plants – Page 2 – Gardens. Travel. Life.

Posted on February 29, 2024February 29, 2024 by happyretiredblog · 2 Comments

Let’s get ready to ramble. On ~ & ~ on.

I can’t quite believe we are already two months in to 2024. How did that happen. It’s been a bit of a whirlwind two months. Christmas in London. Finally a new floor laid at the cottage. And endless rain. It never seems stop. That’s in the UK. In Spain it is the polar opposite. In Somerset the ground is so wet that whenever it rains it just runs off. I have had enough now.

In Spain we haven’t had enough. And when we do I cheer. It’s bonkers how different it is. The reservoirs are low. It’s winter and the Costa has water restrictions. It has rained. But it’s few and far between and the forecast there looks like no rain for weeks.

I’ve spent a fair amount of time in Somerset. Work has finished on the new floor and whilst that was happening we has some dry days to get out into the garden. To cut things back. To clear and tidy. The birds had stripped most stuff that could be eaten and it was time to cut the perennials right back. A little earlier than usual I think but with the weather ~ have I mentioned rain – you have to do things when you can. And when we are here. Not there. Or over there.

There’s nothing like a hard frost to make a dull garden look pretty. Not that we have had many frosts to be fair. Not enough in my opinion. But with Ian’s help the garden has been tidied ready for a spring awakening. Roses pruned ~ some within an inch of their life. Apples and pears pruned. Gooseberries and currants pruned. With all the garden waste ~ well nearly all taken to the dump. Which is under threat of closure with council cut backs. Don’t get me started on the logic of then having to drive 13 miles to the alternatives whilst reading the councils green policy. Not whilst driving. That would be foolish.

The grass is green. Still growing but far too wet to cut. The ground is ripe for growing rice this year but at least I can turn the soil over easily unlike in Spain where I need a pick axe to do the same.

I am not keen on mahonia ~ but throw a bit of frost on the leaves and it makes for a good photograph. It’s planted by the river bank and to be honest has never done very much. Possibly due to my neglect but I have given it a bit of TLC and I will see how it goes. It’s only been there for about 25 years.

I’m pretty desperate to get a cut on the grass ~ I’ll keep the bottom of the garden longer and let the daisies stay with a path down the middle. You can’t call it a lawn ~ it’s too embarrassing for a lawn. We have talked about reseeding it. Take out the lumps and bumps but a perfect lawn wouldn’t look right. It’s not a formal garden. It’s a higgledy piggly cottage garden with random planting. Pretty. But random.

It’s a shame the constant rain doesn’t drown the bindweed and the ground elder. It’s a constant battle and one I’ll never completely win. I’m a bit more relaxed about it when the plants hide it but watching it start to poke through is a constant irritant ~ and weeding does my back in.

Things are starting to show their leaves. The phlox is through , the alliums are romping away. Especially summer drummer which is one of the tallest. The pruned roses are showing their leaves. There are buds on the fruit trees.

This is one of a few small clumps of crocus that come year after year. I can’t even remember when and if I planted them. But I’ve obviously moved soil around as they have appeared in a few different places. Always the first thing or one of the first to flower. Bulbs and corms aren’t great in the back garden. The ground is very wet. Very frosted and if they do flower in year 1 they rarely get past that.

The primroses are starting to flower. I remember as a child walking the rusty line ~ an old disused railway line and picking primroses. I’ve planted a few more in the last two years and I’m hoping they will spread.

The only clump of daffodils in the back garden which come back year after year and are planted under the really ancient apple tree. But. They opened and the water from the river flattened them. I lied. I’ve just looked out of the bathroom window and have spied a lone daffodil in another part of the garden.

These are looking sparse around the garden this year. Usually the river bank is covered but the only thing that it’s been covered in over recent months is the river. Not all the time. But I think they have been washed away. Sad as they are great early pollinators. Pulmonaria ~ common lungwort

I always am a little anxious with the tulip pots. Usually right up until flowering. Have I planted enough ~ probably yes as I stuff the pots with as many as I can. Have I planted too many ~ as in have I stuffed them too full. Will they grow ~ have I planted them upside down. At times when there’s no sign of them I think they will flower in OZ.

But they are through and now I’m worrying about ‘are they growing too fast’ and have I been bonkers with the colours. Only time will tell.

This is the difference between a few weeks growth. So far so good.

I was late in planting the tulip pots and window boxes in London but they too are starting to show through. Obviously not as advanced but they are on their way.

I had a spell of buying old chimney pots to use in the back garden in London. It gave some height to the planting. There are now two planted with tulips and three with rosemary by the front door. Recycle reuse. Replant.

I am not a galanthophile ~ we have only one clump in the garden. Which reappears under the old apple tree every year. Yet never bulk up. Every year I think I’ll buy some in the green. But don’t.

The one thing that bulks are the Spanish bluebells. Another must do. Replace with British. But the list is endless. Maybe next year.

It’s a waiting game now. Waiting for things to slowly appear. To flower. To dry up. Or in Spain. To have a soaking.

It’s not been all rain and gardens. There has been some walking. . A visit to the Newt ~ a walk cake and coffee. Once it dries up it’s a nice walk from the cottage along the green lanes but at the moment there is not a chance.

I love this bridge ~ for its shape more than anything else. Not withstanding there’s coffee and cake at the end of it. Or the start depending on which way you approach it.

We ventured further making use of our NT membership. a short drive on a cold and frosty morning to Stourhead.

So there is time now to do some garden planning. The tulips are in and there is nothing I more I can do. Except watch for the poo bags being lobbed into the pots. Yes. It happens.

I’ve dug over what may be a dahlia bed. So spurred on by my friend Siobhan I’ve been on the look out for new dahlia for 2024. Last year I loved the honka’s. So I’ve ordered more from my go to supplier peternyssen

I’m hoping that some of lasts years will have survived. They won’t have died off from frost but they may have rotted. Another waiting game.

More reds and oranges to be bought form Toddsbotanics

The canna last year were excellent. A little late to the party but flowered until the first frosts. Then in a blink of an eye the foliage was mush. I didn’t lift but mulched heavily so again it’s fingers and toes crossed. But whispers I’ve been on the World Wide Web again looking for some new tall ones.

So we head into March. Today’s is a leap year. I wouldn’t mind leaping to sunnier drier days to be honest.

Posted on December 7, 2023February 28, 2024 by happyretiredblog

Here and there!

It’s been a funny few weeks. Or months to be honest. Who said retirement would be boring. Who told me I would be bored within six months. Well. I have just celebrated 8 years since I hung up my suit. To be honest I’m not sure where the time has gone. The had been a lot of water under the bridge in that time as well as through the house.with the flood which could have been worse in May. We are still without flooring as the contractors had difficulty getting the floor up. So new contractors were involved. They came and reviewed. Then went away. Two months later they were back to review again and a date was booked to remove the floor.

In the meantime we ordered the floor ( as in ordered the materials) and paid the deposit. To be told. There is a 12 week lead time. Then two weeks ago we found out that the company who were local and been trading since the 70’s had gone bust. A week after we had paid the deposit. Nothing like being told at 4.45 on a Friday. So the saga continues. We then cancelled a week away as the weather forecast was pants. The ground in Somerset was ready to plant rice and the river was high. Thankfully it stayed where it should be.

Bored yet. To be honest I’m bored talking about it. We have a date for the floor to be removed. I have yet not plucked up the enthusiasm to go and see the alternative suppliers which will now have an even longer lead time as they will be picking up the other work as well.

But it gave me time to enjoy the final days of the plants in the garden at the cottage and wait for the first frosts to kill off the coleus pots and the geraniums. This took a while. But when it did it did it quickly. The coleus have been pretty remarkable this year and I had forgotten how much I led the colours. It was probably in the 1970’s ~ 80’s since I last grew them. They will be the staple of the summer pots again next year. Another bonus was that this year there were no poo bags casually thrown into the pots by people walking by. We had removed an old water pump from the front which had been stuffed with poo bags and rubbish. I was lucky as I had said that if it continued there would be no tulips and that would be s**t. Apologies but my language was pretty ripe when having to clear the mess.

Back to nicer things. The canna have been brilliant this year. the new ones have done well and flowered earlier than the ones I left in the ground. To be honest I wasn’t sure they had survived but survive they did. It took the canna Annei a long time to get going but it reached over 5 ft and flowered just before the first frost. This isn’t Annei.

But when it’s over it’s over. The first frost had the leaves. The canna will be cut back. In the meantime I emptied half of the compost from each of the 15 large tulip pots and mulched the canna. Just as well as the temperatures then dropped liked the proverbial stone.

Have I said I like tulips maybe once or a thousand times. So the pots were emptied. Well half each pot was. Then planted up.

As usual I had a plan. A list of all the tulips of which there were many. The number. The height. The colour. When they would flower. And a suggestion of a planting plan for 15 large pots.

Guess what? The plan lasted all of 2 pots. Then I freestyled. So it will be another year of what the lovely Karen at Peter Nyssen calls my “dolly mixture planting” But they are in. I have yet to plant the ones in London. There aren’t any for Spain this year. Last years were a bit as they say on my Saturday night entertainment show a bit of ‘ a disaster darling’

Back in London my attention turned to the tree ferns. They said it was getting colder. Threats of snow. Frost. We were going away for a week. I had put straw in the crowns a week before and sometimes I fleece. Sometimes I don’t. Thankfully I had fleece and the 5 tree ferns are all fleeced. Though I suspect Cybil the resident squirrel will steal parts of each one to make the dray. Last year it was in the large jasmine.

Note to self. Remember to change over the straw if there’s been rain and a heavy frost. It will ice up.

