hectares (nearly twelve acres), and is still able to be considerably enlarged in proportion to plantation needs.

Plants growing at 'Pinya de Rosa' embrace about 4000 distinct species; a great part of them belong to groups of succulent plants. Although there are many kinds included within this group, the garden is specially adaptable for those succulent plants which are not able to be grown in a greenhouse. Special gardens have been built for this purpose, so that  systematically planted Opuntias, Agaves, Aloes and Mesembryanthemums may be actually observed growing. All these grow, flourish and fruit perfectly, showing it was fortunate to be able to house them at such a place. After these collections have been completed, the establishing of other types of succulent plants and their acclimatisation will be undertaken for study purposes.

Material that exists there now has been received, largely, from friends and amateurs in several countries who specialise in the study of succulent plants. We trust to their help to complete and develop our projects.

At present, the systematic collections contain the following species; about 300 Opuntias, 80 Agaves, 90 Aloes and 500 Mesembryanthemums. With a view to increasing  their number, we are now in touch with people in the native countries of these plants. We are constantly receiving seeds and small plants, which are being planted in suitable places, at the right time, according to their growth.

The management of 'Pinya de Rosa' would be very grateful to all, whether professionals or amateurs for species of Opuntias, Agaves, Aloes and Mesembryanthemums. All species are worthy of interest, as they will be examined and compared, so as to enlarge the collection, which, in the end, should be of the utmost assistance, internationally, to the study of succulent plants.