Today, countless species with different characteristics can be seen all over the city. ‘We have this heritage of camellias due, perhaps, to the collectors who fell in love with this flower, and this continues to be a worldwide movement.’ Since the 19th century, when the first specimens began to be cultivated in some of Porto's gardens, the city has been fascinated by this species from the East, giving Porto the title of ‘city of camellias’.

As part of her professional activity as a landscape architect, Alcide defines it well: ‘In addition to its beauty, the camellia is a plant that adapts perfectly to spaces; I often say that it is competent, because it fulfils its function well.

What's more, it flowers at a different time to other plants. It's nature that builds all this, and that fascinates me.’

The Crystal Palace Gardens, the St Lazarus Garden, the Botanical Gardens and Casa Tait, among others, are home to a living collection that continues to surprise. ‘Casa Tait has an impressive collection, with over 60 varieties, and there is one species that stands out: the Princess Royal, the favourite camellia of Muriel Tait, the last member of the Tait family to live in the house.’

Porto's relationship with camellias is not just a matter of landscape. The flower is part of people's collective memory, being present in old and secluded gardens. ‘People come up to me and say: ‘My grandmother had this camellia in her garden! It's a flower that carries memories and connects generations.’

March is the month of camellias. The first weekend of the month is dedicated to the queen of winter flowers, in an exhibition that takes place in Parque de São Roque and brings together collectors, producers and the curious in a celebration that goes beyond botany. ‘It's a meeting that crosses continents! Some people travel thousands of kilometres just to see these flowers,’ says Alcide. Part of the camellia's charm lies in its diversity. ‘We often find camellias with tinted petals, as if nature were playing with colours.’

The event's programme includes workshops for the whole family. The full programme can be found at agoraporto.pt.

The charm of camellias is not just in their resilience or their vibrant colours. For Alcide, it's something deeper. In his workshops, he challenges participants to slow down, to realise that silence is part of beauty. ‘When you look at a camellia, even a simple flower, you're forced to stop. And that's already a poetic gesture.’ Perhaps that's why the architect was seduced by Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arranging. ‘Ikebana is called ‘the way of flowers’. It's an ancient practice that connects the human heart to the heart of the plant.’ In his workshops, Alcide tries to pass on this philosophy, but he notices a cultural difference: ‘People are in such a hurry to put the flowers in quickly to get to the end result. But that's not what Ikebana is; it's balance, it's emptiness, and emptiness is difficult for us Westerners to accept. And balance doesn't mean symmetry either; on the contrary, balance is often asymmetrical.’