There is very little to do in the garden at the beginning of September. Gardeners are waiting for the next season to begin and are usually complaining about something or other. Or, at least, that’s what I’m doing. So here are three things I’m complaining about and three things I’m pleased about.  It really […]
I’m tired of hearing myself complain about the heat and just as tired of hearing others do the same. August should still be mosquito-complaining time, but perhaps it’s just too hot for people to be outside long enough to get bitten. I made sure my garden is low maintenance in the summer because I don’t
Aubergines! Well, not aubergines plural, but definitely one aubergine is well on its way. I wrote last month that a ruptured Achillies tendon keeps me from maintaining a large vegetable garden anymore. So, I’m experimenting with square-foot-gardening in galvanised troughs. I started the seeds in January and February, keeping them on a south-facing window ledge
It’s too late now to plant trees and bushes. You will have to wait for late autumn for that. And yes, I know the garden centres are full of trees. But don’t let them tempt you. It’s too hot. For successful planting, they need to be going into the dormancy of winter. They need a
Do you dream of growing your own vegetables but don’t have enough space? Or perhaps you tried and were defeated by our rocky soil, endless weeds, and the high cost of water here? Take heart. With a little ingenuity, a sunny spot, and some extra-large pots, it can still happen. My dad gave me a
The last of the almond blossoms have been ripped from the trees by the continuing wind. When I first arrived in Mallorca, 30 years ago, it seemed as if the whole island wore a dazzling white blanket of blossom. There were 65,000 hectares of almond trees in production back then. It was a major crop
We slept badly at our house a few nights ago. Probably, a lot of you did the same. We were kept awake by the howling wind that ripped across the island, and our fears for what it would do to our gardens. At first light, I braved the storm and headed outside. As I feared,
A Seasonal Shift, Mallorca’s Second Spring MallorquÃns say that Sant Joan turns up the heat on the 23rd of June, and Sant Bartomeu turns it off again on the 24th of August. We’re a little late, but the weather is finally cooling down. In northern countries, people put their gardens to bed when the temperatures
So far, this has been a difficult year in Mallorca’s gardens. Many plants of all sizes across the island have scorched leaves or have simply given up and died. Here are a couple of reasons why. First, plants rely on the predictability of the seasons even in our Mediterranean climate. Most are at their least
July is not the time to be out in the garden digging holes, planting trees, or pruning bushes. It’s too hot for humans to exert themselves, and it’s too hot for plants to be messed with. They don’t need that stress when they’re just trying to survive the summer. In northern countries, many plants go
Hello, I’m Fern Penrose, and over the coming weeks I’ll be writing about the trials and triumphs of gardening on our beautiful island. I’ve been a gardener all my life, including here in Mallorca, and have masses of knowledge to share, some of which I learnt on my very first day here. My husband and
Dressing your dream Mallorcan home is all about authenticity. From the outside, the setting, the neighbours, the style is as Mallorcan as they come, but once inside, how can you keep that Mallorca feeling to complete your island hideaway? Soft furnishing is a crucial part of house dressing. Just as great shoes and a handbag
