WHAT'S HAPPENED TO WINTER?

27^th JANUARY 2016 - CENTRAL PORTUGAL

Cold, misty mornings and mild sunny days, interrupted by the odd heavy shower, are easing winter January into an early February spring. The cold nights are keeping the ‘bud’ and plant growth back. However,  quite a few of the supposedly deciduous varieties are still in full leaf, Brugmansia and Plumbago in particular, and the first flowers are appearing on the strawberries and the clematis armandii.

Brugmansia still in full leaf

Clematis Armandii coming into flower very early

Winter Pansies are now enjoying their preferred growing conditions, damp, cold and sunny, and have been joined by a trough of Iris Katherine Hodgkin  (always find these bulbs hold so much promise when the first appear with expectations of tall spectacular leaves, stems and flowers which are dashed by the rather unspectacular short stemmed washed out flowers – HG likes them so will continue to plant, grow and put-up with annual disappointment to ensure ‘Coffee’ supplies).

Happy smiling pansies

Iris Katherine Hodgkin (thank you Lidl)

The orchard is currently saturated, having been under 100mm of water for two weeks following the emergence of the annual ‘Two-weekly’ appearance of the stream after the torrential rains in the first weeks of January. (This initially fills the ‘Next Door Neighbours’ deep well to capacity before creating the ‘Winter Water Garden’ on the orchard floor). The top soil in the valley bottom, where the orchard grows, is at least 2 metres deep, this having been washed down from the now semi-fertile terraces on the adjacent slopes. The overburden of residual earth just manages to keep the fruit trees reasonably watered until the autumnal rains commence next November. Last year’s drought conditions are amazingly quickly superseded by nature’s winter bounty and balance once again restored (such is the way of long term gardening, a ‘Philosophical Attitude’ should always prevail for horticultural serenity to triumph).

The ‘Settling in’ of our ‘Christmas Foundling’ is ensuring that the theory of ‘Survival of the Fittest’ prevails amongst the numerous tubs and pots of cuttings in the ‘Nursery Yard’. Fortunately ‘Rudi’ (the Foundling) has a most loving nature and beautiful ‘Face’ so most indiscretions are quickly forgiven by the HG and the detritus of over-enthusiastic ‘romping’ quickly dispensed with a water hose. 

Rudi is progressing well - looking much healthier now

Due to the vagaries of the new incumbent, this year’s horticultural efforts are being relocated to the ‘Belvedere Terrace’. The small (Lidl) greenhouse being erected in this the sunniest position in the garden augers well for the early promotion of seedlings for both the vegetable and flower sectors. The Cacti collection is also being moved to this new place in the sun (these plants are yet not been eaten due to their natural protection, but seemed easier than continually removing ‘Spines’ from a curious young dog’s nose.(Never know, the enhanced sunlight might be the catalyst for profuse flowering  succulents this summer).

As the ground is still ‘heavy’ to work attention is being given to early season pruning and winter wind damage tidying-up. Cutting back the Fig trees (even though this greatly reduces the crop of Figs) as they have grown five to six metres since the last cut back in March ’15. The diosperos  are also for the chop - never understand why they are tolerated as the fruit tastes awful (the Israelis have it right with their ‘Sharon’ fruit) and the mess and alcoholic smell when it ‘falls’ is awful), so could be ‘Farewell’ this year.

Disperos in need of a very severe prune

 The jasmine  is just about ready to fill the air with its wonderful fragrance long before it should.

Lots of buds on the Jasmine - another one flowering far too early

The quandary of the last week in January - what to do first? Must say the warm draw of the potting shed stove has much to recommend. A little more external heat and sunshine may be required to stir the ‘Winter Stiffened’ sinews into manual exertion. Liberal supplies of hot coffee from the HG’s pot just might help.  Fortunately there goes the summoning ‘Bell’ –

must dash, 

See you soon

Stuart