Back to the garden

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Hi all,

Ive been away for a week R&R on the isle of La Gomera. One of our families’ favourite places to go. The weather was nice and warm 27c most days and the little pool at the apartment was great 23c.

The canarian bananas were ripening well, the local grown avacados were fab. and there were loads of flowers, this year the cafes and gardeners seem keen on amarylis.

Having got home last night I was thrilled to see how all my seedlings have grown. (Thanks to my pet and plant sitter). The runner beans are running, the purple beans have finally sprouted (I had almost given up on them) – sweetcorn is popping up, nasturtiums have fully formed leaflets, the salads are spouting and the tomatoes have finally pushed through the earth. Things are definately doing ok!

My foundling tree peoney has survived and is leafing up well, a peach stone that I planted last year has germinated and is also showing leaflets – it is all so exciting.

Holidays are great but being at home brings special treasures. (and that first cup of tea when you get back almost makes the return journey worth it!)

While we were away though I was having a good look at the type of gardening that seems to go on out there. In the apartment building a lovely retired german lady (Mrs J) who ‘lives out there for several months at a time looks after the communal garden couryard and various trough type planters like the one on the roof edge in the picture. She really enjoys her gardens and it shows; her geraniums are fantastic, as are a stand of amarylis various suculents which have the most delicate flowers on them. everything is ringed in stones to keep the compost in as well as to retain the moisture. Our balcony planter also has some wonderful plants that my mother in law has planted,purple bougenvelia (? sp) a big lemon balm scented geranium thingy that smells fantastic, various sorts of suculent including one which is almost cactus like with tough thick stems covered in vicious spines but topped with beautiful crimson flowers. The locals dont seem to go in for gardening in any way, their roof terraces seem purely functional – washing lines and maybe a table and chairs. But the local ’market gardens’ produce the most wonderful fruit and veg, papaya, avacados, mangos, bananas,tomatoes and loads of other wonderful veg.

It got me wondering if domestic level ‘gardening’ as I know it in the UK is viewed with a certain level of bemusement elsewhere in the world? Any ideas?

• 22 Apr, 2009
• 4 likes

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