RUDI - OUR LITTLE CHRISTMAS MIRACLE

30^TH DECEMBER 2015 – CENTRAL PORTUGAL

It was just after lunch on Christmas Eve that our long term (seven years) resident canine (named ‘Ferdy’ and a ‘Melange au Portuguaise’ mongrel himself) alerted the Head Gardener to the presence of a very emaciated stray dog which had been abandoned near the village (the locals said that it had been around for a few days) and was obviously starving and very dehydrated.

Our dear Ferdy

First day for our Foundling

All skin and bone

Food and water were immediately supplied at the garden gate (which were instantly consumed).  Close inspection showed no sign of fleas or other ‘visitors’ so, after an on the spot consultation with the HG’s helper (Me) and visiting younger Daughter, it was decided that a ‘Health Check’ by the Vet was required prior to introduction to the ‘House’ and ‘Ferdy’. All was found to be in good order, no extraneous passengers or infections, only very hungry and in need of care. He’s around one year old, we think.

Lots of food

and lots of love - make for a happier dog

Now sporting a collar and getting to know Ferdy

So, with dusk falling on Christmas Eve, our ‘Little Christmas Present’ became part of the ‘Clan’. Food, water, a warm bed, lots of love have been reciprocated by ‘Rudi’(  short for Rudolf - he does not have red nose but it was Christmas). Six days have had an unbelievable effect on our ‘Foundling’. The prominent hip bones and ribs are already disappearing, the brindle coat has started to shine and the affection is non-stop. So you see it’s still possible to have a miracle at Christmas. However, the HG is staying clear of ‘Regal Gentlemen’ on Camels and ‘Bearded Shepherds’ with flocks of sheep, as there is very little room left at the ‘Inn’.

During this "Not a dry eye in the house saga", the garden and plants have not been forgotten. The Amarylis opened for Christmas Day, the Orchids (all varieties) are looking good, with the expectation of continuous flowers for the next four to five months (now that really is value for money for so little horticultural effort).

Orchids, amarylis etc. on display for Christmas

Tulips (planted in tubs last October) are poking through with considerable vigour. The first spike has arrived on the Kniphofia, still accompanied by prolifically blooming Fuchsias,  and utterly indomitable miniature Cyclamens. Oranges and Tangerines are very plumptious and sweet and there is still plenty of fire-wood in the shed.

Poker - not quite a red hot one yet!

Mini cyclamen and ophiopogon

Dependable fuchsia

tons of tangerines!

So have a Merry Hogmanay and a very Happy New Year, must dash

 will see you in 2016.

Stuart.

FEELING FESTIVE - MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL MY FOLLOWERS

17^th DECEMBER, CENTRAL PORTUGAL

Bit of rain, bit of sun, mist in mornings, cold at 8 o’clock (5 degrees) and 15 degrees by Noon, now enjoying the start of a typical ‘Beiras’ winter. Weeds cleared from the ‘veg’ beds, everything that needs pruning has been pruned, paths weeded and cleared, terrace and courtyard power-washed as starting to go green (penalty of having a dog).

New use for nectarine prunings

Re-cycled the dead half of a nectarine tree into the current fashion for bare branched Christmas Trees. Lights and glitter look good in the dark, but rather ‘Nepalese’ during daylight hours. To make up for this leap forward from the previous norm, three (yes three!!!!) traditional trees have been lit and dressed with ornaments for the Sitting Room, Kitchen and Studio (anticipating guest occupation over the Festive Season).

Festive Kitchen

Sitting Room Tree

Ready for the "Guest of Honour" - and this one's real!

 Even managed a wreath  for the back door. So with the completion of an ‘impressionist’ mobile by the wood burning stove, the refurbishment of numerous candlesticks with new candles, and the careful placement of Christmas Cards (strict protocol for positioning of those from family members) the garden and house are about ready for the ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’ and  a bit of ‘Wassailing’.

