About Mike Kramer Expertise The country, its culture, people, customs, accommodations, climate, weather, touring the interior, wadi bashing, health, safety, etc. With wife, prepared the American Women`s Group "An Introductory Guide to Life in the Sultanate of Oman" which is sold in bookstores there. Currently lives in the Hill Country of Texas, but lived in the Muscat Municipality
and worked for Petroleum Development Oman 1992 - 1995 and in the Netherlands 1995 - 1998. Travelled extensively in the interior regions of Oman, visiting such places as the Lost City of Ubar, the Wahiba Sands, the Tombs at Omk, the green sea turtle nesting area at Ras al Hadd, and the Dhofar region. See www.mjgkramer.com for travel photos.
Expert: Mike Kramer Date: 8/14/2000 Subject: gardening in Oman
Question Hi Mike,
I am a Canadian interested in gardening in Oman. What types of plants exist in Muscat`s gardens that wouldn`t be found in North American gardens. Also, are their any plants which are common in both Muscat`s gardens and North American gardens, ie. Roses.
Thankyou so much for your help
Answer Dominique,
As you probably know, Oman is a very arid, desert country with only 2% of the land, a narrow strip between the mountains and the ocean, arable and fit for human habitation. The major native plants are date palms and acacia trees. There are no cacti.
We lived in the Petroleum Development Oman (PDO - a Shell Company) camp which was landscaped nicely with a variety of shrubs, including bouganvillea (spelling?) and lantana, and various types of palm trees. Our neighbor had a banana tree that produced small bananas about 1/4 the normal size. The homes were equipped with drip watering systems that put the water only where it could be used. I was always amazed that you could take a branch from any shrub, stick it in a container of potting soil and place it under a drip and within two weeks it would have developed roots. I used to joke that I could stick a broom stick in the pot and make it grow. We did not have grass and the golf courses were sand with oiled sand putting "browns" rather than "greens". PDO had an experimental farm in the interior desert where they raised hay and citrus fruit.
The only roses I saw growing were those in the new park in Qu'rum that opened in 1995. It had a very large show garden of roses including one that I recall was named after Sultan Qaboos bin Said.
We left Oman in November 1995 after 4 very enjoyable years. I heartily recommend it as an interesting, pleasant, and safe vacation destination.
Have a look at our travel photo web page (www.mjgkramer.com). There are lots of pictures of Oman as well as other places visited in our travels.
If you have any other questions about Oman, let me know. My wife edited and wrote most of the material in the American Women's Group Newcomer's Guide to Oman. I took the photos and drew the area maps. We knew the place very well.
