An Algarve Garden 2012

The Jacaranda is starting to come into bloom ...



Sunseeker rose is glistening in the sun ...



The grapevine (a Cardinal table grape) is just heaving this year so I am going to attempt to make raisins ...





The Mandevillea and grape ...





This is strange, my pink Brugmansia suaveolens opened white a couple of days ago then turned to a peachy pink ...

 

Good afternoon Victoria,
I am quite a recent joiner to GC and have only found this thread today. What a treasure of delights it has been to wander through your garden this year. You have wonderful taste and like others, I am a little envious of your early Spring climate.
Thank goodness Summer has now arrived for us in the UK so we are starting to get colour in our borders instead of grey(sky) and brown (mud).
It has been a delight to "discover" you today,
best wishes,
Jenny namaste

 

Hello Jenny and I apologise for not responding sooner. Two reasons ... 1) GC was doing a changeover of hosts and 2) we are having works done in the house and sometimes I can find the computer and use it and sometimes I can't ...

Thank you so much for your lovely comments and I am delighted you found my garden and enjoyed it, which I love dearly as I have so much blood, sweat and tears in it!

Beijinhos ... xx

 

I always love your pictures Victoria. And I think that Mandevillea is gorgeous. I have tried it twice, but it didn't overwinter in a frost free greenhouse for me. But I have since learn't that it needs to be warmer than frost free.

The weather has been glorious here for the last few days - so I am looking forward to seeing an Algarve garden through my own kitchen window.

 

As always, your flowers are gorgeous Victoria.

Question.......do you ever save seeds from any of them?:WINK1:

 

Thank you Penny. Sorry, not I don't save seeds but I am inundated by them if anyone wants them. I spend hours pulling up Jacarandas and other plants that self-seed everywhere much to my horror ...

 

I had planned to put these up earlier this week but Wednesday night we lost our telephone lines again due to copper theft (fourth time this year) and we just got back o line a couple of hours ago.

Here are my beautiful Jacaranda mimosifolia trees blooming, taken from the upper deck ...







... and here is my Magic Sam (Boo) 17 in September who we almost lost the first of the year from Flea Fever but is fit and strong and chasing the little 'uns around all the time now ... (I bless every day he is with us now) ...



We have had extremely high winds this week and the blossoms of the Jacaranda are falling fast and furious. We normally have them for 6-8 weeks but they will be lucky to make the 6 weeks this year.

 

Victoria - that Jacaranda is glorious.

 

Thank you Peter, they are quite spectacular.

Also at the moment I have ...

... a lovely mix of the Jacaranda, Oleander and Bougainvillea ...



... Cycas revoluta with new fronds (and falling Jacaranda flowers) ...



... a couple of double Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ...





... and my Myrtus 'Tarantina' which I ruthlessly cut back but is still about a meter by a meter and blooming (it prefers shade here so difficult to photograph) ...

 

Those are all just gorgeous Victoria.

 

We have a little colour in July ...

The deep pink Bougainvillea at the entrance is now arching across it and climbing way up into the Almond tree ...



And I was thrilled when I went out this morning to water to discover the first bloom on the Hibiscus 'Newbiscus' ...



The bloom is nearly 30cm across and there must be nearly 100 buds which just before opening at 8cm long ...





My newest acquisition is a Mandevilla 'sunmandecos' Giant Pink which has 20cm leaves and 10cm blooms and is ever so lightly scented in the heat ...





And the Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Doubles continue to please ...

 

Gorgeous!

 

Love these Victoria really great

 

Thank you Penny and Stephen. As we are now going above the 30c mark every day we don't have so much colour in the summer (I know that sounds strange) as we have more in the other three seasons when we are not so arid. Therefore, it is a joy and pleasure to see colour. Those that bloom are not in full sun all day. It has been a hard lesson to learn here, but we are getting there.

 

Really lovely Victoria. That newbiscus is amazing. The seeds you sent me (thank you) are growing well, but a mile away from flowering. I note yours are very compact. I am growing several different Hibiscus but they are all very leggy. They are in my front window (for the heat) so they should be getting enough light - but clearly something is wrong.