Front Door wreath

Another use for the excess branches of the nectarine tree

Orchids are either in flower or budded ready to burst forth. Dark aubergine and speckled white Spider Orchid has four spikes each with around twelve flowers or plumptious buds. The first ‘Ghost Orchid’ is in full glorious flower soon to be joined by a two spiked multi budded Cymbidiums. The Amarylis, although progressing well, will not bloom by Christmas Day, but just might appear for ‘Hogmanay’ (New Years Eve for the ‘Sassenachs’ – translated as ‘those not enjoying the benefit of Scottish Ancestry’).

Little Spider Orchid coming into bloom

Amazingly the Fuchsia on the terrace are in full bloom, their many shades of pale pink complimenting the deeper carmine hues of the miniature Cyclamens. The laden Tangerine trees are now giving forth of their much anticipated bounty of super sweet, but multi ‘pipped’, fruit. The one fruiting orange tree this year (after major pruning last autumn of the others) has out shone all expectations with the size, juiciness and quantity of its crop, and would seem to have encouraged the adjacent ‘Lisbon’ Lemon to equal effort.

Fuchsia still in full swing

Mini cyclamen will give colour all winter

Plenty of Tangerines 

Sage, parsley, rosemary and thyme duly picked according to the Head Gardeners instructions (in writing this year for some unfathomable reason – maybe it’s an age thing – quickly adding ‘Mine’ not ‘Hers’).

There goes the ever welcome bell- 

must dash for seasonal  Mulled Wine –

Final festive decoration

Very best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a wonderfully fruitful ‘Gardening’ New Year.

Stuart.

BLUE SKIES AND COLD NIGHTS

5^TH DECEMBER 2015 – CENTRAL PORTUGAL

Blue skies, brilliant sunshine, cold nights and very cold mornings - Autumn is fast morphing into winter in the ‘Beiras’. No real rain for the last fortnight but misty mornings producing heavy dew. The orchard is still free of dawn frost (even minus one degree frost, the lowest experienced here is burnt- off  by late morning) so there are still the odd signs of life from enthusiastic weeds which are much encouraged by the midday temperatures in the unrelenting sunshine being in the ‘mid- teens’. Strangely, a number of plants seem to be suffering from lack of water due to the absent rain showers.

The Angels' Trumpet (Brugmansia) is still defying the lateness of the season, and blooming as well as ever in the wonderful sunshine.

Brugmansia enjoying a final trump   of the season - has had a splendid year

Pruning progressing aggressively on all terraces; fruit trees complete in the orchard (decided on a partial ‘branchectomy’ of the non performing apricot tree). Olive trees look as if they are in a war zone and the catalpas now look most ‘ordered’. Loins being girded to tackle the climbing and rambling roses , the size of each branch now precludes secateurs  and requires the ‘Big Pruning Saw’(will be making ‘Rose Wood’ furniture next). The burning of the ‘Prunings’ is not going well. Whilst there is no rain, the morning dew is ensuring the bonfire remains very wet and even the incentive of large quantities of  petrol has not persuaded the soggy mass into flame ( other than the massive explosion  when the match reaches the evaporated fumes – keeps the Head Gardner on her toes), so must keep trying and hoping – ever the Gardener’s prerogative to do so.

Orchids and Amarylis are all doing amazing things in readiness for the Festive Season. The sojourn of the Cymbidiums on the terraces, and subsequent re-potting and feeding, have encouraged the majority of the collection to produce flowering spikes (up to three  on some pots) full of potential exotic blooms. The Amarylis range from those with budding stems to others with a profusion of leaves, so awaiting the arrival of ‘stately spires’ of majestic blooms with anticipation.

Amarylis - hoping for more blooms like this very soon!

Cymbidiums  should be blooming soon 

Banana and avocado trees (in pots) are about to enjoy their winter quarters. They both can stand a short burst of down to 5 degrees, but tend to go into terminal decline if temperatures below this level are sustained for any length of time (so its fleece and a hot water bottle for the duration of the winter months).

