An Algarve Garden

Nice pic of A de P, Nathan, did you stay there? You get used to the heat because you don't sit out in it all the time ... hence me creating shady places everywhere in the garden.

Thanks Kandy for the compliments - there's still years more work ahead but that keeps us out of mischief, ha, ha! I'm blonde, too (well, strawberry blonde) but I do tan well as the skin gets accustomed to the sun. I did live in Alabama for 14 years and that was my first taste of true heat but there it is very high humidity, here it is low which is why you don't notice it so much.

 

I'll get a taste of "hot" next month but i'll try not to play mad dogs.
By the way did I notice some seed pods on the jacaranda in one of the pics?

 

I have more than I know what to do with .. they take a year to ripen on the trees ... want any?

Where's the "hot" you're going to?

 

Turkey(1 week) and northern cyprus(two weeks) in august.
I have grown jacarandas over the years but always have to dispose of them due to space. :(

 

Whilst there, could you perhaps examine the trees and see what this maple-leafed, rose-like flower tree my sister has seen in both countries, please? Only problem is, she normally goes between October - February so they may not be blooming when you're there ... but maybe you could find a maple-leafed small tree that you recognise? I think maybe she's seen some large Abutilon's but I don't know if they grow there. Thank you.

 

I'll keep my ears peeled :confused: for anything like that.

 

Here's a pic of my Viminalis, yours should really get going in the summer, has it flowered? it was hard to see in the pic.

 

Yes, it has flowered once and was absolutely covered in blooms (this was before I learned how to use the digital camera recently)! I dead-headed it and it's getting ready to bloom again. Have only had it for about 8-9 months so it's only about 5 1/2 foot tall. Yours looks very healthy. I think mine was a wee bit orangier than yours and it glistened in the sun!

 

WoW LoL what a great job you have done on your garden!

 

Thanks FrancesB ... you'll soon be appreciating all this slavery in the garden ... ha, ha ...!

 

very nice ,do envy you the views the lovely climate, you have got it looking really nice it must be a pleasure sitting in the evenings with your G&T admiring your lovely garden. from rosa enjoy

 

LoL, have you tried growing Viminalis from your own seed.The only problem is unlike all the other callistemons it doesn't retain the seed capsules and they drop off soon after flowering, I've managed to get 20 or so going just for fun if they were fully hardy here and I wanted one, they would make a fantastic screen.

 

I like that idea, Strongy ... what do I do? just plant the whole string of seeds? I'll have a go after this second blooming. I think they are a fab shrub, so soft and pretty ... just like me .. :D :D

 

Thanks, Rosa, we do feel priviledged for our position. I still want to know how big your verandah / patio / balcony / the Tardis is ????

 

LoL, I've sown my latest batch of Viminalis in a pot in our glasshouse unheated, you could do the same outside in the shade I suppose and they'll germinate just as fast. I dried the capsules out for two weeks in a bag and then the seeds just fall out.
Have you grown Caesalpinia Gillesii they are everywhere in the Med. My latest ones are coming in to flower and are only 2/3 feet high and I usually pollenate them and collect my own seed.