Woody Aussies for a Monchique Garden – lessons following the fires
The southernmost province of Portugal, the Algarve, is, according to the USDA hardiness designation, classified as zone 9/10. Because our garden is 500m up in the sky, we regard ourselves
Clematis for your Algarve Mediterranean garden
Worldwide, there are approximately 300 species of clematis, with many from Mediterranean climates, and winter, spring to early summer is the best time to see them in flower. Some clematis
Natural beauties
In the Algarve, there is a documented flora of over 1,000 species and numerous genera, common in Mediterranean areas. In the inland area of the Algarve (Barrocal), within the municipality
Spectacular spring wildflowers on the Algarve
Southern Portugal, the Alentejo and the Algarve are a joy to visit in the spring. This is the peak season to see the natural colourful wildflower displays which cover roadsides
The story of Clivias – “an impious interference”
Clivias are a very popular container and garden plant in the Algarve, and it is well worth seeking out the many different colours to add interest to your garden or
Training and pruning olives
Many gardeners in the Algarve have olive trees on their land and wish to have a go at doing their own pruning of these iconic trees. If you have a
Wildflower meadows and their benefits
Wildflowers are a wonderful way to introduce nature or create a new feature in your garden. They are beneficial for wildlife, to the environment in general and to us, including
Algarve edible garden in winter
In the Algarve, we have a “Mediterranean” climate. This means that during a large part of the year we have no rainfall. It is these arid conditions that can really
November tasks in Algarve gardens
The Algarve has a Mediterranean climate – long, hot, dry summers with an average range of 20-30°C, and cool, wet winters with an average minimum range of 4-10°C. Rainfall is
Go plant shopping – get rid of the lawn!
One of the pleasures of moving to the Algarve from more northern parts of Europe should be leaving the lawn mower behind in the shed – and leaving the servicing