Now it’s Spain where we haven’t been for a while. It’s always a kind of a surprise how we will find the garden. I know. Through the gate is a good start. We do get photos of the garden when we aren’t here which is hugely appreciated. Bearing in mind the weather we have had in Spain with extreme heat and very little rainfall the garden is looking pretty good. Very good. The temperatures have now dropped. There has been sprinklings of rain and on Friday before we arrived it chucked it down. It has also rained a fair bit since.

It’s pretty green. We do have it watered once a week albeit Sparingly. I’ve never appreciated water as much as I do now. ~ back in the uk we take it for granted. We open a tap and out it comes. Both hot and cold. This summer there was a directive from the council. We would have water every three days. In reality sometimes we went 5 days. We should have had it on day 3 but the houses above us had their water deposits topped up first. Then the system overheats. So we don’t get water. A phone call to the town hall and a man on a scooter ( not blowing his hooter) drives to wherever and switches the supply. We then get water. In summer with a high influx of visitors there is a huge demand but thankfully we have a water deposit which can keep us going. I digress. As is usual. I reminded Ian of the 1976 slogan when there were water shortages. ‘Save water. Bath with a friend’. He was not amused. He said save water. Shower by yourself.

Thankfully the grasses have survived in the windey path and are doing really well. Along with the creeping rosemary. I still dream of my lavender path and at some point it may be replanted. But the rosemary does so much better in the dry conditions.

The olive tree is coming along nicely. It’s ancient and we had to make the decision to have it pruned. Either for fruit. Or looks. So we have gone for looks and it’s being shaped and I am really pleased with it. Especially as I’m not the one doing the shapes. It gave us some great olives but it’s only one tree and in the past I have picked and salted them but to be honest it’s a a faff. So I went for looks. Shallow I know.

Excitement. The huge bulbs of Urginea maritima (sea squill) are back again. They throw out the leaves and eventually die back in the summer only to throw out the white spires of flowers in Autumn. Usually when we aren’t here.

The autumnal colours of the dodonea look amazing with the reds. The foliage is the best and the flowers are pretty insignificant.

Many of the pines locally have died off over the last 12 months. A mix of a low water table and some kind of disease. I am so happy that these are still on the drybbank at the entrance to the house. I love them. Except for the pine needles and the procession art caterpillars. Two years ago we cleared the needles from under the trees. 2024 looks like it will happen again. But not around processionary caterpillar season. I also need to get them gently pruned. and any dead wood cut out. Adds to list.

It’s been a week of all seasons. We arrived after heavy rain. Enough sun another day to be in the garden. But today the mist and fog came rolling in from the coast and up to the hills and the valley. It gives a lovely eerie light.

There has been some gardening. A bit of a fork over of the ground to allow the rain to sink in rather than roll off the top. It’s been a while since I’ve seen the ground so wet which made a perfect opportunity to do a bit of planting. A few echium to add to the ones I bought a year ago. I planted 6 opposite the garage and I’m pleased that 5 have survived. Another four planted in the area in front of the garage beds.

I also took the plunge and removed the small baby foxtail agaves from the large parent agave in a pot and have planted them at the rear of the house. It’s a dry area and the 3 new ones have been added to the 4 I planted last year which have grown well.

More rain is forecast. But not the deluges that we are getting in the UK especially the Somerset garden. I’m thinking of using the garden to grow rice. It’s that wet.

I love this time of year in Andalucia ~ although this week has been a bit colder and wetter there have still been some great sunsets. I bore myself with the photos ~ there’s a need to review and delete.

The light at sunset if fabulous and the wall of glass in the casa gets a glorious colour wash when the sun goes down. Ian brought a lot of glass across in his suitcase when we first bought the house. He was bolder than me and packed some delicate pieces.

He only had one time when he was questioned about what he had packed. He had gone through security. Bag checked in. After a while he had his name come over security. Please return to check in. He couldn’t as he was the other side so he found a security guy to take him through the back areas. To be questioned.

What’s this.? It’s a large piece of glass. And this. It’s solar lights for the garden. And these. Tea bags. He had to admit that on the scanner the combination looked suspect. But it shows that security does work.

Back in the summer we commissioned a local artist who was showing in the Cómpeta Art walk to do two portraits of us. She has surprised us with a picture at the art walk which we saw when we visited the exhibition and loved it. it’s now ready to go on the wall when we can stop disagreeing where it’s going.

She has now shown us the two individual ones which are being framed. We love them and they will also go on the wall. The trouble is we are running out of space for the black and white prints I have finally had the courage to be printed and framed.

She has included the love of glass in Ian’s and in mine the background is tulips.

Have I ever mentioned glass and tulips before.!

I haven’t included the joint picture as a copy has been used this year as our Christmas card ~ rather self indulgent I know but it’s too fabulous not to share.

As we prepare to leave to head back to a busy few weeks in the uk the pueblo blanco is preparing for the Christmas festivities.

The lights are going up. The restaurants are booked for Xmas and New year and the village is adorned with red poinsettia. Along the walls of La rampa ~ outside houses. We went to a garden centre in the week and it’s just not red that’s available. The colours are all there and the standard poinsettia are brilliant.

It will be a few weeks before we return. There’s bulbs to plant in London. A sitting room floor to be sorted ~ and colder and wetter weather to return to.

But. Feliz Navidad will be playing in the car along with all of the other festive tunes !

Posted on October 8, 2023October 9, 2023 by happyretiredblog · 3 Comments

Managing a Spanish Garden

I admit it. I’m never happy. It’s either too hot or too cold. Too dry or too wet. Just as well i garden where I get it all. Greedy? Yes. Happy no. What I would like is a little bit more or less in each place. The garden in Somerset and in London has been wet. So wet in Somerset we were flooded in May. So hot in Spain that many of the plants were scorched. We had water restrictions. Officially one day off. One day on. But let’s remember we are 2,000 ft up the mountain with ups and downs for the Water to flow to get to us. In reality on the On days we may only get a dribble at the end of the day. Thankfully we have a large deposit which keeps us going.

So as I said. I’m never happy and in true British style talk about the weather.

But as we arrived after about an absence of 7 weeks the heavens opened. But only just after I had soaked the ground. It rained for two days.

That rain dance certainly worked. Whilst Somerset and London sweltered in the highest temperatures sent from The Mediterranean.

To be honest I was surprised at how well the garden had fared. Yes. It’s watered twice a week in parts. In others it’s do or die. Some plants had shrivelled in the heat. Two out of four echium had died. The others around them were a bit sad but with the rains th de ey perked up. The weather changed and the temperature dropped a good few degrees.

A bed of agapanthus had given up and the leaves had shrivelled back. But once cleared and the rains had soaked the ground they looked refreshed.

I may have lost a few which is disappointing but I did have replacements which had been delivered in pots and put in a shaded area at the end of July. Our local Viveros Florena closes for August and there’s an all mighty sale. Lorraine messaged me and said I know you aren’t around but is there anything you want. Somehow 8 large agapanthus, 8 smaller agapanthus black buddhist and two others appeared in the garden.

If I thought I’d be making quince jelly this year I needed to think again. There was one quince tree and anything that was left were cooked. On the tree.

But we did have grapes. Enough for a feast for two days. But the vine will come out and be replaced this year with two new ones. It’s had it’s day.

The olive tree is being pruned to give a topiary shape. I was asked how I wanted it cut. For fruit or looks. I said both. He said you can’t so I decided that the olives just drop when we aren’t there. I often salt cure them and then don’t eat them all. So shape it will be. It’s under planted with 3 curry plants which i I have previously cut back hard. I lost the flowers but they are a bit insignificant anyway. It needs cutting again. I think I’ve said that I was going to plant up the path with them. They are hard workers but the scent of curry on a hot August day as you walk up the path was a little off putting.

The area at the back of the casa gets the least care and attention. And the least water. There have been two losses of significance. A newly planted bottle brush and of all things that have died. A Buddleja. How on earth did that happen. I thought buddleja were as tough as old boots. But even the toughest need some water until we’ll established.

There are few large agave left around the garden and a further 3 have succumbed to whatever eats them from the roots and makes them die. So they have been cleared away. Any new ones that start sprouting will be pulled too. It’s not worth the hassle. I need to keep the bugs away.

But I have planted 5 new foxtail agave from the pot of the large agave ~ they take easily and will suit this space.

The large foxtail has done well in this pot. I have taken at least 6 away from here and planted them around the garden. Slow growing so they will probably be heee long after I am not.

After the rain the area below the olive tree and the curry plants is looking well. I love the variegated yucca in the centre which is growing fast and furious. In a yucca kind of way.

A second flush on the Durante repens. It’s such a lovely colour and brings a great joy to what is a difficult area.

I couldn’t resist this – I have tried to break the habit of plant buying but somehow it’s a losing battle. But it’s a glorious colour with a light scent. Unlike the yellow below whose scent is strong.

Both great plants in pots for the terrace. But I’ve decided. No tulip pots this year. They were pants in last years heat.

I know I’m mean but if there was one plant I wouldn’t miss it’s the Swiss cheese plant. A staple house plant growing up along with a rubber plant, Xmas cacti and maidenhair ferns I never expected to have one in the garden. But then again I didn’t always imagine having a garden in Spain. But it’s survived the summer again despite being planted in the wrong place.

The cactus that is not a cactus as usual survived. It’s cactus like after all. Even if it’s a euphorbia.

I’ve been trying to save this plant for the last 6 years. Most have been ravaged by the cochineal fly and wither and die. I have hosed off the fly as they appear and this one’s not in bad shape. Good enough to produce ‘chumbo’ as they are known in Spain. Edible fruits. Not tried by me.

