BARKING UP A TREE

Trees in (from top) Osuna, Ecija, Alicante & Alhama de Granada Photos courtesy of www.editorialguiri.blogspot.com

I am in constant awe at some of the trees i see throughout Spain. Mature trees many of which are shaped superbly. They often have delightful trunks. Many are smooth to touch and breathtaking on the eye. Of course i live in an area where tens of thousands of olive trees dominate the landscape. Many date back centuries. Almond and Orange trees are also plentiful here in the Lecrín Valley near Granada.

But all over Spain there are wonderful trees of all kinds, shapes and sizes to see. Stroke the smooth trunks. Look up to see them in all their glory. Take time to stand back and admire. We take so much of what is on our doorstep (wherever that is) for granted. Yesterday, on a journey to the lovely Alhama de Granada, i took in all the splendour of the trees en route and in the gardens around the famous hot water Banos (baths) that are a big draw for tourists.

*I've planted many a young tree in Spain. Ones that will outlive me and can be admired for years to come. E-mail nolainspain@gmail.com if you want some planting in your garden in the province of Granada.

OLEANDER - AS HARDY AS THEY COME

No matter how dry it becomes in southern Spain during these hot summers, Oleander continues to thrive. Whether it is in your garden, in a public plaza or in the central reservation of Spanish motorways; Oleander is a born survivor.

Whether as a shrub or in tree form, Oleander can be found as far apart as Morocco and China. Also across Asia, in California and throughout the Med.

Oleander is highly toxic. It is one of the most poisonous plants in the world. That's about its only negative characteristic.

It offers glorious displays of colour and can be very scented. I have several growing in pots on my two roof terraces. Many colours, many smells, they are particularly fabulous this year. I do water them and if you have them at home, you should do, if you want them to show themselves at their best. True, they are drought tolerant. They have to be in most locations, but they will reward you if you water them. If you want colour in your garden in Spain, plant some Oleander.

SUNDAY MORNING GARDEN

I took an hour out this morning to enjoy the roof terraces and Andalucian patio. Days go much faster in Spain, despite the light, and there is too little time to enjoy the plants in the July sunshine.

Some need protecting from the full on sun. I have covered the superb trailing Ivy's with netting as they get scorched in temperatures touching 40 celsuis.

The morning glory continues to be glorious first thing and the Oleanders have been spectacular this year. Perfumed and double flowers aplenty. I worked in the patio this morning potting and repotting. Adjusting the position of some plants now that the internal courtayrd patio is getting more daytime sun.

One of these days i shall count all the pots that are located in different parts of the house. But not just yet. More watering to do. Just as well Spain does not ban the use of hosepipes. It's bad enough for the plants that too many homeowners do not keep up with the watering when in residence. A ban on the use of water would be a killer for plants in Andalucia. But then there is always water for the multitude of empty golf courses all over Spain. As long as empty greens are being watered, then so will I be watering my own plants and those belonging to clients in Granada, the Lecrín Valley and along the Costa Tropical nolainspain@gmail.com

GARDENS in GRANADA

Top 2 pics: a rather grand villa off Avenida Cervantes. Photos taken from 8th floor balcony of an apartment block! Middle: a perfectly trimmed hedge hides an impressive garden. Bottom: a view towards the Alhambra Palace Hotel and the many gardens that come with the houses in the smashing Realejo barrio of Granada

There are plenty of homes with gardens in the city centre of Granada. On a brief stroll in the streets around Avenida Cervantes today, i came across many splendid gardens. What is more some of the houses are for sale (see www.forsaleinspain.blogspot.com )

As in any city, space is at a premium but you must remember that some of these houses have stood for many years and whether the garden is large or small, owners have made the best of them. The soil is very dry right now so drought tolerant plants are the order of the day. When you look down on these gardens from a great height, you can see the effort the owners have put in to ensuring that there is plenty of shade from the summer temperatures exceeding 40 celsius.

Today i saw many mature, well established gardens and looked on with envy at how beautiful they are. In its most basic sense a Carmen in Granada is a villa with a garden. There are many in the historic Albaicin quarter of Granada but there are also many in the streets, avenues and colonnades of the pleasant area that is located between the Rio Genil and Avenida Cervantes. Take a stroll around there. Admire the gardens and enjoy some fine tapas. (www.granadaisgreat.blogspot.com )

