An Algarve Garden

Evening pete.

It is Spring even here ... well, supposed to be, but God only knows where this sudden heatwave came from (our barometer says rain and has done for two days ????) so I've just come in from watering all that that is not on irrigation and am shattered.

Now have to do dinner so I'm off and away ...

 

Fabulous as usual my lady, my cestrum has flower buds on already but not as advanced as yours.

 

Strongy, sorry but I don't know what a "leader" is. It was about 130cm tall and had/has two main stems, one of which splits into three 20cms up ... it was the best looking of the few that were there when I bought it 2/3 years ago. It is now about 170cm tall but struggles in the poor red clay on rockbase. The first year I had it in better soil but it would have interferred with the lime and grapefruit trees.

I guess I judge all of these by walnut's now. :(

Hello walnut ... thank you, kind sir, but you have a lot to live up to.

 

Lol, I meant a main stem/trunk as a normal tree would have but Viminalis often grows side branches from low down and maybe growers cut the top out to give it a bushy appearance. I side shoot mine to let them grow into trees as they should be, up to 10 meters high when mature, mine won't get that high as it is in a pot as you may remember but it has one main trunk.

 

Evening, strongy. Although it would take my tree to half it's current size, would you split it at the base and keep the one stem and get rid off :eek: the one with three coming from the base?

If so, should I then trim it back after blooming to bush it out?

Cookie, if you come back on here, regarding fragrance, I forgot to say I currently have seven Salvias in bloom and three more to put out plus my Carnations are in bud.

At the moment the air and house are permeated with the heavenly smell of orange blossoms, quite strong actually. It is the main reason I bought this house ... location, location, location ...

 

Thanks for letting me into all the lovely smellies you have in your magnificent paradise!

Scent is practically as important for me as visual beauty. I am sometimes brought to a complete standstill if I pass a honeysuckle in full bloom on a summers evening. Gardens should cater for all the senses - and it sounds like yours does...and then some!

 

C M if you want fragrance try brugmansias in the evening LoL has one of those as well.

 

Ta Nutty - I don't think I have come across these.

Just looked them up on Wikipaedia - they look lovely, but require frost free climates, so that is me ruled out!

"Angel's Trumpets" .... nice name!

 

Brugmansias do survive outside down here CM, but need a warm summer to flower well. I know folk who have them in pots outside all year, same as my Oleanders are out all year.
Overwintering when young is recommended and you have to be aware of their toxicity but they are stunning flowers.

 

Hi again, strongy ... don't know if you saw this or not? Any comments?

 

Just looked them up on Wikipaedia - they look lovely, but require frost free climates, so that is me ruled out! Listen to uncle strongy C M I'm a bit further north than you and grew nearly 70 plants last year even got some flowering now,read through the Brugmasia thread.
nutty.

 

The Bougainvillea is coming into its glory at a fast pace ...



The Salvia border is colouring up ...



Sunseekeer climbing rose (ex 18 inch patio rose) in the foreground and Oranges & Lemons behind with the Solanum rantonnetii in the background and Lantana whichi full of budss in the foreground ....



Sunseeker and Lantana ...



Rockery with Lampranthus and Pink Evening Primrose, Verbena in pots ...


Rockery with Avoocado, Strawberry Guava and Meyer Lemon in pots tto the left ....



Dianthus enjoying a filtered shady corner ....



The Abutilons survive but struggle here ....





And self-seeded Violas in an old strawberry pot ...

 

Lol, the pot with the Verbena, is that your Thevetia in the middle?

 

Great bouganvillea LoL, wish I could get one to grow outside. I have tried and failed on a couple of occasions, might have another go this year.