A Creative Spirit
When we first created our garden over twenty years ago on a bare, sandy plot, I had the romantic notion of planting a cute palm tree. Our neighbour had one (about 8ft) as did many other gardens in the area, so armed with no more than the dream of our very own palm tree swaying... Continue Reading →
Once again, hot wind is gusting from the South and with temperatures in the thirties drying out the plants to shrivelled prunes... and us. Thankfully, cooler weather is on the way next week, and there is even the threat of a few spits and spots of rain. We will see. Oregano or Marjoram? When I... Continue Reading →
It's been another busy week in the garden. Why go to the gym or participate in YT walking workouts when you have plants to tend and seeds to sow? Only yesterday, I completed over 5000 steps walking back and forth and round and round on a mission to complete my list of gardening tasks. SNAKES!!!... Continue Reading →
After last year's drought, which meant we had to drastically reduce our overall water consumption and turn off the irrigation systems, I decided not to grow any fruit and veg this year. To save water, we harvested tap-run-offs while waiting for the water to heat when taking a shower, collected the shower water, saved all... Continue Reading →
The weather is all over the place at the moment. One day I am wearing shorts and sleeveless tops, and the next a jumper and long trousers. If the day starts bright and sunny, it could well be raining and blowing a gale by mid-afternoon. Don't get me wrong, we've had some beautiful weather, and... Continue Reading →
AS we move into April with another sunny week, I share some of my ups and downs for this week's Six on Saturday. For every three plants I buy or am gifted, I swear two will die or struggle to survive. But the joy they give me in the first two weeks in my care... Continue Reading →
My gardening update for this Saturday... now Sunny ends after a week of much-needed sunshine, which hopefully continues into next week and beyond. Mr P has been busy working on some of the irrigation systems, checking for leaks, dead batteries and resetting programmes after the winter break in readiness for weeks of sun and dry... Continue Reading →
According to Almanac.com, "Astronomically speaking, the first day of spring is marked by the spring equinox, which falls on March 19, 20, or 21. The equinox happens at the exact moment worldwide, although our clock times reflect a different time zone." It doesn't feel like Spring at the moment. Monday night, I was woken by heavy... Continue Reading →
Weatherwise, we have had a glorious sunny week! Yes, the temperatures have dipped as low as 9 °C at night but with highs of 19c/20C most days in sheltered areas, the plants and wildlife are beginning to thrive Yes, we have had a few hours of rain, but mostly at night, so I am quietly... Continue Reading →
Comparing pictures of different areas of our garden, there have been no significant changes since my January review. The gale-force winds and heavy rains continued for the first couple of weeks, which stripped the bougainvillaea of most of its leaves, and several succulents were pitted with what I can only assume were hailstones. The leaves... Continue Reading →
I can only thank God that so far (dare I say) our corner of the Algarve has been spared the horrendous weather extremes experienced in some parts of Portugal this week. First came STORM KRISTIN, then LEONARDO and as I write this, STORM MARTA. The heavy rain, flooding, gale-force winds, snow (in some areas) and... Continue Reading →
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 →
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 →
While we were vacationing in France, the weather Gods graced us with rain after months of drought. Lots of rain. Apparently, it rained every morning, and the sun broke cover in the afternoon. Needless to say, we returned home not only to a greener garden but also to a proliferation of mosquitoes! The usual suspects,... 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 →
Apart from a few hours of rain last Sunday, the sun continues to shine, albeit with a cold bite to the breeze and a fall in nighttime temperatures. The humidity is palpable, and some flowers, such as the Oleander, have suffered from black mould on leaves and rotting flowers. Meanwhile, others such as the Plumbago,... 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 →
Piglet in Portugal 