The New Mediterranean Botanical Garden at Can Morgat

As the restoration of Can Morgat progresses, its surrounding gardens are also receiving dedicated care. The Mediterranean Botanical Garden project is one of our many initiatives focused on restoring and enhancing natural biodiversity at Can Morgat.

By applying sustainable landscaping practices and incorporating species native to the Mediterranean landscape, selected for their natural adaptation to our environment, we aim to transform areas that had become defined by the growth of a limited number of plant species into a truly diverse and botanically rich landscape. Each plant in this landscape will serve a purpose, contributing to a garden that remains in bloom across the seasons and provides nourishment and shelter for pollinators and wildlife.

For us, this project reflects our love and commitment to a holistic approach to nature and a long-term regenerative vision of this land. A vision that cherishes nature, works in symbiosis with it, and creates spaces for nature’s own intelligence to do its work. At the same time, we wish for Can Morgat’s gardens to visually entice, uplift, and inspire anyone who passes by, and to serve as an example of the possibilities of artisanal Mediterranean landscaping…  🙂

The land in front of Can Morgat and the first phase of the Mediterranean Botanical Garden (highlighted in yellow).

An idea that led to an unexpected outcome

You may be asking yourself: ‘How did this project come about?’ 🙂

When the Can Morgat team began the restoration works of the estate, we also made a promise to you and to ourselves that the gardens would be restored with the same dedication and care as the building itself, and that any newly introduced vegetation would be thoughtfully selected and cared for to maintain harmonious growth... 🙂 This process was shared earlier in our article The Sun Returns to Can Morgat Once Again. It was precisely this promise that led us to search for a plant nursery where we could find plants suited to the local climate.

Little did we know that this simple idea would turn into an entire project! And, even more, into a meaningful collaboration with true local Mediterranean flora experts and artisans… 🙂 One conversation led to another, one visit followed the next, and we soon found ourselves captivated by a shared vision of restoring this piece of land together into something that could bring lasting value for everyone.

Who are these Mediterranean flora experts and artisans?

The sign we mounted in the garden area might have already given it away… 🙂 Yes, we are very pleased to share that Vivers l’estany has been chosen as Can Morgat’s official supplier of locally grown Mediterranean plants.

The sign installed in the garden area, introducing the Mediterranean Botanical Garden project and the collaboration with Vivers l’estany.

For those who do not yet know them, Vivers l’estany is a plant nursery located at the entrance of Banyoles (Google Maps), near Mirador de l'Estany. They specialise in the cultivation of Mediterranean plant species, with particular attention to autochthonous flora and locally adapted varieties, from aromatic herbs such as rosemary, lavender, and thyme, to ornamental plants and shrubs characteristic of the Mediterranean landscape. While traditionally supplying plants to professionals and garden centres, in 2019 they also opened a retail shop at the nursery, welcoming plant lovers and passionate gardeners who wish to visit, seek advice, and purchase plants directly at their origin.

What truly sets Vivers l’estany apart is the passion for nature of its owners. This passion has led them to develop a deep knowledge of Mediterranean plant species, their growth patterns, and their specific needs and behaviours. Designing sustainable Mediterranean landscapes requires considering many different factors and envisioning how plants will grow, interact, and occupy space over time. It is precisely here that Josep Branyas of Vivers l’estany brings his greatest value, helping us approach the gardens not as seasonal projects, but as living systems that evolve with time, and design them with that long-term vision in mind... 🙂

What makes this collaboration special to us

Josep Branyas, fundador de Vivers l’estany i autor del Jardí Botànic Mediterrani de Can Morgat.

The role of Josep in this project goes far beyond plant supply. We deliberately chose to give him a blank canvas on one of the most visible and significant parts of the estate, something we normally do not do lightly… 🙂 As such, he is the author of this garden, shaping its vision, design, and botanical strategy from the very beginning. The level of trust this involves is what makes this collaboration particularly meaningful to us.

For Josep, this garden is a space of expression. It is an opportunity to demonstrate what sustainable Mediterranean garden landscaping can look like when it is approached with knowledge, patience, and creative freedom, and to share that vision openly with everyone who encounters it.

For us, this project is an opportunity to build on local natural heritage, elevate the botanical and visual aspect of Can Morgat, and at the same time support local professionals with whom we share values, vision, as well as a deep connection with nature.

What will the Mediterranean Botanical Garden look like?

To offer you a first glimpse of what this garden will become, we are sharing an overview of the selected plant species, together with a hand-drawn design of their spatial distribution. We also include reference images of some of the species that will be planted. This project is only the beginning of a broader botanical effort. As the restoration of Can Morgat continues, new phases of the garden and surrounding land will be developed, each responding to the evolving context of the estate and its environment.

Hand-drawn landscape design illustrating the spatial distribution and long-term vision of the garden.

Working with Mediterranean species naturally adapted to the local climate, the garden will become exceptionally resilient, water-efficient, and fully integrated into its surroundings. By combining plants with different growth patterns and seasonal cycles, the garden will be evolving throughout the year, always offering a variety of colours, textures, and moments of bloom to enjoy.

On a final note…

We are very excited to see how this project develops and the shape it takes over time. And you? 🙂

Through conversations with local visitors and friends, we became aware of the special role that Can Morgat’s gardens, and in particular the long staircase leading up to the masia, have historically played. For many people, this has been a place where important life moments were captured, from wedding photographs to treasured family memories.

The staircase leading up to Can Morgat, a place where memories have been captured across generations.

With all of this in mind, we did not want this space to remain a simple patch of cleared land or a maintained strip of grass. We felt it deserved much more and could become a beautiful botanical space that once again invites people to pause, enjoy, and create new memories… <3

With excitement and anticipation,

Maarten and Monika