Photos of Granada thanks to www.editorialguiri.blogspot.com

WATERING GARDENS IN SPAIN

When it comes to watering gardens in Spain, nothing beats the personal touch

As i keep telling people with gardens out here; water, water and then water again. Preferably, as i did this morning, before sun up or after sundown. If you water the plants in these temperatures in the middle of the day, the water evaporates immediately.
If your plants need watering, there is no substitute for getting someone reliable to water them on a very regular basis. At least three times a week in the summer. No matter how expensive your automatic watering system is, they do not deliver enough water to the plants. I hate seeing plants wither and die because they are getting too little water in the summer. This morning at dawn i spent one hour watering a clients garden. It has many, many plants. I will be watering there again in two days time.
If you have a garden or green space in Spain that you treasure, please water it aplenty. If you have a home in the Granada province, including along the Costa Tropical, but you are away often, then you can hire me to water and care for your plants by e-mailing me nolainspain@gmail.com

GOOD MORNING GLORY

Here are photographs of my larger sunny roof terrace in Andalucia. Taken this morning, you can see the Morning Glory loves its position. It grows out here alongside roads throughout the Lecrín Valley and Granada. Almost like a weed. But Morning Glory is anything but a weed. It's beautiful.

Another photo shows a different aspect of the terrace looking towards a few of the many Oleander that are flowering and including one of the ancient chimney pots i transported from Yorkshire to Spain four years ago.

Then there is the view of the terrace as seen through the fly chains which, at this hot time of the year, are ideal for keeping flies out of rooms. The chains do their job while allowing me to keep a watchful eye on my many plants, trees and pots as temperatures in Granada hot up. We have seen 40 celsius in the city already this past week and July has yet to come.

GARDEN TOURS OF SPAIN

Top pic: On a tour in Cordoba. Middle: In Salvador Dali's garden in Pubol. Bottom: On a research mission in Sanlúcar de Barrameda

I now offer personalised tours of both public and private gardens in one area of Andalucia, Spain. Whether there are just two of you or a coachload, i can guide you to and around the best gardens in the province of Granada.
You may have already seen the most famous public gardens such as the Generalife at the Alhambra Palace. You may wish to see less famous, but equally as beautiful gardens in the province.
Well Granada Gardens can point you in the right direction and visit those gardens with you. I can alert you to the most typical plants of the region and to those that thrive in an area where temperatures can be extreme. In winter the Granada province can be very, very cold. In summer, temperatures exceeding 40 celsius are the norm.
Would you like to visit gardens i have created from scratch? Gardens owned by keen gardeners like you and me. Perhaps you would like to tour a hidden gem? A place that does not have the famous tourist profile of the Generalife. I can organise that for you and accompany you on the visit.
We do not provide transport. We can assist with accommodation. And i know the best places to stop for refreshment, tapas or a little light lunch on our tour of the Spanish gardens of Granada.
E-mail me nolainspain@gmail.com or contact me via www.twitter.com/lecrin
In 2010 i am delighted to be welcoming a party of 38 keen gardeners from Melbourne in Australia and I am very much looking forward to joining them as they experience some of the best gardens in Granada.

REFRESH YOUR SPANISH GARDEN

I was delighted to view a garden i know well yesterday and see it given a fresh look. Friends Cliff and Liz, whose garden i tender when they are working overseas, live in Niguelas near Granada in Spain. In winter the village is one of the coldest in the Lecrín Valley. It is so close to the Sierra Nevada mountains that temperatures there can be more than 5 degrees cooler than in other villages just a few minutes away.

Like me, Cliff loves his plants and his gardens are packed with fines specimens from Spain, the UK and Asia. Like so many expats living part time in Spain, he never has enough time in his garden but he has just spent a week moving plants, re-potting, cutting back and planting two new specimens. It has given the lovely garden a breath of fresh air, more light and space and the plants that have been moved will benefit from their new locations.

I will also benefit. Now that Cliff has moved his Nispero tree into more light, the tree is bearing splendid fruit. When i next go to water his plants and look after them during 38 degree heat, the fruit will be ready to eat.

It's never too late to give your Spanish garden a new lease of life. Contact me via nolainspain@gmail.com to arrange a consultation visit.

HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW?

People are constantly amazed at how fast gardens grow on the Med. Plants seem to leap into life providing, of course, that the land and soil have been prepared well in advance of planting.

I visited one splendid new private garden this week. It is the home of the experienced and trustworthy estate agents Bernard and Martin of www.spaincostatropical.com Their offices, Tropicana Properties, are in Almuñécar in Spain. Their home is between there and neigbouring town Salobreña. Looking across to the sea; the land is steeped and has different levels and lots of nooks and crannies.

The boys have very quickly established a quite splendid and varied garden (see photos). My own garden warming gift to them was one of my favourites, a black bamboo. In no time at all their garden is a picture. It has been achieved with much thought, planning, money and - as with any garden - lots of hard work.

Well done lads!