Gardenig in Spain. Tips & Guides

Lots of rain and the return of cold weather has meant that any spring planting has been put on hold, but it has provided an ideal opportunity to dig up some of the largest clumps of Spanish Bluebells in the woodland area, especially those that are crowding out more welcome plants.  The heavy rain has given the ground a thorough soak and lifting the clumps has been easy using my little border fork. Once I’ve loosened the soil, I gently but firmly pull upwards, removing the plants, bulbs and all. The leaves can go on the compost heap, but the bulbs will be bagged up and taken to the local tip for them to compost.  There are still loads left, but if I do a few each year I will gradually reduce their thuggish ways. This page offers so

Inspiration for a Courtyard Garden On our recent trip to Spain we visited some lovely courtyard gardens in Cordoba and the surrounding area. Whilst the grand public courtyards were impressive it was the domestic courtyard gardens that provided the most inspiration.

There are lots of alternative fruit trees worth considering for the garden. Most have slipped out of fashion, perhaps because they haven’t been developed and hybridised like so many of our favourite fruits. However, if you don’t want to actually eat their fruit you may think about growing them for their good looks alone. Here’s five fruit trees and shrubs worthy of attention : Quince There are t

Native and Spanish Bluebells As someone with a profusion of both types of bluebell in my garden I’m very familiar with the differences between them. The native bluebell carries its flowers down one side of its stem which gives the flower heads their characteristic droop, while the Spanish bluebell is sturdier and more upright with the flowers on all sides of the stem.

While these veggies may not be identical to carrots in taste and color, their similar appearance offers an exciting twist to your meals. Let’s have a look at Vegetables that Look Like Carrots.

While these veggies may not be identical to carrots in taste and color, their similar appearance offers an exciting twist to your meals. Let’s have a look at Vegetables that Look Like Carrots.

With its red and yellow flowers like a row of brightly coloured pennants, you can see exactly why Mina lobata is called Spanish Flag.  This unli

By far the greater number of bluebells in my garden are the Spanish interlopers and I suspect it is a life’s work to rid the garden of their presence, so I try to restrict them to the woodland area of the garden where they look vaguely appropriate.  I don’t like them in the borders though, so now that there has been some good rain, I am taking advantage of the soft soil to dig up as many as I can, well before they can set seed and spread still further.  I haven’t managed to get every bulb out, so some will return, but I have found that this is the best time of year to tackle them. This post will help you identify your bluebells. The leaves c

 Whilst visiting Palma on the island of Mallorca, we had a visit to the Arab Baths in the old town.  Dating to 10th or 11th century, these are the only arab baths remaining in the city.

No mists and mellow fruitfulness in southern Spain – instead there was cloudless blue skies and temperatures peaking at 38º. Somehow, by dint of taking breaks in air-conditioned buildings and frequently rehydrating with fresh orange juice, or Spanish beers, we managed to squeeze in stays in Vejer de la Frontera (one of the white hilltop towns) Cadiz, Seville and Ronda and places in between. It’s a glorious part of Spain and somewhere I would like to visit again. Cadiz

I love crocus tommasinianus, they are the true heralds of spring – in my garden anyway.  In the warm sunshine they fling wide their petals and jostle for the attention of passing bees.  Once they have finished flowering I will dig some up and continue my job of spreading them round the garden – they really are a flower you can’t have too many of.  Another pleasure is the scent of the Daphne odora growing next to the steps that lead to the front door. It’s a crisp citrusy fragrance that I would buy in a bottle were it available. And floating above it, the mimosa is in full

A little bit of Spain was recreated in a corner of the showground and even on a wet English day it looked very authentic. The designers had do

An Amble in Andalusia – with Added Dog On our recent trip to Spain we stayed in a wonderful place deep in the countryside, but little more than an hour from Granada and Cordoba. Casa Olea is owned by a young English couple who have restored a ruined farmhouse to a very high standard using local tradespeople throughout to create a getaway of great comfort and very high green credentials.We loved our stay there, ate delicious food, swam and availed ourselves of the instructions for self-guided walks in the surrounding countryside.

