Shades of summer: Bring back colour to the garden, says Super Garden judge
With visions of Mediterranean summers, there’s hardly a garden in the country that hasn’t been transformed into an outdoor living space supported by decking, patios and raised beds. But Spanish-born horticulturist Monica Alvarez is not impressed.
“There is too much of a culture of having a large patio and concrete walls. The Irish are very into grey. Why is everything grey when you can actually put colour on to it?”
A garden that has too much hard landscaping “doesn’t really move”, says the Super Garden judge.
From Valladolid, she has been living in Ireland since 1994. After studying at the Botanic Gardens — “I never looked back” — she went on to be the head gardener at Luttrellstown Castle.
In 2002 she started a course in horticulture in Dundrum College of Further Education. “I was able to do my two preferred things in life which are gardening and teaching.”
Another source of happiness is her recent marriage. Last December, the 48-year-old tied the knot with Dubliner Declan in Valencia. “I did cry a little bit — but it was a good cry.”
Super Garden, starts on RTÉ One, Thursday, April 25, 8.30pm
As a child I was always running, climbing trees, playing hide and seek — we had our own little Olympics in our neighbourhood. Then when I became a gardener I built up a lot of muscle with digging and pruning.
Becoming a teacher didn’t stop me — I bring my students to the gardens I’ve designed and I dig with them and I double dig
Every three or four days, I go for a 30-minute run to keep the heart rate going well. I have a chin bar in my house. I do seven chin-ups every four or five days, so my muscles in my arms don’t forget. In the summer months, I’m very active. My husband and I go up the mountains on bicycles. Also, I would swim daily. I’m a bit of a fish.
I love porridge in the morning with things like soft fruits and nuts and honey - I’m a bit of a Winne The Poo. During the day, I tend to eat something like an apple or pear or a yoghurt. Then when I come home I would cook in the Spanish style — lentils and kidney beans a bit of rice.
Tayto Cheese & Onion crisps. And I like red Rioja wine when I’m out for dinner.
If I correct exams and I’m looking at the computer and exposed to blue light I’ve noticed that I get restless. It’s seasonal.
I have a contemplative mind. I like staring into the horizon. I like indulging in my own thoughts, questions about life, the universe, God, whatever. Questions that don’t have easy answers. Nature relaxes me a lot.
I would invite people who don’t have a problem expressing themselves. I feel it is sad when people are so aware of taboo subjects and they prefer not to discuss certain things because of fear.
The scent of a rose.
As a horticulturist, I feel very disturbed when I look at a beautiful rose but then when I approach it there is no scent
Where I grew up we were surrounded by roses and every time and every time I smell a proper rose it brings me back to my childhood flowers.
I have a roundish figure and I like that. But if I gain two kilos I’d like a smaller rear end. I like to keep it round as the result of muscle, not fat. Otherwise, I don’t think there’s a part of me I’m unhappy about.
When people feel they have a right to be upset at others. If people disagree it’s good to express it but there is a right way and a wrong way to express that. I don’t like lying either. It doesn’t matter if it hurts, truthfulness is something you should always welcome.
Sometimes I can be too black and white in terms of my viewpoint — there is obviously room for other colours in the rainbow. I see it in my brothers very clearly — I don’t see it that clearly in myself. But I’m good at acknowledging it whenever people point it out.
Yes, I believe in God.
A positive attitude. I like when people see the good in life. In spite of the difficulties, they can take it with a pinch of salt and that’s refreshing.
