DAMP CARNIVAL AND FLAT PANCAKES

9TH FEBRUARY 2016 – CENTRAL PORTUGAL

Mardi Gras, Fasching, ‘Shrove Tuesday’ or, in Portugal and Brazil, Carnival (all wonderful excuses for intemperance and hedonistic pleasures). The warmer southern climes tend to expose the flesh (specifically Brazil), Mediterranean Europe enjoys masked parades and heavy alcohol consumption. Germany becomes a little more physical (around Frankfurt it is the tradition for young ladies to cut off men’s ties just below the knot - must be symbolic but never liked to ask). England makes pancakes and runs through the village street tossing them in a frying pan!!!!!.(but integration on its way soon).

The communality in all these diverse events is the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday (tomorrow). Having divested the body of a multitude of pleasures the cheerless period of  wet February and windy March can be fully contemplated prior to the Glories of Easter. (This is not just true of the Person but also of the garden.)

The ground is very soggy from the rain but should now be dug over and fertilised, so, however cold and inhospitable the post breakfast sky looks the loins must be girded (Wellington boots, oil skins, Sou’Wester, accompanied by scarf and gloves) and the first sod of the new gardening year turned.

The cause of the heavy wet and soggy ground which now needs so much attention

The ground clearance before digging is always a confused debate. Should the strongly growing weeds be removed by hand prior to cultivation, or removed as the double digging of the ground progresses? Mechanisation beckons the less motivated and unenthusiastic towards strimming and rotovation, a system that works for short term gain, but the re-growth by April (just as the new plants are appearing) demonstrates the futility of  short cuts in horticulture (be they basic or more highly complicated). Heavy wet ground is extremely difficult to work by hand (hence the hand, camel, donkey and horse drawn ploughs of the cultivators’ heritage) but, the addition of a highly fibrous manure and the drying winds of March will produce a magnificent till for the seasons of plenty

That other mechanical marvel, the power washer, has been pressed into service for the removal of the multi toned green slime growing on every available area , especially those easily serviced by two enthusiastic male dogs (their visitations seem to promote the algae to greater efforts expedentially). 

The enforced move of the nursery yard (due to the unwanted ministrations of the two four-legged plant pot carriers) to a new location on the Belevedere terrace has begun. 

Our new "Plant pot" Hound!

Dogs consider the new arrangement of pots and containers which have been placed behind a fence

Tactics being discussed!

The space being constricted, careful planning will be required to get in the volume of  pots and tubs. The advantage is the day long exposure to the benevolence of sunshine. The Lidl  Mini green house and cloches together with the new tub rack, should be in place very soon to allow seeding and transplanting to commence.

The Brugmansia STILL flowerying in February - should be pruned soon really.

Must dash – the more mundane tasks (such as the daily clearance and hose down of the back yard due to canine residents) are calling for early completion – seems the HG’s coffee bell cannot chime until the task is completed and pristine order delivered.

Job done, bell being rung, all’s well with the world –

See you soon,

Stuart.