There’s a flurry of pests and diseases going through Spain. The latest is hitting some of the pine trees. So far we have been lucky. We have 5 on the dry bank and they are doing ok despite the heat and the lack of rain. The water table is pretty low too at the moment and I have crossed everything.

With the heavy rain came softer ground which meant I could plant. First a new strelitzia Nicolai to match the one on the path by the gate. Ian likes structural planting so I try and keep him happy. That way I can sneak in other plants whilst he’s not looking.

6 years later I still love this gate. Ian said I knew as soon as we went through the gate it was the casa for us. He was right then and he is still right.

It wasn’t all gardening and socialising. We did have a few trips down to the coast. An evening down the wiggly line to Algarrobo Costa. To a small chiringuito on the beach ~ tourists had largely gone. A lovely meal and a fabulous sunset. And a great photo opportunity.

Sándwiches anyone. Where’s the flask of tea. No it isn’t us before you ask. Two people on the beach as we walked along the promenade. But as I say to Ian ~ it could be us. And probably will be.

Talking of sunsets it’s the time of year for the amazing Cómpeta sunsets. Something I don’t think I will ever tire of.

We also took three nights away. A 2.5 hour drive to Jaén an area known for its olive trees. Some 60 million of them which produce 23% of the worlds olive oil. That’s a lot of oil!

Olive trees as far as the eye can see. It’s pretty spectacular.

We stayed in Jaén and did a day visiting Úbeda and Baeza ~ both UNESCO world heritage sites. Both are very Italian renaissance and Baeza was my favourite. Both have beautiful buildings.

I was so tempted by the beautiful pottery in Úbeda. But I resisted. Maybe if it had had a plant in it.

Back to Cómpeta to the 14th Art walk where 49 artists and photographers exhibited their works. It’s a great celebration of the work by the local Artists. We were surprised to walk into one and find the work of Susan Brown on the wall of two people we knew. A fabulous take of an art deco interpretation of Ian and I. Needless to say it will find its way onto our wall.

I always love the black and white photos of Cómpeta Portraits. Dave Shannon takes what I call proper photos. You remember using 35mm film and he prints the photos himself. I owe a lot to Dave as he has encouraged me with my own photos.

So the garden has been left again. The heat has continued and the water tables in the reservoirs hasn’t improved.

Whilst in Somerset the rain continues, and I order this years tulip selections for London and Somerset.

Posted on August 3, 2023August 3, 2023 by happyretiredblog · 2 Comments

Tod Garden Tours

Who said retirement would be boring. It certainly wasn’t me and like everything in life it’s what you make of it. After nearly eight years life is still not slowing down. Just me getting slower. And sometimes more selective in what, when and where.

Lockdown seems an age ago and is something we hope never to be repeated. But it did have some good things come out of it. People had the opportunity to sit and think about projects that they could do post Covid. Like on one grey December day the idea of garden tours was hatched. By two old duffers. No. Not us. But Michael Marriott and Rosie Irving. Now I’m not being rude about them. Never. It is their description. Two old gardening duffers.

Over lockdown I built up a great friendship online with them both. For those that know Rosie will know that she loves to talk. About plants. Gardens. Oh. And shopping. Michael is very generous in his advice and his knowledge. For those who don’t know Michael is the Rose expert, consultant , garden designer and with Rosie often goes live at five on instagram. An hour of garden chat. I’m saying an hour. But ….. it usually more. And always very entertaining.

So the concept of the garden tours was mooted and it came to fruition. TODS garden tours. Yep. Two old duffers. Safe to say it’s only taken me a few years to book with them but it was well worth the wait.

To be fair. We don’t usually do many guided tours. It’s just not our bag. But this was TOD. I had great expectations. I knew two other people on the tour. A great friend in Barbara Segall and a more recent friendship with Jacqui Cox ~ an introduction from Rosie. We had met once before when we both happened to be in Valencia at the same time. And got on. Well. Also having had years of conferences and meetings where you had to introduce yourself like a therapy group I was worried about not so much myself. But Ian. He would admit. He’s not a gardener. He has no social media presence at all. Unless you take in photographs of his back walking ten feet in front of me. But. Fear not. It was an easy process. The people on the tour travelled from all over the country for the tour. Many had been in the previous days visit to Great Dixter.

Our first stop was Gravetye Manor – built in 1598 it is a beautiful building and hotel with a Michelin star restaurant with gardens considered to be one of the most important in the UK. The gardens were created by William Robinson in 1885 one of the most influential gardeners with his introduction of the concept of mixed borders. He was an interesting man and his story can be found at Gravetye Manor The gardens are not open to the public but can be viewed as guests of the hotel or diners at the restaurant or on specialist garden tours.

The tour starts with morning tea and biscuits ( I’ll vouch that the chocolate biscuits are the best ) and an introductory talk from the head gardener Tom Coward. Tours can be made or broken dependant on the quality of the guide. But instantly you knew this was going to be good. Tom is a great and passionate gardener who draws you into the subject. Entertaining and informative with 9 years experience in this garden. We knew we were onto a winner.

Standing outside listening to Tom looking across the fields to a wonderful view. There is so much to take in. This wildflower meadow is fabulous and Tom explained the process of growing. The timing of the cutting having to fit in with the local farmer and the varieties of the flowers and of course the yellow rattle.

The garden was created by William Robinson in 1885 who created the concept of mixed borders and the gardens are considered one of the most important historic gardens in England. The history of Gravetye and the restoration of the gardens is worth a read in itself. I admit to knowing little about Gravetye before the visit ( except for the recommendations on its fine dining)!

The Gravetye website has a lot of information on both William Robinson and the history of the house and gardens.

The mixed borders do not disappoint and are full of shape variety and colour. This fabulous blue Salvia stood out in this bed and reminds me to check that my Salvia blue patens large is still where it should be. So many people have lost so many Salvia this year. Me included. Even the solid and sturdy Amistad.

I’m jealous of the lavender in the walled vegetable garden. When we bought our Casa in Spain it had a fabulous lavender path. But it was old and had little pruning and didn’t last long. I’ve had no luck in replanting it. It was replaced with rosemary both upright and creeping and these have done much better for me there.

I love this Salvia ~ Salvia confertifolia. A really tall lovely red spike. I’m on the hunt for them already. We have some great persicaria in the Somerset garden and this would fit right in with its height and colour into one of the mixed borders.

Another lovely colourful border. There are a few cannas in the borders but Tom said that he is looking to use less. I forgot to ask why bearing in mind my liking for them in my garden.

This rose was in the walled kitchen garden and took many peoples eye. It’s a really pretty apricot hybrid tea with a strong scent and another plant for the want list. Great to have tie rose expert Mr Marriot leading the tour who confirms that it was Mrs Oaskley Fisher. One for autumn planting for me.

I called it a circular walled garden but Ian corrected me. It’s not circular but it forms a perfect elipse, built in sandstone. I stand corrected as he was probably listening to Tom as I was wandering off. Whatever its shape it’s a hugely productive garden for the restaurant and hotel.

The garden is home to a great variety of insects. The lavender was full of bees and I managed to catch a photo of this large bee when it was still for long enough for the shutter to click. Obviously not on the lavender though.

I think the lovely dahlia is Dahlia merckii. A very pretty single flower lilac ~ pink. I say I think as I wasn’t as diligent in having a notebook like some on the tour. Goes well with my being rubbish at labelling in the garden. But it is really lovely dahlia and a great colour and looked great in the kitchen garden.

Both Rosie and Michael are so generous with their knowledge which is great with a group of people wanting to know more and are full of questions as was head gardener Tom. Whilst the makeup of the group is random ~ many of the people on this tour had been on a number of other tours with TOD tours. That’s a recommendation in itself. People had travelled from Scotland. From Suffolk. London. The north west and from Somerset. The Somerset one wasn’t just Ian or I but someone who lives about 20 miles away from the Somerset cottage in a village where my maternal ancestors originated.

I don’t know how many photos I took but there were many. Would I go back. Absolutely. I’m yet to persuade Ian that it needs a weekend stay.

Arriving at Gravetye Manor for coffee and biscuits before the tour to be greeted at the door.

Part two of the tour was to Knepp rewilding on the Knepp Estate. . . There has been so much dialogue about rewilding in garden magazines and on TV and at flower shows both good and bad. The first thing I would say is that we were both blown away by the visit. It’s hard to explain or describe the feeling and many of the photographs do not catch the beauty. The simplicity. The movement and the light of the walled garden or the kitchen garden.

Barbara Segall who was with us on the tour had brought a copy of the Summer edition of Gardens Illustrated when she came to stay which has an article on the Knepp rewilding project which is an interesting read and insight.

We were greeted by Charlie Harpur the head gardener who gave us a 20 minute introduction to the rewilding project. The land was originally farmed but in 2000 farming ceased and the land left to rewilding. Pigs, horses and beavers were brought in to help with the project. It wasn’t an overnight process and is one that is an ongoing process and continuing.

From Knepo website ~ ‘Professor Sir John Lawton, author of the 2010 Making Space for Nature report says:

‘“Knepp Estate is one of the most exciting wildlife conservation projects in the UK, and indeed in Europe. If we can bring back nature at this scale and pace just 16 miles from Gatwick airport we can do it anywhere. I’ve seen it. It’s truly wonderful, and it fills me with hope.” ‘

The bio diversity at Knepp is astonishing and the wildlife immense. Knepp rewilding operates a number of wildlife safaris during the seasons and covers species like bats, butterflies and moths and nightingales. A note on their website re nightingales says ‘ In 2022, we counted over 50 males singing from territories in Knepp’s billowing hedgerows and patches of scrub – a remarkable increase from only seven territories prior to rewilding, twenty or so years ago.

