Winter flowers for a Mediterranean Garden
We can now look forward to the mid-winter months in the garden, with the cooler nights bringing welcome heavy dews. This year the Algarve is in severe drought and many
Mediterranean Garden Fairs – past and present
In autumn, we look forward to good rainfall to bring our second spring of the year and make our green Algarve winter landscape. For the last 10 years, the end
The Dry Gardening Handbook
Book review Plants and practices for a changing climate by Olivier Filippi New hardback edition of Olivier’s first classic guide to gardening in dry climates is back in print and
Celebrate Algarve gardening in a new venue
Finding the right plants for your Algarve garden can be a problem. The 11th annual Autumn Mediterranean Garden Fair will take place at the dedicated exhibition space in Silves, FISSUL,
Late summer – the testing time for Mediterranean gardens
We all hope that October and November will bring some much-needed rain, especially so after the last very dry winter and spring. Plants in the ground are looking stressed and
Chilli peppers – grow your own hot stuff
The summer heat does not suit most plants, but it is a good time for sowing and growing your own chillies. Originating in southern Brazil and eastern Bolivia, Columbus brought
Insect decline and what gardeners can do about it
We now know that world insect populations are undergoing a major decline. We already know that mammals, birds and reptiles are in decline. A paper published in Biological Conservation* warns
Summer colour, naturally!
Summer is the most challenging time for gardens here, and for the gardeners! Efficient use of water and watering systems tend to distract us from enjoying our gardens, and the
Starting from scratch in the Algarve
Coming to live in a new part of the world can be a daunting prospect. You finally found your dream home and the builders have done their bit. One morning,
Going native
The art of creating Mediterranean gardens with native plants They have lived among us for several decades, hundreds of years and even millennia. They make up the landscapes of the