Marrakech: Peacock Pavilions and a tale of botanical woes

Once upon a time, in a real kingdom far, far away, there was a blogging girl named Maryam who was fond of plants.  Indeed, so enchanted was she by the silvery branches of olive trees, that she bought a small olive grove in Marrakech.  Imagine that.

For a time, it seemed like Maryam and her olive trees might live happily ever after.  But, like all fairy tales, it soon became evident that things were not as they should be.  Because although the trees had the family's love, as well sun and water, they had few other plants with which to share their leafy feelings.  Lonely and depressed, olives began dropping from their branches for no reason at all.

Now Maryam wanted her trees to be happy.  So she timidly bought cypres, agave, bougainvillea, and roses......but they felt lost in the vast expanse of 8.5 acres of land.  It soon became evident that the family required help of the expert variety.  A fairy god landscaper was needed.  Maryam tried numerous tricks to evoke a fairy god landscaper. She rubbed random lanterns with genie potential in the Marrakech souks.  But......nothing happened.  She clicked her heels and tried spells purchased from magicians on the Jemaa el-Fna square.  But....the spells appeared to be broken.  In sheer desperation, she even sent a polite email to the fancy American landscaper who had done the plan for the American School of Marrakech.  But he didn't bother to reply to her - it appeared she wasn't important enough to even merit politeness.  Sigh, where were she and she and she when Maryam needed them most?

All seemed lost.....It was then that a Moroccan landscaper showed up on the land, unannounced.  He drove a pumpkin coach, err, a pickup truck and called plants by their Latin names.  Impressed, Maryam invited him to walk the property.  And - as in all fairy tales - she also told him her three wishes:  1) an Andalusian garden with drought-loving plants; 2) clipped rosemary hedges with their heady scent; and 3) an organic vegetable patch with seeds carefully sourced.  Much to her surprise, the landscaper told her that she could have more than just three wishes (Oh my!).  Maryam hired him on the spot, of course.  He asked for an advance (even fairy god landscapers get paid these days) and she said......... yes.

The months passed, and the would-be fairy god landscaper was behind schedule, waaaaaay behind schedule.  Maryam began to grow worried.  She knocked on his office door and called him on the phone, first weekly, then daily, seemingly to no avail.  Finally, when her fingernails had been bitten down to the quick, she received a message that the landscaping plan was done.  She crossed herself, made a namaste, and did a left sided and a right sided cartwheel.  She alerted the Peacock Pavilion olive trees, who alerted the sparrows, who alerted the ladybugs.  And everyone felt, well, happy, in the sparkliest way possible.

However..... it appeared their happiness was premature...... The landscaping plan turned out to be a measly set of stapled-together pages of nothing at all.  And after fruitless discussions to try to rectify the situation, the architect husband -- normally so kind -- threw the "landscaping plan" straight into the trash..........

Oh dear.  They had been swindled.

This fairytale does not have a happy ending.......but perhaps.... it is still a tale-in-the-making.  For the time being, however, sad Maryam and her sad olive trees are scanning the horizon, hoping that someone will show up soon to apply for the vacant fairy god landscaping position at Peacock Pavilions. Oh please, let it be this week or next. 

(Warning to all charlatan landscapers:  the dungeons at Peacock Pavilion are rumored to be a very scary place, indeed, absent of all light and populated only by man-eating cacti.   Don't make me take you there....)

To be continued......

PS  Take a peek at this pretty, pretty vintage Moroccan wedding blanket I sent darling Jeanine at one of my fave blogs, AphroChic.  This lovely blanket has dark embroidered strips among the fringe and the sequins.  Yowza!  I have new stock of vintage Moroccan wedding blankets - so please let me know if you would like one (maryam at mtds.com) .  I also have some delectable vintage Moroccan Beni Ourain and other carpets - I will be posting on those soon.

Comments

[simon]

Maryam:- I am pleased hubby just threw the plans in the bin. We have "debt collectors"here..and they do a fine job ;o)

BTW your blog will not upload on my work computer beacuase of fire wall! can you believe it??!!

So it has taken me until today to ump on the new mac at home and have a read....

Brilliant stuff! (as always).. I miss my daily fix!

[simon]

UMP!!! I mean Jump!!!

[Aimee]

Oh how I wish that I could be your fairy god-landscaper! Sadly I know nothing about the area or variety of plants in Marrakesh. :( Otherwise I would wave my wand and come right away.