And another quote from Knepp rewilding website < The potential of our gardens to provide for wildlife and help reverse global biodiversity loss is enormous. At Knepp, our manicured lawns and weeded paths and borders were – ecologically speaking – similar to the groomed arable land that pre-dated our rewilding project on the rest of the Estate. As a result of rewilding, the wider landscape at Knepp is now a complex mosaic of habitats, teeming with wildlife. But can we achieve this in much smaller areas? Can we rewild an outdoor space that many of us consider an extension of our homes?’

The small tour group wandering through the walled garden.

I wished I’d taken a photo of the planting list that was available to read after we had done the tour. Or made notes during maybe.

In the corner of the kitchen garden is a hive for the wild bees which was humming. A lovely structure.

After the introductory talk from Charlie there was a wander through the gardens with a great discussion on the gardens the planting and the plants. Charlie is a great narrator and his enthusiasm for the project is inclusive.

The project certainly gave food for thought amongst us all with conversations with Rosie, Michael and with the other people in the group. But like everything good things must come to an end and it was time for tea and delicious cake. It’s a hands on tour ~ you even get the tour organiser pouring your tea.

Details of future Tod Garden Tours can be found in the link ~ worth taking a note of for any future tours that are added. My plan is for a future visit to the gardens in Ireland. I’ve yet to tell Ian.

Posted on June 15, 2023June 15, 2023 by happyretiredblog

Viva España.

It’s been a busy few weeks. We have been to Lisbon via Porto and then headed down to Spain to relax. Well relax and garden if I’m honest. It’s great to be back at Casa Verano especially as there has been some rain Quite a bit of rain to be fair. Some heavy downpours which have been great for the garden and hopefully has made some difference to the water table levels and the reservoirs. Not rain like in Somerset which I won’t mention again. But enough to make the garden here look green.

I know I’ve said it before but if you read these blogs you’ll be familiar with things. I repeat myself often. But when we viewed the house 6 years ago I knew it was for us when we opened the gate and walked up the path. In many ways the house was irrelevant – the garden and the view sold it. Not withstanding I originally wanted a town house with no garden and a walk to the shops and restaurants. Fickle. Me. Yes. But give me a garden and I’m easily swayed.

It doesn’t take long to settle in. Washing machine on. Seat cushions out. Feet up and relax. Another thing on repeat is good neighbours. We arrive to the essentials stocked in the fridge. Milk for our coffee. Bread cheese ham and biscuits. And all the windows open and the hot water on.

But it’s the garden that has come on leaps and bounds since I was here a few weeks ago. The rain has certainly brought things to life. The garden has a lot of drought tolerant plants but even they need a boost. We have a gardener come in to do a lot of the cutting back of the larger shrubs and trees and he has cut back the oleander and the hideous transparente a lot this year. The extra light it gives is amazing. So many people are afraid to cut back hard but it has its benefits. Earlier in the year he cut a climber back on the gate and I was mortified. That will not grow back I said to Ian. It’s a goner. I promptly bought another. Which died back. The original has run away with itself and is thicker and stronger and healthier than before. I apologised. He knows what he’s doing. He told me an agave would be a goner with a month or two. He was right. We arrived back to the large agave in a pot laying on its side. The dreadful bug that has been attacking the agave from the roots had got the one in the pot. Which had now departed the pot and the garden.

Another pruning earlier this year was the olive tree. How do you want it pruned I was asked. . For fruit or looks < both was my reply. You can’t have both. So I chose ornamental ~ and it’s being pruned and shaped. The olives are lovely but are usually ready when we aren’t. Stain the terrace like crazy and need constant sweeping. Oh. And to be honest how can I spend so much time in Spain and dislike olives so much.

Underneath are 3 curry plants which last year I shaped. I think they need it again this year as they are getting massive ~ on a warm day you get a whiff of curry as you walk past. I’m glad I didn’t replace the lavender with a whole path of curry. Instead of the lovely scent of a lavender path it would be like Brick Lane on a Friday night. If you’ve ever been. You’ll know what I mean.

I’ve mentioned before the problem we have had with lavender on the path. I replaced the old lavender a few years ago and the new has never taken. I plant 20 plants and half of them don’t survive. I did it twice and had the same results so the year before last I planted Gaura which I loved but didn’t survive the cold winter so I planted grasses ( think ex PM hair or ex President ) which have survived and are looking great. Well I think they are.

Interplanted with creeping rosemary which is a great plant in the Mediterranean garden. Although last winter many of us lost large established plants.

I had asked friends to keep an eye on the ‘big plant’ by the gate and let me know if it flowered. When we bought the house I thought that it was a banana plant. Massive leaves. But I was very mistaken. It is a bird of paradise. It looked like it would flower when we left las time but it’s never flowered before. It did and I had fingers crossed that it would still be flowering when we got back. It was and still is. Along with another one on a different plant. They are beautiful and magnificent ~ strelitzia Nicolai. To me even more beautiful that their orange counterparts and a quite common sight along the coast in Torre del Mar.

The tulips had all gone over ~ well the ones that had actually started. Have I ever said I like tulips ? Tulips here are hit and miss for me. The ones planted in the white wall were ok. A big short. Like me. But to be fair it meant they didn’t get snapped in the wind. But the pots were pants. I say now no tulips next year but we will see. So it’s time for the trusty geraniums to be planted. I like them but can’t help feel they are a bit like municipal planting. But you get a zing of colour for the rest of the summer. And to be honest. I love them. It also reminds me of my mother ~ especially for her dead heading skills. A prolific dead header and it mattered not if it wasn’t her plants. She was a terror for walking up a path and deadheading. I find it therapeutic.

Throw in a bit if pink for the empty tulip pots and that’s all of the summer bedding in. Geraniums only.

I’m just off to wash my prickly pear I said to Ian. You don’t want to shout that out too loud was he’s quick reply. We have two in the garden both of which I have been trying to save from the dreaded Cochineal fly. When I am here it’s a hose down to get them off. It’s worked so far of a fashion and they are still alive and getting fruit. And flowers. Another plant that has been decimated in the area. It’s a sad sight driving up the mountain and seeing them dying.

I love the variegated yucca and have both fingers and toes crossed that the bug eating the agave doesn’t start on them. A lot of palms are being decimated as well. Soon there will be no large plants around. Just to the bottom left of the photo is a hollyhock. I planted it about 3 years ago and it’s been stunted. All of a sudden it’s sprung into life and flower. There used to be a glorious show of them ~ lovely red colour on the road to the house. On the side of the road 2,000ft up the mountain. No water. Rough ground. But there are none this year. Winter was a funny old time. Low temperatures. Little rainfall. Plants lost. Some you expected to lose survived.

The pineapple guava didn’t flower or fruit last year. It has this year although a lot of the flowers are small but there is some fruit forming. The fruit is a bit marmite. Not in taste but in liking. A friend who was staying a few years ago likened the taste to germolene. I could see what she meant though it’s not something I’ve ever really eaten. It’s one of two smells I can’t stand. That and TCP.

But the fruit is ok cut up in yoghurt. A friend recently posted some pics of one growing in a central London square. If I’d realised I would have potted one for the London garden. Too late now.

Talking of the Loquat or the níspero ~ I love the size and shape of the leaves. The fruit I can live without. Which in this garden is just as well as it flowers then fruits and then they either drop off or shrivel. Good for Jam if you can catch them in time.

We just caught get the last of the Jasmine Azoricum for now. A bit slow growing and a different growth than others. But a great scent. It’s an evergreen with white, lemon-scented flowers from late spring to late autumn though i find the flowering patchy. It’s supposed to be tender but it’s done ok here.

Drumstick Allium / Allium sphaerocephalon

Ve have had only two good years out of the last six when it comes to alliums. They have been really hit and mostly miss. Only the drumsticks ( Allium sphaerocephalon) do well and are popping up all over the garden. In places where I didn’t think I’d planted them. To be honest I hate planting them. The bulbs are too small. The ground is usually like cement when I’m trying and. there are some where I’ve probably just given up and thrown them around. But they do well.

I have one other large allium on the dry bank. In an area that’s not irrigated or gets water. Unless it rains. I noticed that it is in flower and tall. Quite how I don’t know when the ones in the beds have shrivelled and died.

A mix of aeonium , Clivia which are just finishing flowering, rosemary about to start , agapanthus and the leaves of the strelitzia in the path bed. The garden has benefitted from the earlier weeks rain and the couple of days rain when we arrived. But it won’t last. Temperatures are rising.

The oleander had been cut back hard this year like a lot of things. I’m no longer nervous when I arrive back and things have had a massive haircut. I’m always told that there will be some cutting back though in Spain it’s described as cleaning rather than cutting. I’ve been told so many times how poisonous the oleander is. It’s is. But it’s very pretty and I try not to eat it. Wear gloves when pruning and never burn it.

The agapanthus always do well. Some better than others and the good thing is they self seed. There are varios colour from white through the blues to purple. I have to admit I add more each year. Not too much water require. Are perennial. Great flowers. Only thing missing is a scent.

Bougainvillea, Hollyhock,Lantana, Durante Repens

I love the period of mid May to the end of June in this garden. It’s at its most colourful which dies down in the hotter months of July and August with a bit of a comeback in September. It’s a bit like me. I find July and august too hot. My enthusiasm to di anything fades in the hotter months. In one of the lockdowns I spent most of August stuck in Spain. Too hot. Too many mosquitos. I’d go out for early breakfast. Shop. Come back home and close the shutters. Turn on the air con and sit and watch Netflix in my pants. Too much information I know. But it’s the reality. So now we avoid it. Spain in August. Not Netflix.

