MIDSUMMER MAGIC

22^ND JUNE 2017 CENTRAL PORTUGAL

Mid Summer’s day, temperature in the mid ‘Thirties’ (been up to 40 plus in the last few days), terrible and very tragic forest fires in the ‘Beiras’. Certainly a time for contemplation and giving thanks for the glories of the garden.

Most plants find excessive heat and prolonged exposure to blistering sunshine a little difficult to deal with. Generally our garden plants come from temperate regions (usually moist and cool) or jungles (mostly very hot and very moist), the other bits are either covered in snow and very cold or devoid of vegetation and blisteringly hot in the day time and cold at night. So our cultivars are designed ( yes, most plants have been designed or ‘naturalised’ over the centuries to acceptable taste, smell or appearance ) to maximise our growing pleasure. It is only when extremes of climate occur that the true hereditary traits in plants revert to their wild origins.

Masses of sun and no water is the formula for defeat in the garden unless these possibilities are planned for and taken into consideration when planting. Shade is a very good friend to those plants that dislike strong sunshine so always consider planting a screen of broad leafed trees in front of any sunny vegetable patches. The elixir of crop maximisation then becomes that much sought after ‘dappled shade’. Not only does this minimise leaf burn from direct rays but also reduces substantially the use of water due to the lack of evaporation. Whilst another mantra of the horticultural world is ‘free draining soil’ this condition is of little merit when there is a water shortage. The lining of growing beds with a non porous membrane allows the ‘New Gardener’ to ensure that water resources in future will be used to their best. It may mean that more careful cultivation, feeding and watering will be required to maximise the crop return on effort. So in future don’t plan for the next year  - plan five years or more into the future, give the shading trees time to grow, be more realistic in the flowers and crops you want to grow, as the cost of garden water becomes prohibitive and ever more scarce ensure that yours is the garden that nature intended.

So have put away the ‘Soap Box’ and returned to the pleasures currently on offer.

The Tomatoes, Sweet Peppers, Aubergines and courgettes being grown in tubs on the Belvedere terrace are in fine form and all just starting to crop with lots of flower and future growth to come. Feeding every week with the ‘Blue Balls’ and daily with measured water (five litres for a 90 litre pot with four tomato or pepper plants, little more for the Aubergines)

Big flavoursome somatoes

Gorgeous plum tomatoes

First aubergine (eggplant)

Peppers in abundance

another variety of pepper

Cherry tomatoes ripening

Roses are revving up for a further summer bloom .

This rose never stops flowering and smells divine

This is a miniature variety of rose

 The Brugmansias (Angels' Trumpets) are sensational, (lots of cuttings taken in February in full flower),

Pink Trumpets - this year's cuttings

Head Gardener's favourite

The whole plant, from a cutting given two years agon

 Buddleia are stately – much maligned by many just now (vagaries of fashion again). They always give a splendid show and the Butterflies are the added bonus (twelve varieties seen feeding in the last week).

Buddleia with Cardinal butterfly

Spot the butterfies on this buddleia!

 Dahlias, Fuchsias and Geraniums really paying their way this year (just keep feeding and watering till October).

Bedding Dahlia Bishop's Children

Pot of Fuchsia and geraniums

 Fruit trees as predicted in March are full of ripening fruit, the recalcitrant Damascus Apricot, devoid of fruit for nine years, has gone overboard this summer with branches laden with golden fruit. Apples and Plums are ripening and there may even be a few Olives this Autumn.

 The  Impatiens in the hanging baskets are floriferous, even in direct sun (filled half the basket with high water retention ceramic ‘balls’ which seem to be working their magic). The tubs of African and French Marigolds have cheered up the roadside no end.

French Marigolds enjoying the afternoon sunshine

Hanging Impatiens (Busy Lizzies) and more Marigolds

And just a few of the other plants flowering for us now.

Heavenly blue Agapanthus

Clematis Hagley Hybrid still flowering

A nice shady spot for hydrangea (Hortensia)

Bright cheerful flowers of the pomegranate tree

Must finish the watering before heat exhaustion sets in. 

There goes the HG bell for large quantities of well iced water today (hopefully), 

must dash,

See you soon

Stuart.