Spring seems to be here. Earlier this week on the way to Portimao there were about 100 storks circling overhead having arrived back, and we saw our first swallows of the year ( about 4 weeks early.)
The temperatures over the last 10 days have been as follows. Average minimum night-time temperature 11 degrees, the coldest temperature being 8 degrees on 15th. January. The average maximum day-time temperature has been 18.5 degrees with highs on 21st. and 22nd January of 21 degrees. ( All temperatures quoted are shade temperatures. )
Although this blog is normally about my garden, you may remember that last week I mentioned the dwarf wild irises ( Iris planifolia ) which are growing just down the road. I couldn't resist taking a photograph of them, which is the opening photograph this week.
You may also remember me saying that Cosmos seedlings were already growing. Well they have also started to flower. The Gazania continue to flower and although I have pruned many of the roses back , others like this miniature yellow rose are coming into flower.
The rubber plants ( Ficus elastica ) are producing new leaves, and the Lantana montevidensis is almost in full bloom. The second Ceanothus thyrsiflorus.var.repens has started to flower, which is at the right time, whilst its sister plant continues to flower, as it has for months.
The Almond tree is almost in full blossom and is covered in bees, this too is slightly early as February is usually the month for almond blossom.
I have been cutting back and thinning grasses such as the Japanese blood grass and Festuca Glauca, and digging over the beds, but the ground is very hard and we still need more rainfall before the end of our winter season.
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