It wasn’t all gardening to be fair. There were trips down the wiggly road to Malaga to catch up with friends and shop. There was also the chance for churros and a coffee bombón. A coffee so sweet that you can only have one. Condensed milk on the bottom. A shot of espessso. Then frothy milk. Served in a glass cup. Looks pretty and then you stir it. Churros. Well. They are the Spanish equivalent for me of nata tarts. One is never enough.

There weee drives down the windey road to the coast. To Nerja. To La Herradura. Lunch in each. Not the same day obviously. A drive along the coast. The coastline is lovely.

Oh. I forgot a drive down the windey road to Torre del Mar. The wiggly takes you to one coast. The windey to another. It’s the same coast just different directions but also dependent who’s in the car decides which of the roads we take. Some like wiggly. Some like windey. I don’t care. I’m driving. I’ll go down both. Depending on what I want out of each.

There were loads of photos ~ the usual photo of Ian. This time at night looking for ice cream. We found it. We have a great geleteria in Cómpeta.

Baywatch on the beach at Torre del Marr. No one was in the sea.

The lovely night view from the Cómpeta car park after a night out.

There was the obligatory cake. One cafe. One home made.

But in the blink of an eye it’s over for another time. In the words of Peter Paul & Mary. I’m leaving on a jet plane. Unlike them. I do know when I’m back again. And I’m not counting sheep ? Tho Grandad is shearing in Somerset on Saturday) but counting sleeps.

Posted on March 31, 2023April 10, 2023 by happyretiredblog · 1 Comment

The Mediterranean garden

After a short break in Barcelona we are back on the Costa del Sol. Back up the wiggly road ~ 2,000 feet up the mountain to Cómpeta. An easy but packed flight where we had the offer of being off loaded with compensation of €250 each and being put on the next flight. If seats were available. Tempting but we thought the flight was overbooked because Spain were playing in Malaga in the Euro qualifiers. So that would mean the next flight would be full too. So it was a no for us. And I was wrong about the football flight. Very few to see but a plane full of saga travellers. Me included.

We are coming up to our 6th anniversary. Not us. We have lost count. But having the house here and I just wish we had found the pueblo blanco before. My love for the village the house and the surrounding area hasn’t diminished. We are here less since a certain event which will remain nameless. So we need to make the most of our time travelling in Spain. And in the garden. And with friends.

Let’s talk about the weather. A British obsession. It’s abnormally hot for March. Bonkers hot. Easter here can be a rotten time. Cold. Wet. And it doesn’t matter if it’s March or April. But not this year. The weather is hot. There hasn’t been rain in ages and there is still no sign of rain in the forecast. Unlike the UK. Where it hasn’t stopped and the reports say that March has been the gloomiest in decades. To. Be be fair Britain is the gloomiest it has been in decades. Not just the weather. But to be fair you often hear our Spanish friends commenting on the weather too. ‘hace frio’ you hear. Whilst we are still in shorts and T-shirts. The Spanish in polo neck sweaters with scarves and gloves.

So we arrive at the house. The mimosa tree by the gate is in flower ~ it started as a shoot from one that had been cut down and is now glorious. As long as you don’t have allergies. But I’ll take an extra anti histamine as the colour and effect is awesome. And there will be armfuls picked for the house.

The garden through the gate looks great and I sigh with relief. We are lucky to have friends who water the garden when it’s needed ~ these borders are largely drought resistant ~ but believe me. They still need some water. It may only be 28* now ~ yes. Only 28* but the scorching months of July and August means the most drought tolerant plants need the occasional drink. Last summer the temperature touched 40 in the garden. So I was told. We don’t come in those months. I did in the first lockdown. Well I got caught here for 9 weeks and trust me. The sun may be out but I spent most of my days indoors. In my pants watching Netflix. Air con on. And large bills. Not to be repeated.

There are times I wish we had smelly vision for social media. The curvy path is full of freesias. As well as Clivia and rosemary. But it is the whiff of the freesia that you get as you walk up the path. Bought over the last three years from my friends at Peter Nyssen they get better and better each year. The bulbs. Peter Nyssen couldn’t get any better in my eyes. The Clivia are gorgeous and there are still a few to flower. I did have a yellow one as a pot plant decades ago. Now I want one for the garden. One dozen.

I planted a row of scented pelargonium along the path. To fight off the mozzies. Mozzies love me and last year this path was a nightmare at times. We have cut a lot back. We as in the Gardner who comes in to help. Opened up the space so hoping this year we will be in a better position. This area gets late afternoon shade but still gets as dry as Jerusalem. There are two large strelitzia Nicolai here. One has flowered since we have been here and the smaller of the two looks like it’s going to flower shortly. Excited? Hell yes.

Now the above won’t excite you. Trust me I’m ecstatic. I think this is the new flower which will no doubt flower when we aren’t there. It’s a lovely black and white bird of paradise flower. It’s a particularly gorgeous flower. Black and white large flowers.

The main part of the garden border which has a variety of plants. Yucca which I’m in fear of losing. Small palms. A bed around the olive tree with creeping Rosemary. Creeping. Not creepy. The curry plant. The olive tree and agapanthus all co exist. There is also a lilac which is struggling. I have to think again and go check it daily re flowering. If it doesn’t then it’s time to say goodbye. It’s no use having something that takes up room. And not produce.

Have I ever said I like tulips. Only once or twice. Or a thousand times. I’ll say it again. I like tulips. Here. There and down in Somerset.

These are tulip palmyra. a little short but I don’t care. They are planted in the white wall and are prone to hit by the wind. So shorter than expected are fine. A glorious colour against the white wall. They are a bit early for me to use in the UK.

I planted two pots which included these. Dutch Dancer. These two are also shorter than I’ve grown before. But I love them. I have some in Pitcombe again this year. Well hopefully. I’m yet to see the pots in person.

A bit of a contrast to tulips. My favourite agave. Ever. The foxtail agave. It’s a beauty. This one is in a pot. Obviously. You can see that. I’ve already taken two out of the pot and planted them in the garden. There are a few more to do when I have the time. My worry. That it will flower. Why? Because whilst the flower is lovely like a long fox tail as soon as it flowers the plant dies. I’ll forego the flower for now.

I love these. Lovely black aeonium which has survived the heat of the summer and the low temperatures of Spring. The one I had in London has become mush. My fault as I should have brought it in. Two bits that broke off have been stuck in the ground and are growing well. It’s one thing that I never get tired of. Seeing what we can grow in the garden here.

Hello Prickles the prickly pear. These are all dying off in our area. It’s the cochineal fly. Ravages the plant. Squash it on the white wall and you get a red blob. Get it on your white T-shirt. And it’s a nightmare to get out. I hose it down with the hose to get the fly off. Covid breaks took its toll a bit but it’s still there. And it fruits.

You know I said I like tulips. Have I also said I like agapanthus. Well I like agapanthus. The garden is away with them. Mainly blue. Some white and the latest addition popping purple. They self seed too though it does take a bit before they are mature enough to flower. I have to admit to buying 6 more this trip and planting them at the rear of the house. It’s dry. Very dry so they should thrive. Added as well a medium sized bottlebrush. A friend once commmented that she though the bottlebrush was a bit common. I think in the right place with a beautiful blue sun it’s fabulous. It’s also a great pollinator and gets covered bt bees. Gorgeous and a bee magnet. Win win.

We have two large and a small nispero growing on the bank. Also known as loquat it’s the big leaves that do it for me. The fruit is ok. But they can and do go a bit mush on the tree and don’t keep well when picked. Nispero jam is pretty lovely though.

The view from the bathroom window. The strelitzia Reginae strategically planted. But not by me but by the previous owners. Now in full flower

Thankfully so far the large pines on the bank have survived. Many around us haven’t as the water table has been so low. Also absent this year are signs of the processionary caterpillars. Vicious little bathplugs. In previous years we’ve had the nests removed from the trees but this year there weren’t anybody there wasn’t the number in the trees on the windey road either.

The first time the double doors have been open since last September. Opened so the fly screen can be checked. Cleaned and the doors closed again.

The circle of planting under the olive tree. Osteospermum. Curry plant. (Helichrysum italicum). Rosemary and some succulents ~ a gorgeous crop of Carpobrotus edulis ~ a fabulous bright pink flower on long succulent arms. Not yet in flower so next time. Oh and some freesia.

Euphorbia candelabrum. Prickly pear. Foxtail agave.

A selection of plants taste dotted around rue garden. The cactus that’s not a cactus ~ the euphorbia candelabrum.

A selection of flowers giving the garden some early colour.

But it wasn’t all gardening. It was the start of Semana Santa. Easter is a huge celebration in Spain. Not huge. Massive with celebrations and processions. Each with a different meaning. We were around for one only. Palm Sunday. The procession travels through the village to the Plaza Almijara and to the church. Each procession is very different. There is the men’s procession on Good Friday very early in the morning. The children’s procession. And one for the women of the pueblo Blanco. Plus others. It’s a spectacular sight and one that is carried out all over Spain. We were in Salamanca in 2018 and saw the one there. The first three photos are Competa 2023.

But. The weather. Let’s talk about the weather. First time the legs had been exposed since October. A drive down the wiggly road to the coast. Nerja. I’m surprised how many people know where it is. An old colleague when I told him we had a house 30 mins away knew where it was. He’d been there in his honeymoon over 30 years ago. Ex neighbours in Somerset told us they went there often and came for lunch when they were last there. It has grown on us.

