The April meeting of the Club was held at the Paradise Gardens Hotel on the hill above Oludeniz.  The gardens are approximately 15 acres in total and feature three swimming pools (one partially shaded within a cave) and a large bird aviary occupied by the owner’s collection of rare pheasants and peacocks.  The site is very steep and has been expertly terraced over the 23 years since it was first acquired by the present owner – whom we met working on the construction of a new luxury section within the aviary.  This will enable guests to lounge in cushioned areas whilst watching the birds – and gazing at the view over Oludeniz.

We were guided round the gardens by the hotel’s manager, Cengiz, who generously gave of his time and was a charming host.  The mature planting would seem to have created its own microclimate as plants such as deciduous bougainvillea, strelitzia and brugmansia (just starting to wake up in most gardens at this time) were all in bloom and looking like they hadn’t experienced winter.  A wide range of citrus was also just starting to bloom and smelling glorious.  However, aside from unusual citrus specimens, the plants are all the norm for the area, with the really spectacular aspects of the garden being the structure and the setting.  We ended up drinking tea on the terrace high above Oludeniz, imaging a candlelit dinner in the same place with a full moon over the bay.