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Sorting a garden nuisance
It was 82F in the shade when I came back to the house. I am not sure what that is in C and I am too hot to check. I have been in my garden from 7:00am till 9:00am. Well, the part that has a few vegetables. We have 2 acres more or less of stone, rocks, trees, poor soil and areas where we have spent years improving the ground. I tend to ignore our early attempt at raised beds as they aren’t working that well. But this morning I decided to tackle a couple of strawberry beds. I hesitate to call them strawberry beds as they both have half…
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G is for Gertrude and Gardening
“There comes a day towards the end of March when there is little wind…..The sun has gained much power so that it is pleasant to sit out in the garden or better still in some sunny nook…….” Gertrude Jekyll Gertrude Jekyll’s appreciation of colour within her flowering schemes is renowned. She knew what to do and when to do it. Further south from her England, there is what could be termed an expat gardener’s lament. It goes something like this; “I know what to do in England, (Holland, Germany, fill in the country), but here it is so different. When do I plant? When should I sow? How often should…
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February and wanting to grow
I wonder if anyone else is getting that urge? That urge to sow seeds? Some of us who love pottering and growing fruit and vegetables are just about to see the pay off of scanning seed catalogues and poking soil. Does anyone else go round in circles with an inner dialogue, at this time of the year? I know I have to sow seeds. I know I have plenty of small plants. I know I have land and improved soil. I know some seeds and plants should be in the ground. But where would be best? Is it too soon to put out fledgling courgettes? Will they be too cold…
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Mediterranean Garden Society Conference – Portugal
A three-day conference organised by the Mediterranean Garden Society, started on Friday 1st March at the Pine Cliffs Sheraton Hotel near Albufeira. The Conference is called Friends and Foes in the Mediterranean Garden. Roy Lancaster was the key speaker on Saturday. He is a British gardener and broadcaster, known for his work on the long running BBC TV programme Gardeners’ World. He has also regularly appeared on the BBC Radio show Gardeners’ Question Time and is also a freelance writer and lecture He gave a clear, fun and passionate, illustrated talk, to keen Algarve gardeners, suggesting over 30 plants they should look for, from China, Mexico and other arid climates. One…