Then along the coast is Torrox. Apparently has the best climate in Europe but we don’t spend enough time there to validate it. But it’s a great long walk along the promenade. It was another warm day. And no that’s not us on the beach. I don’t want to see myself in swimming trunks in March let alone make others suffer.

It wouldn’t be the same without the pueblo Blanco. It’s six years since Ian booked a trip where we unexpectedly ended up staying in Competa. We had booked Frigiliana but it was cancelled a week before we arrived and we ended up staying in Competa instead. The best cancellation ever.

These steps are always a gem. Always bright. Always full and colourful. The planted balcony. Always catches you as you turn the corner in the narrow streets. The gorgeous blur pots of Casa Beaumont with the planting changing as the seasons change.

Competa by night. Competa by day. And in a blink of an eye another visit is over.

Casa Beaumont.

Posted on February 22, 2023February 26, 2023 by happyretiredblog

Hello. Where are you?

I love it when photos pop up on one of your social media accounts as a memory of where you were this time last year ~ or in this case in 2020. Today was a reminder the last time we really dressed up and went out out. When we were invited to a fancy pants dinner ( no dancing) at the Mansion House in London. A dinner for the Worshipful Company of Gardeners. Guests of two fabulous gardeners. Good fronds and excellent company. They know who they are.

How time flies. At that time we were going out and about to travel to Mexico. Pre pandemic. There’s been a lot happened since. Three years. Three prime ministers. And three or is it four vaccinations.

I had a message at the end of last week. Where are you? I can’t keep up. The trouble is neither can I. We are here and there and over there. Answering in Spanish when we are in Somerset. We were in Somerset. Essentially A five day gardening trip with some appointments with builders. Supper with friends and tea and cake with others. Ian’s highlight of the week. The arrival of godson Bradley to take two mattresses to the tip. I kid you not. It’s been on the list for ever. Taking up room under the bed. I still can’t get my head around the little baby I once fed ( bottle} now drives tractors and a car big enough to help us out.

We have travelled the route from London to Somerset for more years than I care to remember. The good thing is that I can. I should have counted the number of times we’ve passed Stonehenge. The number of times we have been stuck in that Queue. But it’s always been worth the trip. This time to a garden that’s always neglected in the winter.

Despite the neglect there are some things that reappear year after year other than us. Like these crocus. I have no recollection of planting them. I’m not a great fan of planting small bulbs. Thankfully tulips are os a suitable size otherwise I’d be in a bit of a pickle. But these have multiplied over the years and obviously I have accidentally moved some as there are patches popping up elsewhere. If you see me ordering small bulbs stop me. You should have last year when I bought teeny tiny alliums. Never again. Big fat bulbs of Allium yes.

We as in the royal we have had a good old tidy up. There has been cutting back. Clearing. Emptying pots of compost where the plants have given up the ghost. I should have put them in the greenhouse but to be honest it’s probably warmer outside. I had planned to get a new greenhouse.p 8 years ago. I’ve been patching it up badly I might add. A new one is on the list. The never ending list of lists.

There is a large terrace at the back of the house with some nice paving. Well when it’s clean it may be nice and that’s a job for another day. Or week. Don’t look at the fence which at the height of sumner you can’t see. Don’t ask about it either. It’s a jointly owned fence. If it wasn’t then there would be a new one. I’ve uncovered the slime off the tops of the agapanthus pots to discover tulips popping through. I’m convinced I’ve lost the agapanthus but I’m not giving up yet. If I have then I’ll get some more. They light up the terrace in the summer and are drought friendly so ideal.

I watch in awe as friends post on social media of the snowdrop frenzy at this time of year whilst being thankful we don’t have any. Except we do. A small clump under the ancient and dead apple tree covered tightly by the rambling rector. There have been a few of those in this parish over the years. Rambling rectors whose sermons have rambled on. . This one has been in the garden for over 30. The rose. Not the rector.

I tried to get a decent Photo of the snowdrop in the garden. Give me the chance to photograph an agapanthus any day. There’s no getting down on one lneee or both to get ‘that shot’. Getting downs not usually too bad. Getting up is. I will stick to standing photos only. But this flower is rather lovely but I’m going to resist going down that rabbit hole of snowdrop desire. Well I will try anyway. Says the man who already has started his 2024 tulip list.

One benefit of the cutting back and a grand tidy up is that the primroses and the bluebells are getting some light. Primroses remind me of childhood walks along the Rusty line ~ an old disused railway line whose banks were littered with primroses. I bought some more last year to plant in a grassy area but also think I should plant some on the river bank. Or should it be wild garlic. Or lovely blue wild chicory. Or all of them. Where’s my list?

Blue bells. ~ but are they Spanish or English. Interestingly ~ well for me anyway. I have never seen a Spanish bluebell in Spain in fact I’ve never seen any bluebells in Spain. . A few years ago a neighbour whose garden I love and who is a proper gardener, indeed an expert said that I hadn’t asked her to come and see the garden. I know. For me it would be like asking Picasso to come and look at my paintings. Or Mario Testino to look at my photographs. But I said if she’d like to come and look then she was always welcome. Right she replied. I will be around on Sunday at 2pm. Cold sweats. Hot sweats. Weeds pulled. Nail scissors taken to the grass and she did come and have a look. But I always remember her saying. I hope they aren’t Spanish bluebellls. If they are you need to dig them up. Every year since I look.

Pulmonaria grows like a weed in this garden. I could cover the garden with this ground elder and bindweed. It’s now growing well on the river bank and is always a welcome colour splash at this time of year and with it dotted all around the garden and is a great attraction for early pollinators.

The garden is wet in the winter. Even with the rainfall this winter the ground is wet. Bulbs don’t do very well in the back garden as they generally rot. So there are not many of them. The dahlias I left in are useless. Some years they are ok but this winter has been at times both wet and very cold. So it’s no surprise really. I’ve lost the daffodils along the greenhouse as well ~ a few are through but don’t look promising. I get asked why I don’t plant the tulips in the garden when I empty the pots after they have died back. I’ve done it once and it wasn’t a success. Too much effort for little gain. Last year I bagged them up and people who wanted them for their garden took them. But I must remember to water the tulip pots. They benefit from a weekly watering if you want decent flowers.

Once the lawn dries out a bit it will have its first haircut. Not a short back and sides but a gentle trim. I hate how at this time of year there’s a well worn path compacting the grass on the walk to the bottom of the garden and the compost bin. That’s along with the cat walk ~ not us practising our model walk up and down the garden ~ but the local cats path through. That and then badger when he can get across the river.

Im trying to plan a few things differently this year. Where to plant the runner beans. I’ve got an ear worm of my dad telling me I have to dig a trench. Growing up one of my jobs in the garden was to dig the annual trench for two rows of runner beans. This would be filled with all the peelings from the veg and newspaper. My father was disappointed to find that I didn’t continue to do it in my own garden. But as I’m a creature of some habit I suspect the two rows I put in will be in the same place and the ideas for the dahlia bed will not materialise either. I will have dahlias as I love to pick them for the house.

But we have made one decision and that is a new log store. Ordered and a place identified for its position. It’s all part of a bigger plan but that’s for another day.

There’s still a lot to do. We put in this inexpensive arch decades ago and it’s now smothered with the scent of honeysuckle. Not now obviously. But at the height of summer it’s glorious. But it needs a bit of a haircut ~ like me. It’s in front of the pergola which was put up two decades ago when we bought no 4 to make the two terraces flow. My big mistake then was bad planning for growing over it. but I have a plan. There’s a theme in this blog. Plans. Garden. House. Cottage. Oh another arch is planned toward the bottom of the garden.

So the work will continue this week. Some digging. More tidying. Cake eating. But. I have a day planned in Bath on my own. Except for my camera. And dreaming of tulips. Like the ones at Columbia Road Flower Market today.

Posted on February 11, 2023February 26, 2023 by happyretiredblog · 2 Comments

A cold & wet Mediterranean garden

Another eventful trip done. A trillion miles walked ~ OK that’s a bit of an exaggeration but that’s what it feels like when you squeeze as much into 4 days as you can. Am I complaining. A bit ~ I need to learn to pace myself better. I’m not as young as I was. Or as I think I am. I was reminded that I have shoes older than some of the people on the paella lesson we had in Valencia.

We were lucky with the weather in Valencia. Warm days but cooler nights. We knew that when we got home and up the mountain it would be cooler. First we had to battle the obligatory boarding chaos that seems to happen often. I blame cabin baggage and the fight to stuff as much as you can in the overhead lockers before anyone else can. We were away for 4 nights only but still had a carry on. A bag that is. When we come straight to La Casa we can travel with a tiny bag.

The drive from Malaga home takes an hour. The main roads in Spain move freely nearly all of the time and this route skirts along the coast of the Costa del Sol with glimpses of the sea and the mountains. It also means that on leaving the airport the temperature was 16/17* When we arrived 2,000 ft up the mountain the temperature had dropped considerably. Some 8 or 9*.

The campo houses aren’t built for winter. They were primarily used for the summer with the families spending winters in town houses. Poor or no insulation means when it’s cold it’s cold. Not ice on the inside windows which we had growing up but cold. Especially when all shuttered up. The sun warms the house during the day even in winter. But when the sun drops. I repeat myself a lot. So does Ian. He tells me often the same thing. Usually. ‘Andrew. You’ve already said that.’ But I’ll say this again. Good neighbours are worth their weight in gold. They are diamonds. We arrive home and there are the basics waiting for us. Bread. Milk. Biscuits for me. Orange juice. And because it’s cold the fire has been lit.

It’s a very small thing but to us it’s huge.

