Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - October 2015

Hi, there. I'm late again to the garden party. These are the blooms I found in my garden on Thursday.

I think this photo sums up the look at the moment - it's a bit of a jungle. There are too many plants in a small space.  It rained at the weekend and the grass suddenly took to growing fast again. 

Thankfully, I found time to mow yesterday because it's raining again as I write this. Oh, and one of the wheels on my mower kept wobbling off so my wish that the machine would last until I had got rid of all the grass isn't going to come true. (sighs)

This lavender is doing well, which is more than I can say for the other one, poor thing. I am going to cut it right back (as the gardener suggested a while ago).

The summer was too hot for the roses but I still have a few blooms.

Now that the soil is workable again, I must find time to do some weeding.

 Under this bush I now have two pots and a tray of orchid backbulbs. I finally divided the orchids that had overfilled their original pots and am trying to get some of the backbulbs to root. I wonder if I will be successful.

And that's all I have for you this month.

Thank you to Carol, at May Dreams Gardens for hosting Bloom Day.

Roundabouts - 2

The resort town of Albufeira has many roundabouts. Apart from helping to control traffic, they also serve as reference when people are asking for or giving directions. But more about that another time.

Here is one of the newer and not too busy ones, near the beach.

Roundabouts - 1

When I was teaching in S. João da Madeira almost 20 years ago, it was known as the "roundabout capital" of Portugal. Roundabouts were beginning to replace the traditional intersections with traffic lights. There seemed to be a "roundabout madness" and buses and other longer vehicles had difficulty negotiating some of the ones built where there just wasn't enough space.

Now every town has many and besides being useful, they lend themselves to artistic efforts. The middle of roundabouts vary from the simple circle to the weird and wonderful. The one in this picture must be a nightmare for the gardener. How does he manage to keep the grass trimmed?

Don't you think the sculpture looks a little lost there?

"We dance round in a ring and suppose, but the secret sits in the middle and knows" - Robert Frost

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - September 2015

It's the 15th again! Here in my hardiness zone 10a garden on the south coast of Portugal it rained for a few minutes, while the north of the country is under heavy rain and strong winds.

There isn't much blooming in my garden after a few months of very hot and dry weather. I was away for nearly three weeks and although my neighbour came and watered every day the heat has taken its toll. The belladonna lilies are not complaining, though.

They are livening up an otherwise dull rose bed.

The oleanders are keeping the other side of the garden colourful.

And the hibiscus is doing its best along the side wall.

Hopefully there will be some roses next month.

Now I'm off the May Dreams Gardens to see what's blooming in other parts of the world.

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - August 2015

Today I have just one bloom for you as my hibiscus is just about the only plant that is taking the heat (35ºC) gracefully and producing flowers.

Join me again next month and, in the meantime, hop over to May Dreams Gardens where Carol hosts Bloom Day. There I'm sure you'll find gardens that you will love.