12TH JUNE 2016 CENTRAL PORTUGAL
Two weeks away in the
far North of Yorkshire and the climate in the ‘Beiras’ seems almost tropical; misty mornings, blue sky and hot sunshine with
high humidity – already spraying furiously to contain the first outbreak of the
dreaded ‘Blight’ on the tomatoes. (All plants full examined at 7am, stems black
with the ‘furry’ spores by 5pm).
As expected, everything
has grown during the absence. Cucumbers in are production, Sweet Peppers and
Aubergines in flower, those tomato plants still in situ after the cull have
small pale green fruit, strawberries, loganberries and raspberries being picked
daily. Courgettes in wild profusion and all colours of lettuce heading for
salad heaven. So just keep watering and feeding for a prolonged season of
‘untold riches’ on the table.
Petunia, Tagetees and
Cosmos sown in April now in flower, Zinnias 350mm tall, Geranium and Fuchsia
cuttings from March in full glory and Roses rampant everywhere, even the
Brugmansia has squeezed out a few ‘trumpets’ already.
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Some of the lovely roses in bloom now |
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Brugmansia |
Acquired some unusual
seeds while in the far North, a bedding Dahlia called ‘Bishops Children’ (bred
from ‘Bishop of Llandaff a few years back, seed not seen in Portugal) great for
bedding with a mass of deep red and orange single blooms, together with some
double Cosmos in cream and a selection multicoloured Geums. All sown today and
awaited with baited breath.
Visited RHS (Royal
Horticultural Society) garden at Harlow Carr whilst in Harrogate. Amazed to see
the ‘New Thinking’ in the UK gardening world, everything very green or purple
and the ‘Natural Meadows’ make the orchard at the bottom of the garden here
look very ‘Fashionable’ (mainly due to the collapse of the ‘Strimmer’ last week
and general lack of applied effort – maybe this is the future ‘trend’ in the
Horticultural World after seeing the efforts on view at Chelsea this year).
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Just a few pictures from the visit to RHS Harlow Carr Gardens in Yorkshire |
From Gertrude Jeykell
to Monty Don the essence of all gardens still pivots around Colour, Fragrance
and Form. Let the two former triumph and nature will ensure the latter. However,
there always seems to be lots of assistance required in the ‘Weeding’ and
‘Watering’ sectors.(Is a weed really only a plant in the wrong place?- not
according to the HG).
So, armed with trusty
trowel, bucket for weeds, kneeler for comfort and masses of tenacity, its back
to restore the ‘Jungle’ into the horticultural order that generates the ever
necessary ‘Coffee’ on the terrace –
must dash, might miss
it!!!!
See you soon –
Stuart.