Miniature Cyclamen (survive down to minus 10 degrees as they come from Montenegro and the hilly areas of the Balkans) are in full glorious flower with a sustained production of new ‘buds’ in a broad spectrum of delicate pinks. Their larger relation is an entirely different ‘kettle of fish’. They do not thrive below 10 degrees and tend to wilt and die in temperatures above 20 degrees (sitting room death syndrome which keeps the garden centres busy at Christmas as they always look so attractive before being plunged into cold temperatures for the journey home to Mother-in-Law).

Miniature cyclamen with black ophiopogums happily settled under the orange tree on the patio and oblivious to the cold

So, back to sweeping leaves, washing terrace tiles (consequence of pale grey tiles, wood burning stove, tangerine trees and morning mist – smoke from stove, heavy with resin from wood blown into trees above patio drips from the leaves in the damp morning air leaving black marks all over the tiles- much frowned upon by ‘HG’) with power washer. Result - clean tiles, cold hands, wet feet but rewarded by happy Head Gardener bearing large mug of hot coffee, an excellent ‘Gardening’ result.

Colourful autumn leaves from the diosperos tree before being swept from the terrace

Must dash to drink coffee before it freezes over,

 see you soon.

Stuart.

PRUNING TIME IS HERE!

18th NOVEMBER, CENTRAL PORTUGAL

Two weeks of rain has brought with it the cold nights of autumn (temperatures down to 5 degrees so the very large horrible hornets have gone from the old kitchen chimney). Sunny with blue sky today but thermometer struggling to get above 10 degrees at noon, most of the summer flowering plants now going into ‘Winter Mode’, except the ‘Tea’ roses; they are putting on a spectacular show (the ‘Ramblers’ and ‘Climbers’ having given up and gone to sleep weeks ago).

Roses still blooming on the terrace

More roses, picked today

Pruning time is here again. The annual pruning and shaping of all fruit and flowering trees promotes the best results next year, giving more compact growth even though a few flowering and fruiting ‘Whips’ may be lost.  The crop on the remaining structure always benefits by giving larger sized fruit, if less bounty. This is also the thoughtful time of year regarding the ‘None Performers’ last season.  The Damascus apricots have never really done much in their last seven years.  They blossom early (late February- possibly their down fall as still cold with few bees about) and produce  a very few miserable fruits, so this would seem the last chance saloon. Perhaps give them a major cut back and one more season? Important to keep a good shape on all apple trees; cut away everything over 2.5 metres (impossible to pick otherwise) and remove the centre of the tree leaving a ‘Tulip’ shape, feed, mulch and hope. Similar work on the plum trees; never let them get above three metres as they will suddenly be eight metres high and totally out of control and very difficult to harvest.  Last year was exceptional for most plums so expect a poor crop this year. They tend to have a two or three year cropping cycle.

Orchard pruning well under way

Peach trees can be problem if not kept in good order and shape.  The new varieties are very heavy croppers on the most insubstantial of  branches which, if not carefully monitored, results in the branch breaking off when very full of nearly ripe luscious fruit – extremely frustrating always. Keep the trees ‘tight’, two metres radius and three metres high, removing the weak branches now for the best results next June.

Tangerines are going to be ‘good’ for Christmas.  The trees are full of large ripening fruit, so full ‘Stockings’ on the festive eve. Oranges and Lemon trees are in full blossom with good ripening fruit from last year ready to start picking in January with Mandarins following February.

Tangerines getting ready for the Festive Season

 Strange phenomenon this year - some of the orange trees are in bloom as well as having ripening fruit.  Think it must be something to do with the very dry summer.  The bees are happy and the air is full of wonderful scent. The perpetual lemon tree is as always amazing -  never stops flowering and fruiting throughout the ‘Gin and Tonic’ season (which, of course,  lasts for all twelve months – which pleases the Head Gardner).

