A Creative Spirit
It's been another week of unsettled weather as storm Ingrid's fury continues to rage across Portugal. Northern Portugal and the Alentejo had blizzards, but down South in the Algarve, we only had to contend with heavy rain and strong gusts of wind that whipped into what seemed like mini tornadoes, ripping off shed roofs, scattering... Continue Reading →
After yet another week of wet and windy weather and yet another night of listening to howling winds and rain beating against the window, I was of a mind when I woke this morning to snuggle back under the duvet and go back to sleep. Unfortunately, or fortunately, as it turned out, my bladder made... Continue Reading →
This year, I decided to create a mid-month overview of my garden. What's happening now so I can look back and compare how the garden changes month by month over the year. Why not join me and keep a blog diary? Gardening on the West Coast of Portugal can be challenging due to salt winds... Continue Reading →
If we were having coffee, I'd tell you it's been a week of taking stock of my physical and mental health. Are they linked? Yes, I believe so. I've decided this year not to set strict goals or resolutions that will probably set me up to fail, but rather learn to live in the moment... Continue Reading →
Agave attenuata is often called Foxtail Agave or Swan’s Neck Agave. Unlike most agaves, its leaves have no sharp tips or teeth, so it’s friendly to walk past and easy to live with, which is just as well, as it is beginning to tower over the cars on our drive. This is the second time... Continue Reading →
Over the last few weeks, we've experienced southerly gale-force winds and storms that have wreaked havoc in the garden ... but compared to some, we consider ourselves lucky to have escaped with minimal damage. My Six on Saturday morphed into ... The winds stripped the Bougainvillea of the wonderful display of autumn flowers (bracts) most... Continue Reading →
There is never a dull moment on Piglet's Plot. Despite temperatures still in the 20C, a stroll around the garden signals summer is over, and I really do need to get my butt into gear. Birds and the Bees This morning I was surprised by the number of bees on the nespera tree. It seemed... Continue Reading →
As September drifts into October in a blaze of sunshine, albeit accompanied by a chilly breeze, I now curse my tardiness for not going to the local monthly market last Sunday to buy broccoli, lettuce and maybe some cucumber plugs. Why didn't I go? It rained. A poor excuse, especially since I'll miss the next... Continue Reading →
We are still waiting for rain. While the Ventusky weather App promises rain for Sunday morning, I won't hold my breath. The surrounding countryside is burned to a crisp due to a lack of water, and it's only thanks to the weather Gods that last week's winds blew from the north, making the massive wildfire... Continue Reading →
Another week and we continue to plod along, crossing jobs off our never-ending gardening To Do list. Early last week, the hedgeman finally arrived to cut our monster maleuca boundary hedge. Phew! It is a mammoth task, and one Mr P, after years of self-maintenance, was relieved to outsource. We enjoyed a brief spot of... Continue Reading →
No, not ours, at least. It is a creative space and an extension of our hobbies. Even our swimming pool is not the conventional, tiled, oblong or kidney-shaped pool plopped in the garden, surrounded by tiles and a manicured lawn. We tried to create a sunken oasis with a waterfall. Waterfall and Rockery * I... Continue Reading →
For this week's gardening post and coffee share, I decided to focus on how I use containers to create an inviting illusion, particularly when approaching our entrance door. I have been told that it feels like you're walking into a secret garden. I will add that, unlike the UK, we do not have a traditional... Continue Reading →
The temperatures this week have still been so intense that I've struggled with the fierce heat, and so have some of the plants. With temperatures regularly reaching the high thirties at times and indoor temperatures in the high twenties and no air conditioning, I've sadly not had the energy. I have given up on some... Continue Reading →
Another week and still no rain. I have moved as many of my plants growing in pots as possible from full sun to partial shade to reduce the need for water, and I'm so glad we made the decision when planning the garden not to have a lawn. Instead, we laid down a permeable membrane... Continue Reading →
Another week has passed, and still no rain. Every day, I have been hoovering and cleaning the patio areas and trying to reduce the number of pots that demand my attention. Less is more. While I'm a sucker for plants and know I need to be ruthless, a friend said to me when discussing her... Continue Reading →
The temperatures over the last week have soared above 30 °C. We don't have air conditioning, so not only were some of our plants suffering, but we were as well. I barely had enough energy to refill the bird baths I had scattered around the garden yet alone hump extra water for the plants. The... Continue Reading →
Yep, it's time to take stock of what's growing, or not. Water is scarce, and this week I've had to make some tough decisions. The water butts are empty and mains water is expensive. If you are on a water meter, you will understand. Last year, I saved every drop of grey water from the... Continue Reading →
A stall at our local market was selling organic liquid fertiliser and a 'so say' miracle cure for my ailing zucchini. We bought some. The jury is still out. Probably snake oil. Let's just say I'm not impressed. However, what did capture my attention and pique my interest was a small, rubbish bin-type container fitted... Continue Reading →
There has been no rain again this week, and the water butts are nearly empty. We can't even backwash the pool into the water butts as we usually do, because the pool has mustard algae at the moment and we need to contain it. I really can't moan as we've had months of rain. For... Continue Reading →
Piglet in Portugal 