A Creative Spirit
We took these photographs of the wild crocus while walking in the Costa Vincintina in November. I struggled to identify this crocus, so I sent Mr. P back to take close-ups of the leaves. I then shared to the Wildflowers, Plants, and Trees in Portugal FB group where I was advised it was the Crocus... Continue Reading →
...or as I call him, Lenny. He stops to watch me as I work in the vegetable area and even poses for a photograph. Reference: https://birdwatchinghq.com/lizards-of-portugal/ Related Posts: https://pigletinportugal.com/2024/09/04/garden-orbweaver-araneus-diadematus-or-a-pallidus/ https://pigletinportugal.com/2024/08/21/wildlife-in-portugal-terrapins/
I spotted this unusual plant while walking in the Western Algarve. Eventually I managed to identify it via the Portugal Wildflower FB group. I was surprised, once I discovered its name, that it was not listed in my area on the flora.pt website map. The Paraserianthes Lophantha is registered as an invasive plant in Portugal, which is... Continue Reading →
This is another Wild Wednesday offering. This week, I'd like to introduce you to one of the most common wildflowers I see on my roadside walks—they literally grow out of the road! It is a common wildflower across Portugal. Do they grow where you live? Dittrichia viscosa (L.) Greuter - False Yellowhead Sticky Fleabane Remember, all... Continue Reading →
This week, I was scooping up dead leaves and cuttings from my tomato plants to put in a bag for disposal. Without thinking, I removed my gloves to better photograph the blight-infected leaves. I was uncurling one of the leaves to frame the picture when I saw it move, and this thing that looked like... Continue Reading →
I spotted these Sea Daffodils (Pancratium maritimum L.) growing in the dunes beside the boardwalk entrance to Praia de Monte Clerigo. Thankfully, they are away from the footfall traffic, so providing they are left to grow in peace, the seed bulbs should fully develop, and they will reproduce. Map citation: A.Carapeto, F.Clamote, P.V.A.Raújo, P.Beja, D.Frade,... Continue Reading →
We were walking across Ponte Pé bridge in Aljezur when I happened to look down and spotted these little critters basking in the August sunshine! I posted a photograph to the Wildlife in Portugal Facebook group for identification, and I was informed that it was an Iberian Stripe necked terrapins, Mauremys leprosa. Upstream is now... Continue Reading →
It never ceases to amaze me how these plants survive. It's mid-August in the Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina, and it's hardly rained for months. As you can see, it grows in poor, rocky soil. All these photographs were taken from the road, so if you can't hike into the countryside like... Continue Reading →
Another Wild Wednesday. This week, I feature the Daphne Gnidium L. - Flax-Leaved Daphne. Photographs taken in the the Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina end of July and early August. The evergreen shrub grows between 1.5-2 metres tall. All parts of the shrub are poisonous. The flowers eventually turn to red berries... Continue Reading →
Another Wild Wednesday. This week, I feature wild fennel, Foeniculum vulgare. Everywhere I look, I see wild fennel. Apparently, you can use it for cooking, but although there is an abundance growing on the land near our property, so far, I've not been tempted. * * https://www.letseatweeds.com/look-alikes/fennel-look-alikes/ The Let's Eat Weeds website offers interesting references... Continue Reading →
For this week's Wild Wednesday in the Western Algarve I offer wild yellow lupins. These can usually be seen between March and August. Como citar este mapa F.Clamote, J.D.Almeida, A.Carapeto, P.V.Araújo, P.Beja, M.J.Correia, J.Lourenço, M.Porto, et al. (2024). Lupinus luteus L. - mapa de distribuição. Flora-On: Flora de Portugal Interactiva, Sociedade Portuguesa de Botânica. http://www.flora-on.pt/#wLupinus+luteus.... Continue Reading →
Do you enjoy photographing wildflowers, bugs, birds, snakes, and other curiosities in the wild? I decided to revisit the meme I created 'Wild Wednesday", where I share a photograph of wild flora or fauna in my local Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina area. Why not join me, share your photo on your... Continue Reading →
The Cistus Ladanifer can be seen across Portugal during May and June. It is a sticky shrub (as I discovered when I wandered off the track to take close-ups). The sticky resin covering the stem and leaves contains healing properties and it is also used in the cosmetic industry to fix the scent in perfumes.... Continue Reading →
The Carpobrotus Edulis is a creeping succulent listed as one of the invasive species in Portugal. It can be found everywhere along the Portuguese coastline. It has the most amazing flowers which the bees enjoy. REF https://flora-on.pt/?q=Carpobrotus Citation: A.Carapeto, F.Clamote, P.V.Araújo, M.Porto, D.T.Holyoak, C.T.Gomes, J.D.Almeida, E.Portela-Pereira, et al. (2021). Carpobrotus edulis (L.) N.E.Br. - mapa... Continue Reading →
A gentle stroll along the clifftop road towards Amoreira beach in the Western Algarve gave me yet more photo opportunities to record several species of wildflowers. This week I have chosen to showcase the wild carrot. Apparently, it is also used as an essential oil for its anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal properties. Natural medicine geeks check... Continue Reading →
This week my search for wildflowers growing in the Western Algarve resulted in finding this little beauty which I discovered purely by accident when I grabbed a wall for support because an owner failed to control her frisky dog. After they left I looked down and there was this beautiful flower! Bartsia trixago The Bartsia... Continue Reading →
or Goivinho-da-praia in Portuguese. Malcolmia Littirea grows on the west coast of Portugal and flowers from February to July. I never realised they were related to Virginia Stock which I use to grow in my garden in the UK until I conducted some research to identify them. I seem to remember they had an amazing... Continue Reading →
This has to be my favourite wildflower! A friend posted a picture of the wild orchid on our local gardening FB group so the next day I was out taking photographs. Lucky I was wearing trainers because unlike most of the photographs I take of flowers growing near the side of the road, these were... Continue Reading →
There is an abundance of the perennial Cravo-das-Areias also commonly known as 'Thrift' in our local area. The pretty pompom pink flowers can be enjoyed on the many coastal walks in the Western Algarve or where we live, growing on wild areas at the side of the road, or even on our roundabouts. It flowers... Continue Reading →
Piglet in Portugal 