Sorry to hear that you were swindled. Is there something you can do about it? Like a BBB or something like that?

[Kaydee]

I love this gorgeous, entrancing story. Even though the subject matter is sooo nervewracking!! I am on the edge of my seat worried about those leafy feelings and ladybugs.

[Zandria]

Oh, Maryam! It seems like so many things have gone RIGHT with this project, but then we hear about stuff like this. It's just awful, no other way around it. :( I hope you find the right person soon.

[flutter]

oh I so wish I could fly out and landscape!

[Aimee]

Oh dear, I hope you can find someone to fix your situation soon! And when it's finished, you must share pics!

Good luck! :)

[Cairogal]

Oh dear...Have you read "The Caliph's House: A Year in Casablanca"? Sounds very familiar...

[corine @ hidden in france]

You are NOT ALONE~! my comment to this post became an entire post on my blog : {

[Pickledeel]

I hope someone in the government is paying you for this "promotional" blog - it is enough to want me to (j)ump on a plane and fly there straightaway. Via Turkey!! Apart from anything else I definitely need to have a shot at the famous Jum Ping. And it's not Chinese!!!

[Adla]

Oh Maryam, perhaps your fairygod landscaper lost her way home...May a new one equipped with a GPS fly in soon :)

[Marianna]

Arrrugh!!! How frustrating!!! I also wish I could jump on a plane and get your gardens revved up for you. This isn't just a simple matter of throwing clods of goat dung around the bases of the trees... you need impressive. rich and luscious gardens in line with your beautiful, beautiful place. If only somebody of the likes of your decorative artist friends, some generous horticultural geniuses and desert gardening experts with time on their hands, could come down for a gardening retreat. I'm hoping it happens, SOON!!

[camille]

Urgh, I know just the person to help you but--alas--he is here in Slovenia. :(

Have you spoken to anyone at any gardening stores? They should be able to help you. Or maybe take a walk over to the American school. I fear nothing but utter peskiness and persistence will yield the answer you seek.

[Heatheronhertravels]

So sorry that you haven't a botanical sister like me - she made a wonderful planting plan for my front garden - a vision in purple and white. All we have to do now is by the plants and make the dream a reality.

[stephanie]

Such a sad tale...but I have faith that you will find a way to your dream garden...

[christie]

You had me on pins and needles, then burst my bubble. I am sure that just the right help will be coming your way soon. I love happy endings.

[Kathy here again]

Maryam, the one thing I noticed about Morocco and plants is as long as there is some moisture the land is rich and things like bougainvilla and jasmine absolutely thrive.
In Rabat, I remember seeing rotten tomatoes tossed into vacant lots only to turn into lushly fruitful plants.
Of course you live in the desert. As you know I happen to live in another desert. I grow lots of bougainvilla, pink trumpet vine, cape primrose, rosemary, cape honeysuckle, vigna caracalla, and various other things that I have seen groing in Marrakech. I have a fig tree and lots of citrus. Herbs, nasturtiums clematis, and viney roses in the spring. Black-eyed susan vine, lavender lantana, Every year I try new things, some work, some not so much. I sent an email to a landscape architect, an American girl named Carey Jane Duncan who lives in Rabat. I think she can help you. Maybe your husband knows her? Is there any kind of architect group in Morocco who gets together?

[Kathy here again]

http://www.careyduncandesign.com/

email: duncan@wanadoo.net.ma

Fax: +212 (0)37 68-62-30

Tel: +212 (0)37 68-22-42
I.F. no: 3315530
Patente: 25737815
R.C.Rabat: 44755
CNSS: 2666313

[Kathy here again]

Carey Jane is SOuth African, American educated. I believe her husband is Moroccan, possibly one of my former students.

[Liberty Post Editor]

Hello. Anybody out there? You will find that person(s).

[Persephone]

Well, that sounds just awful. Perhaps you should turn the peacocks out against him. I hear they can do some damage...

[Purple]

Great story, brilliant reading!!

[heather]

oh, such a bummer. you want i should beat him up with my baseball bat?

[lyna wan]

Maryam, it's just awful, first with the story of buying land and then come this story. I'm so sorry for you. I can't help but assume people over there just take for granted. They asked for advance and let you dangle and at the end nothing is produced. However, I wish U luck in finding the right fairygod landscapper.

[melissa @ the inspired room]

How unfortunate! Best of luck, Maryam! What a sad tale!
xo