STRELITZIA - and then there were three. And I see there is a fourth not quite ready. I'm hopeful now that it will flower every year and this year I may be able to collect some seed.

As I type, there is a steady drizzle of rain outside - the first in a month. I planted an hibiscus and a jasmine yesterday, so I expect they'll appreciate that.

The water from wells in this area is variable , most of it not good for plants - either too salty or too chalky. Many newly installed plants collapse under the shock and take a while to acclimatise. Some never do and we've had many costly mistakes.

By popular request, here is Yin inspecting the new trellis. For some reason, she is less active these days and spends a lot of time in the house sleeping, preferably snuggled up to one of us. If I were to carry her round in a baby sling, she would like nothing better!

APRICOT, PEACH AND PLUM BLOSSOM.:

The vicious wind has dropped so I've been out all day weeding, burning and checking on the trees. This is the second year of graftings - there are two trees with peach and plum grafted onto an old almond, and another with three different plums on an old almond.

The apricot tree is flowering and Yang had to get in on the act ....

He is such a nosy cat, and has to be the centre of attention. Yin thinks she has a new play tower among the bignonia and grapevine.....

It's been a very satisfying day's work today.
(But where has my picture of Yin gone!)

JASMINE.

The sweet scent of jasmine is pouring in mornings and evenings - it's heavenly - and there'll be even more to enjoy when the new jasmine goes in round the arbour trellis.

The bitterly cold North wind has found its way down to us from UK (where they've had snow). Dramatic drop in temperature and the kind that finds people with the sniffles and flu. And, the sun is shining.

BEAUTIFUL MARCH SPRING DAY;

and we visited friends in the hills to play a kind of cricket, followed by buffet lunch...Dutch, German, South African, English, Welsh - all in a mad assortment of sports gear more appropriate for skate boarding or joggings! Good fun, with 4 dogs and 8 cats joining in. D.injured his hamstring and is resting it at the moment. I elected to be Tea Queen and Photographer and this was a safe choice!








Here are plants in the new arbour trellis, plus Yang is wondering what the handbergia is doing on the corner.

The potatoes have made their appearance and immediately, Mathilde instructed me to earth them up. They are now expensive here - 4€ (about £2.50) a kilo. This is unheard of in this part of Spain and I don't know why.

Rotivation is almost complete so the tomatoes will go in this week. Pictures to follow.

Thanks for your comments Yolanda and Gotta Garden - do appreciate them.

ARBOUR TRELLIS. This is nearly finished and a jasmine, handbergia and geraniums await transferring. Some wires will be fixed across the top to enable the grapevine to travel. While el jefe has been doing this, I've been having big problems with computer..... .

Just like the cats when a change of routine takes place, my PC went into a sulk and then launched a full-scale revolt at my absences at Spanish lessons. A Windows file got corrupted (no, not a virus) and in straightening it all out, I lost many pictures. So, I am over the moon to see that since December, Google/Picasa have saved all pictures used in the blog, so maybe I can get the lost ones back in my albums.

Apologies for lack of contact with those blogging buddies who've left comments and those whose blogs I visit regularly.

RAIN COLLECTION.

Are we too late? Three x 1000 litres containers now connected to the guttering around the green wooding potting shed, with one and a half already filled. I wonder if the heaviest of rainfall is behind us now.

It's been dry and sunny all week, with an unpredicted shower last night, which will help the potatoes. I've been weeding, potting up and transplanting all week and the garden looks loved. Peach, nectarine and fig trees are putting out their new shoots, the bignonia is on the move and the chameleons are still to be found in amongst the greenery. I found a big green and brown one on the ground recently, facing down Yang with a loud hiss.

The arbour round the back of the house is coming along and I can't wait to put a new jasmine and a beautiful Australian/NZ plant, handbergia, amongst the trellis. It'll be a place to relax and read in the Spring and Autumn. Maybe I can do my Spanish homework there - I've started lessons again so am spending less time on the computer.

STRELITZIA HAS A MATE, and it looks like they've had an argument already. See how the first one now has its full coxcomb. Lovely plant - and the snails think so too, the little blighters.