Orange blossom and new fruit on the same tree - strange

The ‘Spider’ Orchids have flowers forming and the ‘Cymbidiums’ should have flowering spikes by the middle of December. There are slight signs of life on the ‘Phaleanopsis’ which were cut back to the third bud on the flowering stem last summer before their holiday on the sunny terrace.

Amarylis are awakening from their enforced hibernation in September and October and the first signs of life are appearing. The bulbs have fattened up well this summer so looking for a magnificent display of multi-coloured ‘spires’ in the near future.

Spider orchid well in bud, with the first of the Amarylis (Hippeastrum) starting to shoot

Having trouble lighting off the bonfire of prunings as they are all still very green.  Local practice in Portugal is to burn everything as soon as possible as the rain in the first three months of the new year and the bonfire ban after the 1^st April can leave a massive pile of kindling until the following November – much frowned upon by the HG. (Looks as if another can of petrol will be required).

 Ah! there goes the Bell, Coffee Time is here again,

 must dash.

See you soon.

Stuart.

THE DAY THAT THE RAINS CAME DOWN!

26TH OCTOBER 2015 CENTRAL PORTUGAL

The hammering of raindrops on the potting shed roof heralds the arrival of autumn in the ‘Beiras’. The south westerly approaching low pressure storms, historically known as the ‘Trade Winds’ to long gone imperial mariners, pound the coast from the Algarve to Vigo and deliver the long awaited rain to the land desiccated by months of drought. (The local ‘Barragem’, quite large with a perimeter of 195 kilometres, has dropped to a new low level for late October of 17metres below normal).

Brugmansia trumpets swinging in the rain

Needless to say, the garden is enjoying every single drop of replenishment. The orchard has been transformed from a ‘Mid Western’ dust bowl into a lush green meadow almost over-night  - weeds now 400mm high in a week, so it’s Strimmer to the fore. The mass fertilisation of seeds discarded over the past summers on the growing beds has progressed like a green tide causing lots of knee bending and finger tip removal (between the heavy down pours of course, very difficult to weed holding up an umbrella in one hand).

Digging up the over-grown plants from this summer is now much easier with the wet ground; have decided to ‘split’ the vigorous varieties into quarters with a spade, planting three and saving fourth to swap. (Fellow Gardeners are always  keen to diversify their own stock at minimum cost). The Beiras Grass Roots Garden Group had an excellently organised and attended ‘Seed and Plant Swop’ last weekend; managed to acquire a number of new specimens in exchange for the garden’s ‘particulars’.

Now is just the time to take over-wintering cuttings from almost anything that grows with vigour on the plot. Cut the long majestic growth from the rambling and climbing roses, cut into 400mm long pieces and plant around the edges of a deep plastic plant tub,  (not terracotta – loses moisture very quickly in the winter winds), leave a quarter above growing medium,(heavier the better for roses) water and place in moderately sheltered place, then forget until late March. For every ten cuttings taken there should be at least five new plants to grow on next year. This also works with most fruit trees Take this year’s pruned ‘whips’, reduce length to around 400mm, plant in the ground or in a tub and ensure bud end is above ground. Wisteria cuttings can now be taken for the best results, remember these will flower in the third year after planting (from seed the wait can be eight to ten years).

Roses grown from cuttings three years ago

Olive harvest in full swing, against the ‘odds’ would seem to be reasonable with considerable quantities of fruit for oil extraction. So following the excellent grape harvest (20% up in many areas) and the splendid results from the Cork Oak bark cutting season this ‘decade’ (usually bark is removed every eight to ten years) it has been a good year for the ‘traditional’ Portuguese ‘Cash’ crops. The Portuguese country ethos is based on the planting of vines for yourself, olive trees for your children and cork oaks for your grand children to enjoy and benefit from.

Geranium pots are all in the barn, sheltered from too much rain and protected from cold winds and low temperatures until next March (with no further watering till the warm sun in early March). Fuchsias are ‘winter hardy’ so stay out with the pot saucers removed (suddenly too much water, no need now for ‘drought’ containment). The late autumn and winter terraces furnished with Phormiums, Yuccas, various grasses (large and small) and brightened by miniature cyclamens (fully hardy), Heartsease, Violas and Pansies, with the first flowering bulbs in bloom by late January.

