Springtime mediterranean garden

Winter weather weary, bring on Spring

Madrid (EP) .- The General Directorate of Civil Defense and Emergencies of the Ministry of Interior warned by minimum temperatures "many areas of the country" and "especially" in Catalonia.

Thus, Civil Protection warns that the minimum temperatures are very cold in many parts of the country and which may extend to -10 degrees Celsius to the regions of Catalonia.

Estate agents when selling you a house often tell you that,

Whilst sitting on your patio you can pick your own lemon for your Gin and tonic...

They never tell you that you can take the ice from the swimming pool to chill your Gin and tonic too!

Watching flowers in the rain!

Im just sitting watching flowers in the rain

Feel the power of the rain making the garden grow,

Im just sitting watching flowers in the rain

Feel the power of the rain keeping me cool.

Flag Iris

Tool tips for Spring.

Many gardeners will be admiring the display of spring flowering shrubs in the coming weeks. Those blooms are the result of careful pruning of the shrub following the flowering period, and because the sap is rising at this time of year the tools you use to maintain the form of your shrub soon becomes sticky with sap which can spoil the cutting action.

Essential garden tools like pruning shears or secateurs benefit from frequent cleaning and sharpening which will prolong the life of the product; as well as ensuring that plant material is cut cleanly and therefore minimising the risk of disease affecting your plant. My own choice is the Felco Brand.

The company website produces a useful guide to dismantling and servicing their products which

can be found on the web site.

Felco

Cometh the hour

Planting new shrubs and bulbs may be a bit precarious given the rain situation but the time is now if they are going to survive at all. Transition from cold dry winter to a hot humid spring is rather demanding on the new plants meagre resources, and the change is sudden and dramatic.

Seeking out plants that seem to do well in the neighbourhood is good general advice for the gardener. One of the plants that stands the hot dry summers and always produces a mass of tiny pink blooms is the Tamerisk. Though I have read that in some parts of the USA it is considered an invasive species that damages the local wild habitat.

In our hurry to establish a new garden it is often tempting to strive for an instant effect, and therefore plant larger specimens; though often stronger plants with good form are the result of planting smaller examples and growing them on. There is a particular satisfaction to be gained from watching a garden develop.

Spring awakens

False spring

The March wind roars

Like a lion in the sky,

And makes us shiver

As he passes by.

When winds are soft,

And the days are warm and clear,

Just like a gentle lamb,

Then spring is here.

(Unknown)

Spring meadows Bee Eaters return

The spring flowers are burgeoning in the Finca and they have brought with them insects galore, friend and foe alike. The bugs have in turn attracted the Bee Eaters, as colourful as any hummingbird could be.