Hollyhocks

May Day tomorrow and I've been checking what's changed in the garden. The scrawny bunch of mesumbrianthemum-type plants, which I now know are delaspermum (ice plant), have expanded to a riotous, vibrant bunch. Are't they gorgeous.
And here the hollyhock has started flowering. We had an horrendous storm Sunday morning with roof tiles blown off, the seed house listed to one side and half a tree branch torn off. Miraculously, this hollyhock was unscathed.

Of the two paraguayos trees we put in last autumn, one is bearing two fruits......well, it's a start - one each if they develop into that so delicious doughnut-shaped peach.

Where did the sweet peas go?

My picture disappeared when I published the previous post. I really shouldn't twiddle with the layout on this blog as it plays havoc with the posting. All right, they're a bit sparse at the moment, but they are our first and we are over the moon.

Garden maturing

Last year, Gonzalo grafted a productive vine onto wild rootstock and this year D's dream might come true - lounging under the pergola and reaching up to pick a bunch of grapes.

The strelitzia below suffered after a cold snap in December and instead of blooming on St. Valentine's Day, here is a lone Bird of Paradise with maybe two more on the go.

This is the first year the lemon tree has given us anything in 4 years and we have yet to see what they taste like. We are surrounded by lemon trees and our neighbours give them away by their bags' full.

I've long admired the sweet peas of Yolanda in Holland. (Fight your way through the many visitors to her wonderful blog HERE ) .Some kind friends gave us seeds last year and D nursed them like babies. Here are the first results - the smell is heavenly.

And finally, the Norfolk Island pine. It was no bigger than the top of the bottle tree whimsy on the left of the picture and this is the result 5 years later.

Easter garden in southern Spain

All the hard work has paid off and we feel reasonably on top of things. That oh-so English cottage garden plant, Hollyhock, that has sat in its spot for 2 years, has finally decided to grow and flower. In between the palm and the cypress along the back wall.
And here is a closer view. When she's in all her glory, I'll post another. No idea yet of the colour of the blooms.


And, finally, we've been able to find clematis companions for our Cardinal Rouge variety (on the left). Jackmanii (a deep purple) and Sealand Gem (a pinky apricot).
As usual, click on the picture for a better view.

April abundance

The last of the cauliflowers, just big enough for one each and of the most intense flavour. I've never grown broad beans before and was pleased with this haul, although of different sizes. I shall serve these with a Romesco sauce (a Spanish sauce of tomato, garlic, ground almonds and hazelnuts, breadcrumbs).


I worried that I'd hacked this solanum around too indiscriminately, but would you look at those flowers. Just gorgeous.
I call these mesumbrianthemums but I think they have another name. The red is arresting, just like the bright magenta and a golden yellow elsewhere in the garden.

April/May is a wonderful time for gardeners in southern Spain; temperature around 24C today. By June and July things begin to wilt.


Here's is D's Greek amphora urn, newly grouted, with the copper mirror snaking up the side giving a great art-deco look.
And, finally, here's Yang, posing for me in mid-wash. How he likes to check on my doings as I ramble round the garden.