Stunning gardens without water – Part two
Stunning gardens without water – Part two: Radical lanscapes – the Agaves By: Stuart Merelie qm@portugalresident.com IF THERE is one plant which drastically shapes the landscape in the Algarve, Agave
True born survivors — Part four
By: Stuart Merelie qm@portugalresident.com THERE IS an old saying that says “Civilised man has marched across the face of the earth and left a desert in his footprints”. Today, worldwide,
Diospyros to Gleditzia – Part Three
By STUART MERELIE I THINK I received one of the best gardening tips last week. Shall I share it with you? “The best way to garden in the Algarve is to
Cercis to Cydonia – Part two
By STUART MERELIE OTHER THAN being stuck in the office writing this article on a bank holiday, I think I am one of the luckier people living in the Algarve
Acacia to Catalpa – Part one
MY TIMING was lousy. Doubly so. Not only was I the only person of the 5,000 watchers in a rather large bar who didn’t speak German, but I had also
The best of the rest – part six
WHO IS your hero? I have always had a penchant for explorers: Scott, Livingstone, Indiana Jones and Michael Pallin. But there is one man, who to an everyday-same-route-to-work type like
Singing the blues – Part four
OUR OWN life expectancy is continually increasing. It was 49 years at the start of the 20th century and 75 years at the end of it. Thanks to modern science,
Will all the other members of the Phoenix family …
Will all the other members of the Phoenix family please stand up … Part three I DON’T know if any of my readers come from a big family – do
Knowing what to sow and when …
AS NEWCOMERS to the Algarve, one of the most difficult aspects of vegetable growing is knowing what to sow and when. The golden rule is to talk to your neighbours
Know your palm – part one
The true date palm, Phoenix Dactylifera I AM glad another Christmas is over and under my belt. Goodbye Santa, snowmen, mulled wine, tacky flashing lights, six vegetables, Queen’s speech, chocolate