Six on Saturday: A Tour of My Garden – November (part II)

‘A Tour of My Garden (part 1)‘ included photographs of our main outside living areas and garden which is south facing and as I said in my previous post:
When I think of the various areas of our garden I try to plan them as different rooms, or a transition from one room to the next. Each room has a different feel and purpose.
1. Entrance
As you walk from the front terrace, which leads to other areas of the garden,  you will see I have created a path of interest with various plants in pots  which I change according to the season to add colour.

The largest, and hopefully a feature, is the purpose built large black container in the far corner which is home to the strelitzia nicolai (white bird of paradise). The leaves of Strelitzia are now almost touching the ceiling so it won’t be long before I divide the plant and move the largest clump to another area of the garden. The mother plant is now four years old so I live in hope it will produce flowers at some point.

There is also an assortment of cacti and succulents, hibiscus and gazinias. I also use this area to shelter some of my more tender cacti and succulents during the winter months.

 

 

2. Side Garden – I

Continuing our journey we arrive at one of the side gardens in which I mainly grow cacti and succulents and a couple of native palms and shrubs. The grey curry plant in the picture below and the palm in the foreground of the second picture both grow wild in the natural park, so they are drought tolerant.

 

2. Side Garden (II)

On the other side of the house I created a succulent and cacti rockery with over 30 different species and counting. I only built it this year, so many of the plants are still very young.

3. Round the Back

As we continue our journey to the back of the house this area is still very much work in progress. In the foreground I have created another succulent and cacti rockery using a different type of rock and will gradually expand this area over time.

4. Fruit and Vegetable Area

Growing fruit and vegetables has always proved to be quite a challenge. If it’s not blight, white mold or rust it’s fruit flies, snails or cabbage white butterflies to name a few. While I have a raised bed I still have issues with soil and achieving the right balance. Perhaps I should invest in a soil testing kit. The salt winds and high humidity also add to the challenge.

I now tend to grow most of my crop in containers. I will write about this in more depth in another Six on Saturday.

The herb garden in the foreground needs a total revamp. Another project.

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5. Loquat  orNêspera or in Portugal.

This is now in flower and the bees and wasps are crazy for the pollen. Have you ever tried nespera jam or chutney? Both are delicious.

 

6. Oranges in November

This year our orange tree has produced its best crop ever with nearly 100 oranges! Although its roots fight for airspace with the invasive  melaleuca , after a slow start it now seems to be thriving.

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