I do love the Malvern Show, especially now that the showground has been revamped so that the Hills create a wonderful backdrop to the show gardens. In the past the Hills were at your back when you looked at the gardens – a basic no-no of garden design which always encourages use of the ‘borrowed view’. The only photo I have of this is a hill just visible  over the Villagio Verde garden. As ever, there was

Stunning climbers loaded with glorious, starry flowers and a heady fragrance, jasmine vines (Jasminum spp.) are also easy to propagate, so you can quickly enjoy more of the exact same plants that already do well in your garden.We link to vendors to

Cover a set of terracotta pots with designer sheets, using hot glue or any other strong adhesive. Such pots make an excellent gift for a gardener friend on your list. If you like, add other garden essentials into the pot. Moreover, don’t forget checking out 100+ DIY Planter Ideas for inspiration.

Well, many veggies are flowers, and these edible parts of the plants can be eaten raw or cooked. Check out the list of Flowers that are Vegetables, some of which may surprise you. 

Here are some extraordinary Cute Moths that are as Beautiful as Butterflies! Their colors and patterns will surely blow your mind!

Apart from witnessing the changing colors of fall and the excitement of Halloween, the 10th month represents 3 beautiful blooms. Here are the stunning October Birth Month Flowers!

There are some plants that can cause skin troubles if you break their leaves or stems. Here are the Milky Sap Plants You Must Know About.

You must already be aware that air plants are epiphytes, which means they don’t require soil to grow. If that isn’t enough, the absence of visible roots makes these plants even more interesting! But hang on, before you buy some of them, learn about some of the best Types of Air Plants in this list.

While its brilliantly-colored beauty is enough to make even the sourest puss happy, a crocus poking its brightly hued head through the snow is known to trigger frenzied joy in those who feel perpetually winter-afflicted.Many gardeners look to the appearance

Onions are a vegetable garden favorite. They are members of the large and diverse Allium genus that includes garlic and leeks, and are staples in recipes from countries around the globe.We link to vendors to help

Speaking as an American who hasn’t left the continent, I think Norway is really, really cool. Not just because of Vikings and fjords, but also for what the nation has contributed to botany as a whole.We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If

Many gardeners plant marigolds in their veggie patches to repel bugs and other types of pests. But let me tell you – marigolds offer so much more than pretty pest control.Tagetes erecta, or African marigolds, belong t

Lavandulais a genus in the mint family that contains 41 accepted species. And this might be daunting when selecting the variety of lavender that best suits your garden, because there are so many options.This plant species breakdown will focus on two of the mo

Ever wanted the majesty of a tree and the glory of a floral display, all in the same plant? Want all that with a side of drought-tolerance and attractiveness to pollinators? Well, look no further than the peacock flower, aka the red bird of paradise.This evergreen tree or shrub has dark green, bipinnate compou

Once upon a time, a young boy discovered a passion for roses while corresponding with a pen pal in Spain for a school project.That boy went on to become

Are you a lavender lover but you’re not sure if these heat-seeking, Mediterranean natives can handle your cooler climate?Many types of these beautiful, aromatic herbs are frost tender

With beautiful purple, blue, pink, or white flowers and delightful perfume, lavender is a garden favorite around the world. Unfortunately, not all varieties are suitable for hot or humid regions.However, that doesn’t mean folks in USDA Hardine

Fresh tarragon lovers in blistering hot regions often have to forgo growing their favorite herb.French tarragon simply doesn’t thrive in places wh

While its primary common name makes it sound like this plant comes from the Caribbean island, Cuban oregano is a plant known by many other names as well, including Mexican mint, Spanish (or French) thyme, and Indian borage.Here’s the funny thing: Cuban oregano is not true ore

Lots of herbs – such as dill and fennel – have that gorgeous anise-like flavor, but anise is the OG.A member of the Apiaceae family, this plan

An herb with many uses, sweetly perfumed lavender is an easy-care plant that makes a gorgeous addition throughout the garden.A durable and reliable performer in beds,

The occasional pejorative use of the term “fig leaf” is wholly undeserved.The leaves of the fig tree (Ficus carica) are quite love

If you think amaryllis flowers bring a special sparkle to the holidays, you are not alone!The word amaryllis actually derive