Phormium giving winter structure and colour

Fuchsia Beacon Rosa will give colour all through the winter months

Amazing how early the darkness falls as soon as the ‘Clocks’ change. At last, just heard the HG’s bell so off for a ‘Cup that Cheers’, (still drinking ‘Yorkshire Tea’ from Harrogate – certainly more substantial than ‘Earl Grey’).

Must dash, tea cools quickly in late October,

 see you soon,

Stuart.

WET AT LAST - BUT LOTS TO DO

12TH OCTOBER 2015 - CENTRAL PORTUGAL

It would seem the long hot summer and drought  are over. For ten of the last fourteen days it has rained, sometimes with great gusto (65 mm in the day) but more often in a desultory mode of light rain or drizzle with very moist morning mist (no floods and nobody drowning - in fact nothing to laugh at at all!).

The sighs of relief can be heard from many of the dry tolerant plants just waiting for rain to once again shine. Brugmansia, both the pink and the cream flowering varieties are having another magnificent display of trumpets  - in the case of the cream, the fifth major incarnation this summer.

   

Very pretty pink Angels' Trumpets

Stunning Creamy yellow Burmansia - from below

The purple Solanum is also looking most regal.

Royal purple Solanum

 Roses are again gracing the garden and miniature cyclamen are blooming profusely.

Roses blooming beside fuchsia Beacon Rosa

Mini cyclamen tucked around the base of an orange tree together with black ophiopogons

Sweet Peppers are still going strong.  As usual, California Wonder is producing a terrific crop which is now turning a vermillion red, whilst still in flower at the top of the bush, so maybe ‘Peppers’ until late November? Chillis are going for a record year. Piri Piri, Hotscotch, Cayenne, Tabasco, Jalapeno, Paper Lantern are  all heavy with ripe or near ripe fruit, and the new home-grown ‘cross’(now named ‘Celia’ as it has a good shape and is very hot) is covered in glorious bright red fruits.

An abundance of Piri piri ripening nicely

Impatiens are still in flower and growing larger by the day. They should manage another few weeks until the night temperature starts to get below 7 degrees C. 

Violently stunning red Impatiens (Busy Lizzies)

The Strawberries in this year's experimental troughs are back in full production, covered in flower and giving around ten large fruit per day ( this is the perfect plant for the Portuguese ‘Second’ spring as it enjoys the rain and reduced temperature, but still needs a bit of sunshine).

Strawberry plants still in action

Tomatoes are now finished and the plants on compost with the early Courgettes The re-seeded Courgettes planted in August are in full flower (mainly male flowers) but there is little chance of further Courgette production. Aubergines still fruiting although now small. However, their determination to continue flowering still seems to be still paramount.

Still taking cuttings for over-wintering (and Beira Grass Roots Plant Swop on 24^th October). Initial Geranium and Fuchsia cuttings taken in late August now fully rooted and in flower, potting on to individual plant pots for dry storage over winter.  Slowly reduce watering now until end of November when watering can cease until next February.  Store over winter in a light, cool, dry, frost and wind free environment for best results. Cuttings also taken from hydrangeas, solanum, roses, oleander, lavender,  blueberries, gooseberries and fig, pomegranate, catalpa, yucca trees.(for every ten cuttings taken usually at least five new plants will appear).

Dahlia tubers and Lily bulbs now drying out and ‘ resting’. Keep dry and frost free until replanting in March. Amaryllis (Hippeastrums) which have been resting over the summer, planted now, should  flower for Christmas. 

Cymbidium Orchids are back inside after their summer vacation on the terrace.

Water and feed gently each week and await the profusion of multi flowered spikes by late December or early January.

