SUNSHINE AND FLOWERS

21^st APRIL 2017 – CENTRAL PORTUGAL

Wall to wall sunshine, blue skies and temperatures in the ‘mid twenties’, forget spring this is definitely the start of a long hot and dry summer in the Beiras. Everything is very dry, despite a temperamental thunderstorm a couple of days ago and a most unusual bout of wind (the meteorological type not gaseous) during the night (big low over Spain and even bigger high of the west coast). Watering very early this year. Thank goodness the crops are in tubs so minimal supply required.

Roses are having a grand time this year. The lack of rain is allowing a long initial blooming time and the flowers are enjoying the chance to show their true majesty and amazing colours. The yellow Banksaei intertwined with the Wisteria (now coming to an end after four weeks of splendidness) are rampant and still full of new buds and are now joined by the ‘pinky-orange’ of  Honorine de Brabant ( climber with rambling tendencies). 

Banksaei and friend!

The hybrid tea roses are not to be eclipsed by these floribundas.  The ‘Bi-colour’ Kronenbourg  ( a sport of the wonderful Peace rose from the ‘40’s)  is magnificent and accompanies the deep cerise of the large flowered Madame Louis Laperrier ( this now grows through the fruit trees on the terrace and the flowers appear from 500mm to 2.5m in profusion).

Progress of Kronenbourg through one week

Madam Louis Laperrier

And, the Head Gardener's favourite -  the vibrant red Altissimo

Kniphofia, bearded  iris and roses have claimed the spring terrace. However, the orange and lemon trees (still full of last season’s fruit) are filling the air with the an exotic blend of their special perfumes. Again, the warm dry weather has encouraged masses of waxy cream blossoms which are already forming new fruit.

Kniphofia in companion with bearded iris

Elegant purple bearded Iris

Wish you could smell the heady scent of this orange blossom

Dahlias are well on their way to a spectacular early summer extravaganza. Delighted they have come back into fashion.  Here they have always been a favourite over at least the last sixty gardening years. Last year’s seeded Bishops Children have produced large tubers and are about burst into ‘Episcopalian’ largess.

Tomatoes, aubergines, cucumbers, piri piri and lettuces are all growing well in their segregated tubs, which allows specific feeding and watering regimes for every variety (so if the crop is not ‘splendid’ in all cases will blame science and mathematics).

Lettuce progressing  nicely

Look carefully - you may  be able to see the first flower truss on this tomato plant

So on with the feeding and watering, staking and tying-in, pruning and dead-heading – keep shining sun with a heavy morning dew plus a little water – and plenty coffee, should make the garden a bit special this summer. Must keep going as the smile of the Head Gardener is the only reward required.

Must dash, 

loads to do,

 see you soon.

Stuart.

COLOURS AND PERFUME - APRIL'S HERE

10^th APRIL 2017 – CENTRAL PORTUGAL

Mauve Wisteria and Yellow Rosa ‘Banksaei’, when grown together are a marriage made in heaven. The colour combination only enhances the delicacy of the flowers, usually very short lived in the spring garden. However, this year the gently warm weather of the past fortnight has extended their moments of glory.

Wonderful Wisteria

Rosa Bankseai socializing with the wisteria and Calla Lilies

Can't resist another picture of Rosa Banksaei - Head Gardener's favourite!

The sun has returned to the ‘Beiras’ (knew it would, only patience required). The warm days, temperature in the high twenties by mid afternoon and the close humid nights are persuading even the most tardy of plants to explore the new season with a plethora of new shoots.

Roses, where not in flower, are well ‘budded’ and should be resplendent in the next few weeks. The hybrid ‘Tea’ Roses are showing numerous flower stalks with the promise of colourful magnificence in the hoped for glorious sunshine of late April. 

This rose is always the first to bloom

And the rest are budding up  nicely

The Bearded Iris have turned the Spring terrace into a sea of multi hued blues interspaced by the odd island of rich terracotta and Imperial Yellow. Iris never fail to impress. Remember, to get the most prolific flowering results, always ensure that the rhyzome is on the surface, which allows the baking hot sun of mid-summer to encourage their best performance in the following year. For even better results, lift and split Irises every three years and pass the surplus on to a friend

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Geraniums are already in flower in the sheltered spots on the terraces. Decided to leave last year’s plants ‘out’ during this winter (usually put in shelter of the Barn to avoid frost damage). The result has been most promising as there would seem to be no detrimental effects (even though the lows of zero to -2 degrees were recorded) and the plants are four weeks ahead of their usual progress. The cuttings taken in January from these parent plants are now established into strong specimens which are about to flower alongside their antecedents.

Lots of geraniums already in flower

Fuchsia (growing tips nipped out now will produce flowers in six weeks – remember to feed), Cyclamen, Solanum and Lavender, have quickly replaced the resplendent show of Tulips (now lifted and tied in bundles to dry before replanting in late September).  The garden is full of the heavenly bouquet of Orange blossom, with the added citrus notes from the Tangerine, Lemon, Lime and Grapefruit flowers (even though these trees are still heavy with ripe fruit).

Fuchsia bursting forth

This blue Solanum is competing for colour with the wisteria

The Tulips were truly wonderful this year

French Lavender is protecting the roses from bugs

The container garden on the Belvedere Terrace is now fully planted with prospective summer crops of Tomatoes, Aubergines, Green and Yellow Sweet Peppers, Piri Piri (new plants, last year’s crop was on the five year old and now very tired pensionable plants), Cucumbers and various colours of lettuce (grown as a ‘catch crop’ amongst the maturing other planted vegetables – saves container space and maximise use of water). Last Autumn's Leeks are ready for use and being lifted and the ‘Winter’ onions are starting to swell. Even a few Lettuce planted just after Christmas are still edible.

Produce and flowers showing enthusiasm for the warm April sunshine

And there's more!

The Dahlias seeded last year (Bishop’s Children) are at their fifth leaf and looking healthy. New seeded bedding Dahlias are just showing through, whilst the tuberous varieties are well in leaf. Now is the time to feed and feed again if you want the best summer and autumn show.

Dahlia starting to spring forth

Last year's Bishop's Children Dahlia

Petunias are now ‘potted on’ and in flower.  Their ‘Surfinia’ cousins are already burgeoning with growth and early flower ( pity the colours of this fast growing variety are so dull compared with the ‘bedding’ strain – found a new White/Purple variety this year). Keep well watered and feed twice a week for a ‘Summer Spectacular’.

Petunias - standard and surfinia brightening up the pati

Following the protracted ‘Blossom’ season in the orchard (due to the lack of late frost) the fruit trees all seem very well endowed with fertilised blossom and embryonic fruit. Even the ‘Damascus’ Apricot is covered in a small but growing crop. Peaches are set for a massive harvest (ever the optimistic Gardener) and the Apple trees all seem to have enjoyed an over lapping blossom season. As there are three distinct fertilising groups, it often creates a lack of cross pollination if their fecundity does not overlap.

The heat is keeping the pores open today. Do we sweat a little more each year or is it just imagination? (Or maybe it’s due to the added years). 

Have still to hear the coffee bell (or is that due hearing deficiency).

There it goes,

 well must dash or dehydration may get the upper hand (not only plants need a drink) –

see you soon.

Stuart