The garden here in Spain has a lot of Osteospermum. All brightly coloured and many which have self seeded. A welcome sight at this time of year.
I was at the garden centre locally this week to pick up some soil and compost to do some re potting and was about to pay for it when I saw a batch of Osteospermum that I hadn’t seen earlier in the week. And which caught my eye.
So As they are so very different to the ones I have in the garden already I just had to have them. Didn’t I?
They are now awaiting planting.
I understand that when they self seed as no doubt they will do they will not seed true to the existing colour. But hey. As long as I keep the originals going I’ll be happy!
The garden is certainly coming to life. The sun is shining. The birds are singing and we haven’t had any significant rain for a while. Though Monday looks like it’s going to be wet.
Jacaranda tree
The jacaranda hasn’t lost its leaves. Which is a bit of a ‘b’ as we have been waiting to cut it back. It’s too big for where it is. Gorgeous blue flowers. Lovely seed heads/pods. Is it one or the other!
iJasmine buds and flowers
There is jasmine everywhere. The yellow jasmine has been flowering for a while. Pretty but no scent. This one is about to follow by the door and a window. Will get a lovely smell in the sunshine wafting indoors. We have another – jasmine Azoricum which is fab and for me has the best scent.
Freesia
More scented bulbs. I grew freséis last year and they were a great success. Bulbs bought from Peter Nyssen and they have come back as big and as strong this year. Long sturdy stems with gorgeous bejewelled colours. Just as well I have planted a load more.
Citron Buddha hand
The fruit of the citron buddhas hand is looking a bit sad. I need to pick it and use the zest. Good for nothing else. Hardly any fruit or pith. But a definite talking point in the garden. There are a number of flower buds waiting to burst open.
Clivia
I love Clivia but In the uk used it as a house plant. Last year when I visited the Malaga botanical gardens I saw whole beds of them in shade. So the back end of July I bought some for the garden. Yey they are flowering in year 2 again.
A nest of processionary caterpillar!
Not all pretty pretty. I have found two processionary caterpillar nests in the garden. Up in the pine trees. So Monday will be a visit to a man that can.
They need to be removed and I’m not the man for the job.
I love this Agave. We have three in the garden. This one is on the ground and we have two in pots.
The Níspero/loquats are setting. Gorgeous big fat leaves. The fruit don’t travel well and bruise easily. I’m hoping to jam these this year. If I get enough.
I so love the Strelitzia Reginae. This plant is in a pot on the terrace. It has flowered pretty consistently all year. Currently there are seven spikes to flower. Seems to flower better than the ones planted in the ground.
I was first introduced to Clivia by a Blue Peter Gardener as a house plant when in Somerset. I’m now lucky to be growing them in the garden encouraged by seeing them in the Botanical garden in Malaga. The buds just starting to poke through the glossy leaves.
We have a lot of these agaves around the banks and in the garden. These are the largest in a piece of ground we don’t garden and are a pretty decent size.
The Euphorbia Candelabrum is a decent heigh and is planted in a pot. I have had to tie it to railings because it gets blown over in the wind. It’s doing well. Unlike its partner who had its top blown off in the wind.
A new purchase. Citron Buddhas hand. A spooky little lemon! No pulp. No juice. Seedless. But a very fragrant pith. The white pith isn’t bitter so you can just cut it and use it in drinks. Salads. And is traditionally used for candied peel. Smells of violets. Tastes of lemons.
Salvia Leucantha
With a little bit of rain – well a huge amount there is a second flush of flowers in the garden. The Salvia Leucantha is Hibiscus moscheutis flowering again and is a lovely colour. Looks a bit like a caterpillar. Even better with a bee on it.
Colocasia Mojito
I couldn’t resist this at the garden centre this week. Colocasia Mojito elephants ears. The leaves are fantastic. And feel a bit silky. I have found a place in the garden for it already.
Feijoa Pineapple Guava
The pineapple guava are getting bigger. Will be ready to eat next month. A good crop on two small trees.
Hibiscus moscheutis.
The changing colours of the the Hibiscus moscheutis. The flowers were huge this summer. The leaves slowly falling.
Cycad
A new addition to the garden. A new cycad. A bit prickly to pot. Slow growing but a great architectural plant.
Its still baking hot here in Andalucia which has been great for ripening the figs and for bringing the almonds on to pick. The almond crop is down – we have four trees – on last year but there again so are the olives. And next years Oranges. I think the colder winter/Spring and the extremely wet spring with a sudden cold snap when the flowers were out didn’t help.
Almond
The Almonds are ready to pick and I need to pick them before they fall off the tree. I’ll dry them for a day before I pack them away. If they are left on the ground the pesky tree rats will have them all before me.
Black Fig
Why do figs all come at once? Last week I looked and they were green. This week they have ripened. Virtually overnight. There’s not enough to jam sadly but more than I can eat. So a neighbour has been having them every day too. Whether they want them or not. But they do.
Jacaranda seed pod
The seed pods of the jacaranda tree are really interesting especially once they open. This is one I found on the ground whilst clearing and is one of last years. This years are either still green or changing colour but are still on the tree. The tree needs a good prune as it’s getting too tall. Makes note.
Plumbago
I had forgotten we had this Plumbago. It’s hidden in a corner by the garage and I only remember it’s there once the lovely blue of the flower sits against the white wall. It’s a great colour although I need to check what’s eating the leaves.
Yucca flowering
We had a yucca in our garden growing up in Cardiff and I can only remember it flowering once. This one flowered last year and I wasn’t expecting one this. . I don’t know why but I wasn’t. I have passed it by for a week and only just noticed it.
Brazilian sky flower
The Brazilian Sky flower has started to flower again. I think it may be because it’s had a drop more water whilst I have been here this week. There are a lot of new flowers opening daily.
I am still in Spain and the heat is searing. Earlier it was 32* in the shade. The ground is parched. Things have died back. Others are struggling. Me included. For months the locals were saying it was too cold. Unusually wet. Now it’s too hot. And they are right. I listen to the locals. Oh. And try and talk to them. My Spanish is getting better. Although there are certain words I need to watch. My Spanish teacher was laughing hysterically last week. It was a corker. No. Two.
The Stephanotis has finally opened. Just one bud so far but there are oodles and oodles to come yet. Most whilst I’m not here I suspect. But the scent is delicious. Truly delicious. No wonder it’s used in bridal bouquets.
The yellow of this hibiscus with its gorgeous red centre and beautiful stamens is in a pot on the terrace. The flowers are pretty luminous. Or. Pretty and luminous. I love the colours that these plants come in. We also have a red. In the ground. But not flowering as well. Probably as the soil is pants. I need to build it up. We know s song about that don’t we. Includes buttercups.
Durante Repens is a lovely colour in the garden. Not as showy as last year. But still pretty.
We have almonds. Not as many as last year. But there will be enough. Especially as I still have last years in the cupboard. Looks like I’ll be picking and drying them next month.
The pineapple guava is full of fruit. These are ripe when they drop off the tree. An acquired taste. One friend said they taste like germolene. Starts with a lovely flower. But I’m not convinced either with germolene. Or if I like them.
Back in the Uk I buy lemon grass to make a lovely cake. Coconut and lemon grass – a Ballymaloe cookery school recipe. Here I have this enormous ready to pick bush. How many times have I picked it? You’ve guessed. A big fat zero. Well I will tomorrow. And I’m promising myself that I will grow a pot in London.
Over and out with my six on Saturday. Next week will be a London one. If I have six things still alive when I get back.
iJasmine buds and flowers
Gardens. Travel. Life. 