Red Palm Weevil

 One of our palm trees is no more....the red palm beetle/weevil has taken its toll and the other - taller of the two in our front garden - is going the same way.  

These balls of coir are what you find hidden in the tree.  The grubs and/or beetle are found in there. 

I had no idea the problem had spread to so many countries nor that so many species of palm were affected until I came across this website

Thanks to whoever in Portugal who provided this information. 

We have three palms left  in other parts of the garden and hope we can save these by regular treatment.   One of them is the first thing we planted when we  arrived 8 years ago, before we tackled the wasteland around us.
 

Mathilde's pots

Remember this a couple of years ago?  Mathilde turned up with a clapped out "antigua" pot that needed repair, with the request that mariposas be mosaiced on it.   It was a true labour of love as this is not the sort of design that D likes to do.   In fact, he finds it less satisfying to do any that are not out of his own head (usually abstract). 

 Mathilde was so delighted that she turned up with the pot's mate!  Again, it needed repair as it was falling to bits.  Again it was a labour of love with a rustic theme.  Here is the result .....we hope that is the last!   But, I have spotted two giant antigua pots in her garden and I just hope she doesn't get ideas!  

Cresta de Gallo - mystery plant

This is in my Spanish neighbour, Mathilde's garden.   She calls it Cresta de Gallo - Coxcomb - but in my Mediterranean Garden Plants book (which comes in Latin, English and Spanish), the Cresta de Gallos is a tree with a very different blossom.    I saw this plant first in Portugal about 10 years ago.   It's very distinctive because of the texture of the flower:  solid and like hard velvet.  It's a deep magenta and very striking but it's Latin or English name is a mystery.  

Erethrina Christa-Galli, the Coral Tree or Cresta de Gallo in my book has a flame red flower, as shown above.....very beautiful.