By Isabel Ovalle
Contrary to popular belief, gardening is possible in the desert. The Doha Garden Club has the goal of promoting good gardening practices in this dry and hot land. Founded in 2002, the group, with over 30 members, takes advantage of the gardening season from September to May and closes the year with an annual garden tour.
This year, the 11th edition of the tour will take place on Saturday, March 16, covering three gardens. The garden owners will open their doors to the public for a few hours so people can enjoy the greenery.
Tickets for the tour are available for QR50 (children under 12 have free admission), providing entry to three private gardens from 10am to 1pm. For those who want to leave the driving to the organisers, minibuses will be available for an additional QR50.
All profits from the garden tour will help support green initiatives in Doha. The Club sent last year’s proceeds to Sprout Middle East, which conducts gardening education programmes in local schools.
The Club is a non-profit organisation and people interested in joining can contact it through its website (www.dohagardenclub.com). Members must pay an annual fee at the beginning of the season that covers workshops and courses. Special activities may require additional contributions.
The president of the Club, Esther John, explained: “Our meetings, field trips and tours encourage our members to learn, grow, conserve, design and beautify Qatar, and at the same time promote goodwill and friendship among the members. Programmes include floral and horticulture lectures and demonstrations, environmental education, and question and answer sessions, among other activities.”
The Club closes for the summer from June to August and is active from September to May, with meetings held on the first Sunday of every month at Holiday Villa. Registration starts at 9.30am and the meeting is held from 10am to 12pm.
“We want people to know that gardening in the desert is possible, that’s why we make field trips to farms and other green locations which are pretty amazing,” said John.
Regarding the plants grown in Qatar, the Club president said there were few species that could be grown, but with time, most acclimatised to the temperature, soil and water of the area.
The tour that will take place in 10 days would be a good chance to see the “flow of creativity of participants; each of them does something different,” said John.
A wide range of plants could be found in Doha nowadays, she said, with some members bringing seeds from abroad.
John’s interest in gardening goes back a long way. “I had always been interested, but at first, in the desert, it was difficult. But you just have to follow some rules and be very careful,” she added.
For instance, it this arid region it’s important to limit the amount of water used. “I put a bucket under my air conditioning device to collect the cool water it lets out. Later, I use it for the garden,” said John.
She added: “Taking care of a garden gives pleasure and joy. When you sit in your garden you feel joy and peace. You don’t need to have a big one, it’s just good to have your own space and calm, and enjoy the season.”
Though gardening in Qatar can be expensive, the key is to use plants that don’t need too much water and follow the six-month cycle. “The desert has a beauty of its own,” concluded the expert.
