IT'S SHOWTIME!



24^th May 2015    CENTRAL PORTUGAL

Finally the battle with the Computer has been conquered and can return to blogging (Disaster struck during a ferocious thunderstorm around three weeks ago and the ‘machine’ has just been returned in operational order).

Sun still shining, has been for the last three weeks, accompanied by strong winds, most unusual for May, and following the storms earlier in the month rain has been in short supply. Everything (Yes, everything) is growing with  ‘gay’ abandon. The vegetable garden boast the first sightings of Beans, both ‘Runner’ and ‘Haricot’. Tomatoes are in flower and the fruit has started to form on the second trusses. Cucumbers are full of embryonic progeny and flower. Aubergines have initial flowers. Sweet peppers are covered in white flowers with small peppers forming. Courgettes and ‘Pati Pans’ trying hard (but were seeded late this year) and the sweet corn just might do something other than look pathetic. The new Raspberry bed is proving that the benefit of the supreme digging effort of February is appreciated - both yellow and red raspberries are being picked (still in small quantities but increasing daily) and the Strawberry experiment is moderately successful (still suffering the indignity of rather good ‘supermarket’ supplied fruit at around 1 Euro per kilo).  

the cucumber bed shaded by the old olive tree

Thriving raspberry canes - red and yellow

Runner beans - running up their poles

The flower garden has been most floriferous. Roses and dry weather are an excellent mix as ‘Blooming’ time is greatly increased. The same goes for Petunias (the ‘Surfinias’ have already formed large cushions of flowers, only down side is they need  ‘Dead Heading’ daily to maintain the display). Dahlias are bursting forth in ‘Regal Majesty’ (as only dahlias can) and the Fuchsias are about to amaze yet again this year. The carefully over wintered Geraniums are quite splendid; the ‘deep reds’ are as intense as ever and the ‘Peach flowers’ are truly delicate in their almost continuous display from now until late October. The ‘Moth Orchids’ are back in flower. They always please with their constant and  beautiful display.

 

Very pretty palest pink floribunda rose

Glaringly colourful display of surfinia petunias

Shockingly bright petunias

Wish you could smell the Rambling Rector!

Lovely peach rose from Lidl - no name

Had a splendid day yesterday at the much heralded ‘Beiras Grass Roots Garden Festival’ Flower Show. 

 

The guardians of the portal at the Show!

The day started early as dawn was announced by masses of sunshine for the ‘ritual’ of ‘Day Break’ picking of the fruit and flowers for the various ‘Show’ classes. As usual the ‘prized’ single rose was past it’s best so the ‘Stand in’ had to suffice in the ‘Single Rose’ class ( only mustered a ‘3^rd’), the ‘Three Rose’ vase was better and managed a ‘1^st.’,  ‘Rose Bowl also got ‘1^st’ as did a lovely pale yellow and claret ‘Moth’ Orchid, ‘Mixed Vase of Flowers’ a ‘2^nd’, ‘Plate of Soft Fruit’(Raspberries, red and yellow, Strawberries, three varieties and Cherries) ‘1^st’ with Rosette (definitely getting a ‘Swollen Head’ now) , ‘Single Garden Flower’(White arum lily) Highly Commended but ‘3^rd’. and the Head Gardener’s ‘Plum Gin’ a 1^st’ with Rosette (Judges must have enjoyed as bottle empty). So ‘all in all’ suffering from ‘delusions of grandeur’ and ‘aching feet’ due twelve hours on the ‘go’.

Display of roses from the garden at the show

Our soft fruit display - strawberries, raspberries and cherries

The Head Gardener's Plum Gin on the left - sampled by many, nearly all gone!

After a day of ‘Highs’ returned to normality this morning with the ‘HG’s’ instructions to ‘Water’ on all terraces. Very hot and sunny hope the ‘Coffee Bell’ rings soon.

Ah there it goes, must dash,

 See you soon,

Stuart.

SUCH A LOT GOING ON

6TH MAY 2015 CENTRAL PORTUGAL

Ten days of rain, often torrential, with thunderstorms and high winds, has finally ceased and the normal Portuguese weather pattern has returned today with temperatures in the low 'twenties'.The amount of 'Home-Brewed' and often highly toxic 'Blight' remedies that have been applied to the potatoes and vines should be more than adequate prevent the insidious spores creating their usual 'Springtime' havoc.(It is not unusual to see purple vine leaves from the amount of Potassium Permanganate and Sulphur applied as the standard 'Cure All'). Lots of sunshine and a little 'light Rain' at night is the hoped for progression this year.

It looks as if the fruit crops could be exceptional this year, even after the heavy rains the trees are still heavy with steadily swelling fruits. Apples and Pears are abundant with the Cherry Trees weighed down with ripening fruit (a special feast for the 'Avian' world is almost available - have noticed the 'Dawn Chorus' extra loud in recent days). Plums are the size of 'Pigeon's Eggs' with another six weeks before the earliest varieties are picked, red first followed by yellow, green and finally black in the bottom orchard.

The Lime blossom is well ahead of the Lemon and various Orange flowerings this year, so possibly the Orange trees will contain themselves this year after the abundance of fruit (some still to pick) from last year. Nature's abundances can often take away much of the early delights. Picking Strawberries from the new 'Farm Troughs' but alas they are already down to .99 cents per kilo in the market. However, the four varieties planted should give a continual crop until September when the commercial supply has long gone. Raspberries are full of immature fruit and flowers just need the 'miracle' sunshine to become 'Pudding Pleasers'.

Runner Beans are 1,5 metres up the sticks and have burst into glorious orange flower this morning.The purple runners (Crosis Violette) are trying hard and the Haricot Vert (Lidl's Neckarkonigen seed) are just about to flower - so fresh beans within the month(note - must eat the remainder in the freezer 'FAST').

Tomatoes, planted out two weeks ago, have survived the deluge and the 'Blight' resistant Cristal F1 have their first flowers (plus plethora of side shoots to remove (didn't say anything about that side effect on the packet). The others planted are 'Sweet Baby' (growing well but no flowers yet) and 'Money Maker' (old and well tried, seldom fails to please) which is just showing signs of flowers. Bulletins of progress will be forthcoming until the last picking is complete (around late October with luck and fair wind).

All three varieties of Cucumbers planted are progressing well, 'Perfection' and 'Slangen' well in flower and looking very promising (just love cucumber and cheese sandwiches, speciality of Head Gardener on a good day). Aubergines are about to flower and the Red, Green and Yellow Peppers are looking most plumptious. Piri Piri's are in but still look very small (they always do until late June) and other Chilli's are very limited after the 'glut' last year and groaning freezer (they seem to keep their 'potency' well when frozen).

Roses are magnificent, hope the quality remains until the Beiras Grass Roots Garden Festival on the 23rd May.Geraniums are flowering, Fuchsias have been 'pinched out' for late May 'Mega' blossoms, Petunias will recover after the rain(they always do don't they?) and Cosmos, Impatiens, French Marigolds are lining up for their place in the sun and the limelight.

Pots galore to plant to maintain the Head Gardener's schedule so must dash, 

see you soon,

Stuart

The Head Gardener apologises for the lack of pictures in this bulletin.  Having technical problems with computer!