But once the tea is poured I have my own routine. The garden check. It’s been a month and even at this time of year a lot can happen in the garden. We have help. It would be impossible to maintain the garden if we didn’t. There are large parts which look after themselves but not the main area around the house. At this time of the year it’s pruning time. I have nether the knowledge or the time to do all of the pruning. But we are fortunate to know someone that does. We arrived to the grape vine pruned. A lot of the oleander pruned and the transparente cut back hard on a bank I just couldn’t manage myself.

There are two things I’ve learnt about having someone else do the cutting back. They cut far more than I would and two is that it’s ok. It grows back thicker and better. Unlike my hair. The gardener had cut back an Australian wisteria earlier this year. Cut it back to bare wood on the gates. I stood and stared and said to Ian. ‘That will never grow back.’ To be fair it had a lot of bare wood behind some green growth and flowers. Now we had twigs. I went out and bought a new one as I was so unconvinced it would grow back. How wrong was I. We arrived back and bingo ~ one side ~ the sunnier one showing great new growth. A lot. Lesson learnt.

The other thing you get is more light which means better growth for the plants. And a better view of the pine trees and the bank.

There’s no better place to deposit my money. Viveros Florena our local go to place to buy plants. To get advice from Lorraine. I may have told the story of the book. The book bought even before we had exchanged on the house. Expensive as I bought it on line in the Uk. When Ian rolled his eyes at my spending money on yet another gardening book only to unroll them when we arrived at the house for another viewing the book in hand to be told by the vendors that The author of the book was the owner of the above. 10 mins drive from the house. Quicker if you take the short cut. Which I don’t. The book and Lorraine’s advice has been invaluable!

Back to the garden. We have had rain. Some pretty cold spells with sleet and frosts. Expected in the Somerset garden. Not what I expect here. There have been times when the temperature has been colder here than in the garden in London. But it’s green. We both commented on the drive up the wiggly road just how green it was. That’s when I could see straight ahead. I still don’t take my eye off the road for one minute ~ sharp bends and big drops.

I love the variegated yucca in this bed. I much prefer them to the green. But I’m going to have to come to terms that we may lose them. There is a bug that has been attacking the large agave and it’s now moved into the yucca. Not just in this garden but all around. First it was the cochineal fly decimating the prickly pears. Then the large agave were dropping. With cochineal fly you could see them. With the agave and the yucca it’s hidden. I have remove a few smaller ones but I have to realise that these may go the same way. It’s incredibly sad that a lot of large mature plants will die. As you drive from La Casa to the town there are visible signs of the agave problems. We had an access drive with huge agave. Now all gone.

These were Ian’s request. The cactus that’s not a cactus ~ euphorbia candelabrum. growing in two smallish pots and tied to the railings so they don’t blow over. I love them. Good choice Ian. I keep thinking I should plant them in the garden but I don’t know where. They need to be pretty stable and not blow over.

The curry plant. Trimmed back last year which meant I lost the yellow flowers but it had gotten too straggly and pretty ugly. I may give it a slight trim this week to keep it in shape. The cold weather means no curry smell unlike the heat of summer. There are three under the olive tree which has hard a hard trim. It’s been haircut time all round.

It’s almond blossom time and it’s lovely driving through the campo and seeing the pink and white blossom. We have 5 trees at the back of the house. All planted before we arrived and one is flowering. The others are only just budding up. There are two different types of almond trees in the garden but don’t ask. I have no idea. I’m sure the question is in my list somewhere. I think one is a bitter almond. Every year I pick them. Dry them on a tray in the sun. And then do nothing with them. Talk about taking a hammer to crack a nut. I gave up the will to live.

The cape honeysuckle which originates from S Africa is flowering well. It’s at the back of the house up,with the almonds and I don’t get to see it very often. It’s a great evergreen autumn ~ winter flowering stalwart in the Mediterranean garden. I suspect it need a bit of a trim too. I have bought another. Along with a host of other things.

There is a very old banksia rose climbing through the jacaranda which has starting flowering since we were last here. very delicate yellow,flowers with even more delicate buds scrambling from the tree across to the white walks of the garage. A welcome sight at this time of the year.

I love the leaves of the loquat or nispero as it’s called here. The leaves are large and archtectural. We have two,trees with a third appearing over the last two years. There is fruit in the two,larger trees which is a surprise. Not because it dies t fruit but beaches usually the flowers go mouldy and the fruit dies t form. There is still time for the fruit to do the same. These trees are a fairly common sight in south east London on our walks and I can think of three that we pass regularly. I’d like one for the Somerset garden. Adds to yet another list.

I was hoping this mimosa tree would be flowering when we arrived but I think it will be another few weeks. This wasn’t here when we bought La Casa ~ 6 years ago ~ there was only the remains of the old one. A dead stump. Now we have a sign I can’t tree which will cause more sneezing than I would like. It’s pollen is a real hay fever starter. But it looks absolutely glorious in full bloom.

I have been trying to save this prickly pear for the last 6 years. It was going well until lockdown and we have had a bit of a set back with the lockdowns when we weren’t allowed to travel. It’s a hard task but I’m determined. You can just see a bit of the white fly ~ cochineal fly. Tomorrow that will go.

I mentioned that the oleanders have been cut back hard. Except one or two. This is one and it still has last years seed pods attached. They are fascinating setting off as red seed pods and when ripe bursting to throw the seeds out into the garden. Everything in the Mediterranean garden seems to be poisonous. The oleander particularly so. three years ago I had a run in with one. Don’t ask. I don’t know which one but I rubbed my eye when gardening and it swelled up badly. A singularly unattractive look.

The glorious melianthus major standing tall in the back or front of the border. Depending how you look at it. I pas a large clump on my way to Peckham Rye station in Holly Grove gardens and have wanted some here. These were bought last night and flowered. When we weren’t here. I suspect that will happen again this.

Echium candicans. I’ve tried echium before and last year was my first success. It looks like there will be flowers but not this one as I only planted it today. Along with 5 others. Why leave 5 back at Viveros. When I can find a home for them. Mostly disease free.. Tall. Drought tolerant. With lovely blue flowers. Great. If I get them to flower.

Maybe the massive violet carpenter bee will be attracted. The bee is big and beautiful with gorgeous wings when the sunlight catches them. You can hear them coming. They have the noisiest buzz. A common sight in the Spanish garden.

The sun comes down on another trip. It’s been a busy one. Meeting up with friends. Lunched and suppers. Gardening. More gardening.

Who said retirement would be boring!

Posted on January 8, 2023January 14, 2023 by happyretiredblog

Adiós 2022. Hola ‘23

It’s been a glorious Christmas and New year. We missed being in Spain for Xmas 2021 and this year even the weather was kind. Lovely warm days. Cooler nights. Broken heating in parts but a lovely clean chimney so the fire burned even brighter.

The sunsets at this time of the year are pretty spectacular and this year they didn’t disappoint. Many a night I’d suddenly jump out of the chair ( not literally ~ not with my dodgy hip) to go and stand on the terrace and watch the sun go down. This is our 6th December on the mountain and I never get tired of the sunsets. But then again very little tires me from our Spanish adventure.

But the trip wasn’t all festivals lights and food. Almost. But not quite. I’m still not back to being great in crowded spaces so our festivities were pretty low key as most of them are for us these days. small groups of friends for supper or coffees ( and the obligatory cakes) outdoors. Oh. And the garden. There’s always work to be done in the garden. We do have help ~ there are so many plants which I still am unsure about. The pruning the feeding. The timing of both. But our help knows and appears at the right times to do what is required.

Two weeks before we arrived there had been rain. A lot of it but still not enough. We still don’t have mains water every day out in the campo. . But enough to make the countryside look green again. There was also the signal of a new season. On 1 January we noticed that there was a lot of smoke hanging over the Valley. No. Not a new pope but the signal of a new season where bonfires were officially allowed. I’d forgotten that there are strict rules on the months you can and cannot have a bonfire. My rule is never in our garden. Call it paranoia which is correct but I’m terrified of a lone spark setting the campo alight.

Things are starting to wake up. The first freesia are flowering along the path and there are many more in various stages to continue. The first two were picked and given to a neighbour. Sadly last year we lost a dear friend, his wife who together with her husband checked the house for us during the year we were unable to travel and who would water the garden ifit needed it. I’ve said it before. Good friends are a joy but good neighbours are awesome. When we weren’t at the house she would pick any flowers ~ after my constant nagging at first ~ and freesias were her favourite. So it was appropriate that the first of this season went to her house.

Hiding in amongst various pots or rather languishing there was a surprise. I had thought the colocasia mojito which has been bought and paid for at Vivero Florena before one of the lockdowns and stayed there for months and months had died. It came home when we could return and I had thought it was a another casualty of the drought and severe heat. But I move the pots around. A lot ~ my late sister did the same with furniture ~ and I found that the plant hadn’t died and it’s gorgeous silky leaves were again growing. Fingers crossed it continues.

Another surprise was on the central border. These Carpobrotus edulis were straggly. Dry and almost non existent over the last few years. But I cut ( hacked) them back last year and thought if they recover they stay. If they don’t they go. It looks like they listened and hopefully we will get those glorious pink flowers again this year. Native to South Africa it must have liked last years extreme heat and drought. Also known as sour fig, or ice plant. We also have a large clump on the rear bank which to be honest I largely ignored this visit. The bank. Not just the clump.

Instructions have been left for the almonds to be pruned and I’ve just realised I haven’t mentioned the fig. But I did mention the bottlebrush which needs a good tidy up.

This is a flower from two or three years ago. The problem with not being at the house permanently is we often miss what is flowering. Although we do get sent photos. Seeing how well these are doing I must get some more or split these for the dry bank at the front of the house.

