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.