Now the temperature is lower the Spring Terrace is about to be remodelled after eight year in service. Lots of pruning and cutting back  are in process, accompanied by copious amounts of perspiration. It’s amazing how little shrubs become vast trees in such a short period.(These are the ‘sage’ words of the Head Gardner).

Sun just dipped below the lip of the valley, chilly wind starting to blow. 

There goes the coffee bell (Thank goodness for the HG).

 Must dash

 see you soon,

Stuart.

27^TH SEPTEMBER – CENTRAL PORTUGAL

Second Spring has arrived in Portugal. This is a strange phenomenon which occurs on the west coast of the Iberian Peninsula around the last week in September and can last six weeks. Following the long hot summer (early May to mid September, no rain and daily temperatures in the 30s) the first real rain (around 125mm on day one followed by 85mm on day two) fell ten days ago. Seven days later the juices can be seen to rise in the dehydrated horticultural landscape.

Flowers which were struggling to survive the drought, suddenly bud and burst into bloom. The August sowing of speculative seeding literally burst from the ground in unabashed enthusiasm .  (They have to rush if they want to fruit early in November when the cold nights start to bite). Courgettes planted on the 7^th August have their first fruiting.  Sweet corn planted on the 18^th August is 1500mm high and already has flowers. (Expect to pick and eat around the 15^th October – if the information on the seed packet is correct - sixty days from planting to cooking).

New young yellow courgette

The Sweet Peppers are still going forward with gusto, flowers still forming, fertilizing and fruiting. California Wonder (big and green then red if left unpicked for a further three week) are exceptional this year; the Long Red Italians are almost red enough to pick and the Yellow Peppers are pale yellow and preparing to turn that glorious golden shade which indicates perfection.

California Wonder

Long red Italian Pepper

Chillis know no bounds in their profundity. Piri Piri plants are covered in masses of small brilliant red cones and the pre-ripened fruit, which is black on this year’s  grown variety, is covering the top of the plants just waiting for its moment of ruby glory. The Hotscotch chillis are turning from green through lustrous peach to vermillion (which gives natures ample warning of the excessive ‘HEAT’ of the chilli – Scoville around 1million). Cayenne has done well and another plant (name unknown, but from own seed from last year so possibly a new cross breed- see picture) is producing very ‘red’ fruit which in early trials – bite off small amount from base of fruit and wait – tends to numb the lips and tongue, plus cheeks if allowed further oral access, for up to twenty minutes (still thinking of a name – possibly ‘The Head Gardner’ for obvious reasons  - perfectly formed and red hot).

Piri Piri

Hotscotch

New chilli - no name

Brugmansia (Angels' Trumpets) is back in profuse flower for the fourth time since May. So many trumpets are in bloom that it resembles an inverted pipe organ (but smells exotic in the evening air). 

Wonderful trumpets

Trumpets viewed from underneath - amazing perfume in the evening

Roses still doing well, with lots of new buds for the new Spring. Miniature Cyclamen are flowering in the shaded areas and Geraniums got their second wind before the annual taking of cuttings.

Tomatoes have had a terrific year but are just about over now (thank goodness as freezer is overflowing with Italian winter treats). Lettuce well settled for autumn salads (plant ten plants every two weeks until end of November for winter salads). Leeks planted two weeks ago and Beetroot – planted week earlier- are progressing well.

The end of the tomato crop

New beetroot and leek plants

Have been exuding litres of perspiration on the clearing of the wood shed – job avoided for many years but most satisfying on completion (amazing the things you can find in a thirty cubic metre pile of assorted detritus. Ten metres of logs cut, carried and stacked, to the great satisfaction of the HG (so pleased - coffee guaranteed until Christmas).

Emptied old woodshed

New wood store

The ‘Mists’ of  October mornings are nearly here so take cuttings, plant bulbs and start reading the new seed catalogues, enjoy a little ‘Rest and Recuperation’ before Autumn weeding starts.

There goes the bell

must dash, see you soon,

Stuart

STOP PRESS: H.G. picked over 40 limes today - G and T anyone?