There is an ever increasing bed of these at the side of the house. I always think they are in the way out as the lower parts go dry and crusty. But they never cease to amaze me by throwing up their orange tall flowers. Childish I know but I help saying Aloe Aloe when I pass. But I am. and I do. Nobody is listening anyway.

I love the Strelitzia. Some years we see them. Some we don’t. This one is in full flower and there are eight more flower spikes dotted around the garden in various stages of growth. We will this year at least see some. The ones I want to flower the most this year are the strelitzia Nicolai. They are very tall plants with flowers high up. Blue/black and white flowers. Someone once said you should look up as you walk around London. The upper parts of the buildings are more interesting. Well the same can be said about a lot of plants. Especially this bird of paradise. Huge fat banana type leaves. Shred like mad in the wind. But despite that I’ve planted three more in the garden. By the time I reach 50 ( in my dreams) they will flower.

Theee isn’t much colour at the moment. Well there is but not bright colours. Except for the bird of paradise. The few Clivia. And the start of the freesia. But the foliage is looking good though. The grape leaves turning colour. Well the ones that are still on the vine which they are still this year. They should have all fallen by now ready for pruning. The dodonea is looking great.

I have also spent time scrubbing up a lot of agave from the garden. First it was the prickly pear. Attacked by the white fly ~ the cochineal fly. Whole swathes of them rotting along the roadside. I have saved two in the garden. It has been a hard slog but worth it. But. There is now something attacking the agave. You don’t know it’s happening until the keel over and die. They attack from below. We had a lot on the communal road but they have all gone. We had a few large ones on the roundabout that’s not a roundabout. Gone. I wandered around the garden scrubbing up more dead ones. This small one will go next. It’s also attacking yucca. Which will be a shame if it gets ours as there are a number of large variegated and non variegated ones. Fingers toes and legs crossed.

We have one of these in London. In a pot. In the top floor bedroom. It makes me chuckle to find plants in the garden in Spain that we have in the UK as house plants. Like the Swiss cheese plant. One of the staples in our house growing up. With a rubber plant which my mother cleaned the leaves with milk. Don’t ask. I have no idea whether it was skimmed full fat or semi skimmed. What I do know is that it wasn’t soya.

Thankfully this prickly cactus is on the bank on the way up to the house. It’s a nightmare if you get to close but it’s redeeming feature is it’s flowers. That’s why it gets a reprise.

I salvaged this Aeonium once again from a falling over in the wind. It’s in a large pot now. Staked. The broken limbs have been planted in the garden. Last years breakages have taken well.

Another house plant we had growing up ~ Tradescantia pallida I think and growing strongly but very brittle in a bed outside the door. Very pretty leaves. Pretty flowers but breaks off every time you pass. There used to be on on our kitchen window.

I couldn’t post without putting in a photo of the foxtail agave. This one is in the ground at the rear of the house. I have about half a dozen more that need replanting.

Ian often reminds me of things I’ve said. Like. ‘No more pots ’. As this demonstrates I’m tone deaf. I have had a move around. But I haven’t lost any.

Sometimes things shouldn’t work. These ferns shouldn’t but they are getting bigger and bigger. I can’t repot them again. They have to be moved using a sack truck.

First ignore the irrigation pipe ~ it hasn’t been used this last year. The photograph is of the sea squill ~ Urginea maritima. Planted over three years ago they are all now coming into their own. Green leaves which die down totally. Then later the tall white flower appears. Totally drought tolerant the bulbs are huge. Peter Nyssen supplies me with them. Good old Peter Nyssen.

One bit of colour. A little bit of rain and back comes the flower. Although two bushed have been lost in last years drought.

Finally. The space aliens have reappeared ~ Plectranthus. I’m not sure of the species and it dies have a scented leaf. Spreading slowly and making a bit of ground cover.

That’s it in the Spanish garden for a few weeks. Oh. But I did plant the tulips. The white wall has been planted with palmyra tulips. Last years Armani did well so I hope these do too.

I have planted a few pots with Dutch Dancer ~ black hero and El Nino and a few with a random selection. Which of course I haven’t labelled. Yes. They are late. Yes it’s a risk but at least I didn’t have to defrost the compost of dig three inches of ice off the top.

Back in London and tulip planting continues. They have almost all been done. Two large pots to finish once the emergency top up from Peter Nyssen arrive. But that’s it for tulip planting. I’m starting to plan early for next years. ( believe that if you will )

Posted on December 20, 2022December 24, 2022 by happyretiredblog · 2 Comments

So this is Christmas. ~ the start of.

What will you do when you retire they said. You will be bored within a month they said. Well here we are heading into year 8 and I can honestly say ~ bored. There’s no time to be bored. We have one life and if things have taught me anything it’s that you have to make the most of it. None of us knows what’s around the corner.

But sometimes you do have to slow down. The last few weeks have been hectic. I’ve finally managed to plant the tulip pots in Somerset. Well most. But the remaining three and the London pots will be done in the first week of January. We have zoomed up the A303 when I would have rather taken the train. I wish.

We haven’t been in Spain for Christmas since 2019. Lockdown in 2020 and Fred the cat having a fit just before we were due to leave in 2021 meant we missed those two years. But we are back. The flight was on time. A really busy flight. Unlike Spanish airlines masks are not mandatory. People may say it doesn’t make a difference. But it comforts me. Call me mad. I don’t care. But it was like the coughing express. A late evening arrival and a dark drive up the wiggly road. I still get that feeling of joy as I arrive at the village.

Back after a deluge of rain last week to drier weather. I’m not complaining. The rain was needed and we need more. But even with last weeks rain things are greening up ~ small shoots of what’s to come in Spring.

The roundabout that’s not a roundabout was burnt to a crisp when I left two weeks ago. It had been cut back in late summer as I was worried about fires. Wild fires are a thing here in Spain and I have a great app that lets you know where they are. I’d here you know when there is a local fire as the helicopters fly in carryin water and water home the fires.

But with last weeks rain it’s already showing what’s to come in spring. Already there are shoots of the yellow oxalis ( Oxalis pes-caprae ) coming through. Last year was a poor showing but I’m hopeful we will have a sea of acid yellow come spring.

The light up on the mountain is great ~ great sunsets and sunrises. Not that I often see the sunrise and they are the other side to us. But the morning light and colours are often great. I’ve been out to check a neighbour’s house and have a wander outside ans across to the roundabout that’s not a roundabout so caught it.

I did some planting before I left just over two weeks ago and the rain has certainly been welcome to help get them established. I planted a climber on the fence after we had things cut back ~ an edible passion flower ~ which is still alive. The grasses I planted on the curved path are happy. As am I as I think they are fab and will order and plant some more.

The summer was harsh. Drought is bad enough but add in extremes heat and everything struggles. But it’s surprising. Torrential rain for a week and things are already springing into life. There are alliums romping away. In December. Yes they flower earlier here. But it seems very early to see them now.

I hacked this curry plant back hard earlier this year. Shaped if a bit like topiary. It was straggly and pretty unsightly. Like my hair if I don’t get a regular cut. Think Leo Saysr or GIkbert O’Sullivan. There were few flowers in the summer but they are pretty insignificant anyway. But. It’s has a major growth spurt. I did think of planting the edge of the path with them but in reality yes they would look nice but they do give off a whiff of curry in the heat. I’ll stick to rosemary. Don’t suggest lavender. Lavender and I aren’t the best of friends. Unless it’s sprayed on a pillow. From my friend Saskia ~ That’s another story. But I’ve given up replanting the path with rosemary. For now.

I love strelitzia. This strelitzia Reginas has opened in the last three weeks and is in the border. I have one that’s stuffed in a pot with an agapanthus which has three flower spikes at different stages of growth. I suspect I won’t see any of them open before I head back to the UK. Strikes. Border control staff and transport permitting. If I can’t get back I have some free days. Back into the garden it would be.

There are two Clivia flowering. A bit early but then the weather has been bonkers. I first had one of these in a pot indoors about 25 years ago never thinking that one day I’d have them planted outside in my garden. I did have a yellow one decades ago and I’m on the look out for another. They have huge swathes of them at Malaga Botanical Gardens where I’m hoping to go next week to see the lights they have installed for Christmas.

The temperature is like a summers day but the grape vine knows it autumn. Look at the fabulous colours as the leaves die and drop off the vine. It will soon be time for the cutting back of the vine and once again we will save the cuttings and dry them. They make great starters for the wood burner. We didn’t even have enough black grapes this year for one pot of jelly. It often seems with a lot of things l. One good year. One bad year. I’ve kind of lost synch as we weren’t here for a year in lockdown.

No. That’s not our garden. Too much paving and it’s open to the public. It’s the Balcón de Europa in Nerja. A little jaunt down the windey road to the bank and the solicitor. I knew there was a reason to bank on the coast. I love it at this time of year. The coast. Not the bank obviously. Not as busy as the hotter months and the added bonus that at the moment the car park is free.

No time for the wicked and it’s back up the wiggly road. The ground is wet and ideal for planting. And guess what. I have tulips to plant. Not as many as in Somerset. The ku three outs and the white wall as they don’t do as well as in the uk. Not cold enough. I have a trip to the garden centre in my sights. Don’t tell Ian. He thinks I’m going just for compost. As if.

But that’s for another day. First there is a sunset to watch. This time of year they are special and I never tire of standing and staring. On a good day like today you can see the coastline of Morocco. Most days as long as the most isn’t down you can see the Costa del Sol coast. Today was a great day. All was very clear.

Tomorrow is another day. And a day that we will drive down the wiggly road again. Back to Malaga for an overnight stay and the Christmas lights.

Guess what. There will be photo’s. And reels. And walking.

In the meantime.