A Creative Spirit
The days have flown by so quickly that I've barely had time to catch my breath. This week, I had planned to prepare a meal using the homegrown kale I planted at the end of August. At the mention of Kale, I can already see many of you running for the hills. Trust me, kale... Continue Reading →
Another week has flown by, and thankfully, our garden job list is shrinking. With so many visitors and travels this summer we had neglected our garden. Bad move because the jobs just piled up. For Six on Saurday last week I created a Job List and set to work (Poor Mr. P. The first he... Continue Reading →
It's October, and with summer socialising, holidays, and houseguests behind us, it's time to knuckle down and undertake some serious work in the garden. Armed with a pen, clipboard, and critical eye, I made an extensive 'To Do' list. However, my enthusiasm soon ran out of steam. I'm sure you know the feeling when I... Continue Reading →
For this week's Six on Saturday, I focus on container gardening. Plants still flowering in late September in my urban plot in the Western Algarve, Portugal. I aim to nurture plants and shrubs that offer interest or year-round colour and do not require huge amounts of water. Friday afternoon, I thought we would enjoy rain... Continue Reading →
As we move into September, reviewing pictures of my vegetable garden diary from previous years has highlighted that growing certain crops is a waste of time, energy, and expense, and that's before I factor in the stress factor. https://pigletinportugal.com/2012/10/08/portugal-growing-fruit-and-vegetables-september/ I know I am stubborn, and apparently, God loves a trier, but sometimes you just have... Continue Reading →
GUTTED! During our family's visit, I neglected our vegetable patch, only to discover that my prized tomato plants had contracted the tomato equivalent of the Bubonic plague—LATE BLIGHT! I am not surprised. Over the last month, we have been enveloped in sea mist at some point most days, so the humidity has been very high.... Continue Reading →
It doesn't seem possible that September is only a week away. Our vegetables grow weary from the continued sea mist which shrouds us in a cloud, and the sun plays peek-a-boo as the mist retreats only to return later. 1. Courgettes (Zuchinni) This is the last offering of courgettes. The leaves have white mould and... Continue Reading →
It doesn't seem possible that we're already halfway through August! Where does the time go? As I pause from my gardening chores to take a coffee break, I reflect on my Dipladenia, Hydrangea, and Pelargonium challenges, introduce the latest members of Piglet's plant family, and perform a happy dance at this year's bumper crop of... Continue Reading →
I love Hibiscuses. Here in our corner of the Western Algarve in Portugal, most of my Hibiscus Plants, which grow in pots, flower all year. Apparently, you can buy varieties specifically for pots. Who knew? I've only ever seen the plant labelled as 'Hibiscus' at the garden centres and not had the luxury of choosing... Continue Reading →
This week's Six on Saturday selection features a mixed six. This little 'Piggy' went to the market last Sunday to discover that the plant man selling the veggie plugs had not arrived. Some of his usual customers we see each month, like me, were also standing around feeling lost. What now? Blew a sigh. I... Continue Reading →
Thanks to the weather, I lost my momentum in the garden this week. I now understand how the UK gardeners struggle when they experience weeks of rain. The drought here continues, and I have just been alerted that we are in an area of maximum fire risk. In fact, there was a fire very close... Continue Reading →
This week, the weather in our corner of the Western Algarve has been mixed. There has been sea mist and temperatures varying from between 20 to 34C, but there has been no rain. It's only a quick six this week. Breakfast Patio Trying to revamp the back northeast-facing patio to catch the morning sun in... Continue Reading →
We returned home from France to damp and humid weather. When I woke up the following day, this is the view I was greeted with. I initially cheered because I thought it was raining. Nope, we were enveloped in a cloud! Sea mist. We often experience this in July and August as we live so... Continue Reading →
Another week and another Six on Saturday, although by the time I finish resizing and preparing all the photographs, it could well be Six on Sunday. The weather this week has been more mizzle and overcast than sunny. We've enjoyed the occasional shower of rain, but not enough to make a difference. 1. Bromelias Mr.... Continue Reading →
For this week's Gardening Six on Saturday (SoS), I have chosen the fruits of my labour. A shout out to Mr. Piglet, who is now the main grafter while I supervise. A nod to our gardening host, Jim, over at Garden Ruminations. 1. Red Onions - June Harvest Finally, the red onions I planted in... Continue Reading →
This morning, I wandered around our garden looking for plants to feature in this week's Six on Saturday and with so many surprises, good and bad, I struggled to make a selection. I shamefully neglected my garden last week while we entertained family over on a week's holiday, and now I am playing catchup. It's... Continue Reading →
For this week's Six on Saturday (SoS) I've chosen six flowering shrubs. 1. Dodonaea Viscosa - Hop Bush I planted this Dodonaea hedge about twelve years ago to screen the pool area from the driveway. By last summer, it had only reached the heady heights of around 2-3 ft, and with the threat of eviction... Continue Reading →
For this week's Six on Saturday, I decided to focus on some of my motley selection of vegetables. Once again I have the same problem with yellowing leaves. Too much or not enough water or is it nutrients? 1. Tomatoes The Black Tula (beefsteak) tomatoes have finally started to grow. A fellow gardener in France... Continue Reading →
For this week's Six on Saturday, I was going to write about vegetables, but when I strolled out into the garden to photograph my motley selection, I was struck by the array of flowers in bloom, basking in the May sunshine. Coleus Neochilus I love this plant! Apparently, it repels mosquitoes Coleus neochilus Coleus neochilus,... Continue Reading →
Piglet in Portugal 