17th
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).
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| 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).
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’.
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’).
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| Festive Kitchen |
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| Sitting Room Tree |
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| 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’.
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| Front Door wreath |
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| Another use for the excess branches of the nectarine tree |
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| 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.
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| Fuchsia still in full swing |
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| Mini cyclamen will give colour all winter |
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| 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 –
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| Final festive decoration |
Very best wishes for a
Merry Christmas and a wonderfully fruitful ‘Gardening’ New Year.
Stuart.
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