Autumn garden fair to run over two days at new venue
Gardening lovers in the Algarve have something to get excited about – their favourite event of the season, the Mediterranean Autumn Garden Fair, will be held over two days, October
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
A man’s adventures with plants
“Now in my 80th year I can look back on a journey that has taken me through some of the world’s most exciting wild and garden landscapes and brought me
A mediterranean garden in the Algarve?
Is the Algarve mediterranean? Good question, and one I often get asked at the Mediterranean Gardening Association. You will have noticed that there is a small ‘m’ and a large
What’s in a name?
There is an interesting tension between gardeners and botanists on the subject of plant names because they use names for different purposes. Gardeners use names that give universal labels that
BOOK REVIEW – Planting Design for Dry Gardens, Olivier Filippi
Filbert Press, February 2016, 240 pages, full colour, ISBN 9780993389207 Beautiful, resilient groundcovers for terraces, paved areas, gravel and other alternatives to the lawn – excellent, thorough and inspirational In
The eternal conundrum … where can we get good plants?
For me, the best time of year here in the Algarve includes the cooler months – starting with our second spring following the autumn rainfall. This is still a sort