The project “Cephalonia Botanica Seed Bank: The Microcosm of the Rare Ionian Flora” has been approved for funding by the Green Fund under the Funding Programme “NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE 2026” – Outreach Activities 2026.

As part of the project, a two-day event will take place at Cephalonia Botanica on 19 and 20 September 2026, highlighting the work of the Seed Bank and the rare, endemic and threatened flora of the Ionian Islands.

Funding Programme: “NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE 2026” – Outreach Activities 2026

Project budget: €10,000

Funding: Green Fund

Beneficiary: CEPHALONIA BOTANICA – FOCAS-COSMETATOS FOUNDATION

Με μεγάλη επιτυχία πραγματοποιήθηκε την Παρασκευή 31 Ιουλίου 2026 η ξεχωριστή πολιτιστική εκδήλωση «Ο μαγεμένος κήπος των ρόδων», την οποία διοργάνωσε το Ίδρυμα Υιών Π. Φωκά Κοσμετάτου στον ειδυλλιακό χώρο του Βοτανικού Κήπου Κεφαλονιάς.

Η βραδιά ήταν αφιερωμένη με βαθιά συγκίνηση στη μνήμη του Σπύρου Κοσμετάτου, ο οποίος διετέλεσε για περίπου 20 χρόνια Πρόεδρος του Δ.Σ.

Το πολυεπίπεδο όραμά του παρουσίασε με ομιλία της η Βιβή Βασάλα, Μέλος του Διοικητικού Συμβουλίου, η οποία είχε και τον συντονισμό της βραδιάς.

Στο πρώτο μέρος της εκδήλωσης, ο συγγραφέας Γιάννης Ξανθούλης μοιράστηκε με το κοινό σκέψεις και ιστορίες με αφορμή το τελευταίο του βιβλίο, «Η άλωση των Αθηνών από τις αδερφές Γαργάρα» (Εκδόσεις Διόπτρα), χαρίζοντας στους παρευρισκόμενους στιγμές γεμάτες πνευματώδες χιούμορ.

Παράλληλα, η εικαστικός Τίνα Καραγεώργη εγκαινίασε την έκθεση ζωγραφικής της, με μοναδικά έργα τέχνης που εμπνεύστηκε από τον ίδιο τον Βοτανικό Κήπο.

Η έκθεση πλαισιώθηκε αρμονικά από τη μουσική σύνθεση του Γιώργου Μωραΐτη, προσφέροντας στους επισκέπτες μια ολοκληρωμένη πολυαισθητηριακή εμπειρία.

In August of 2025 we enjoyed, in midsummer, an evening filled with the scents and sounds of spring!
The concert, titled "Spring – the scent of flowers", was inspired by the beauties of nature.

Soprano Chrysanthi Chahoulia, with her unique voice, performed classical pieces by great composers such as F. Mendelssohn, R. Schumann, Fr. Rober, Sergei Rachmaninov, and others, while in the second part Greek songs by Hadjidakis, Theodorakis, and more were heard.

At the piano was Frixos Mortzos. On guitar/accordion played Yiannis Dafnos.

Under the towering poplars, with their silvery-green foliage and generous shade, next to the pond with frogs and blooming water lilies, in May of 2025 children and adults alike came together as one group and, in a fun and educational way, took part in the presentation of the children’s book “Flowers – Myths and Legends” by Aikaterini Stefi, illustrated by Ntina Zafeiropoulou.

At the Cephalonia Botanica in April of 2025, the Focas-Cosmetatos Foundation and the well-known physicist and TV meteorologist of ALPHA channel, Giorgos Tsatrafyllias, celebrated Earth Day with an educational program on weather, climate, and the science of meteorology.

The program was addressed to 4th, 5th, and 6th grade primary school students and included theory and videos about weather phenomena, experiments, crafts, and many other hands-on activities.

The distinguished Kefalonian performer and musician Stavros Niforatos held a unique concert at the Cephalonia Botanica in August 2024.

With his favourite songs he managed to uplift the audience through his music. 

In July 2024, Savina Yannatou and Kostas Grigoreas invited us on a musical journey through different musical traditions. Songs from various cultures; in many languages and musical styles; pieces for solo guitar; and fine Greek music with classical guitar and voice. Music from Southern Italy, Armenia, Lebanon, Corsica and Sardinia as well as songs by Manos Hadjidakis, Lena Platonos, and Nikos Kyrougou.

The event took place in July 2024 at the Cephalonia Botanica with the goal of enlightening the public about common myths surrounding ancient science.
The speakers of the event were:

• Maria Mavroudi, Professor of Byzantine History, University of Berkeley, USA
• Petros Bouras-Vallianatos, Associate Professor of the History of Science, Department of History and Philosophy of Science, EKPA (or NKUA?)
• Sophia Xenofontos, Associate Professor of Ancient Greek Philology, Department of Philology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
• Giannis Christianidis, Professor Emeritus of the History of Mathematics, Department of History and Philosophy of Science, EKPA(or NKUA?)

The event was organized as part of the research program “The Physician of the Soul: Medicine and Practical Ethics in Galen,” funded by the Wellcome Trust (UK), with Scientific Director Sophia Xenofontos and Host Institution Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

After several years of absence, the Cephalonia Botanica’s theater hosted the performance “ALPHABET: An Ecological Symphonic Poem” in August 2023, an inspired show based on the eponymous poem by Danish poet Inger Christensen.

The direction was by Nikaiti Kontouri.
The performers were: Nadia Mourouzi, Eleni Parginou, Eleni Moleski.
Live electronics: Konstantinos Frantzis.
Production Organization: Kentro Team.

In August 2023, the Educational Department of the Focas-Cosmetatos Foundation organized a presentation of Anastasia Donti's book "The Secret of the Stars" at the enchanting lake of the Cephalonia Botanica.

The presentation was given by the author herself, offering the attendees a unique experience.