Bulbs Archives - Page 3 of 3

Apr 282014 0 Responses

A fleeting find

We found a wonderful patch of these baby iris whilst driving from Montejaque to Benaojan on the weekend. I couldn’t believe it! Out the window was this little flash of blue amongst the grass. Phil didn’t believe me. He thought it was another mass of Muscari. Normally you’d be thrilled with a mass of Muscari, but Muscari has become “old hat”.

There were hundreds of them only a few inches high. We went past the next day and they were “over”. Can you believe it. We were SO LUCKY. Peter identified them not as Iris reticulata which is what they looked like to us, but Gymandriris sisyrinchium – was called Iris originally but has been reclassified…. it as a case of being in the right place at the right time.

Apr 262014 0 Responses

Riding from EL Gastor to Montecorte

Another fabulous day in “holiday-heaven” Andalucian style.

I was off today (after a late start as I waited outside the wrong bar … The “Communist Bar” with the red and orange chairs instead of the right- wing bar with the blue chairs according to Dirk). Anyway, thankfully cell phones sorted this mismatch of Bars out – both reportedly the only Bar in town at the top of the hill…..need I say more.

We were off on a five hour ride from the picturesque town of El Gastor which held out against Franco for an additional 15 years whilst the menfolk hid in the hills. It would have been pretty chilly in winter I can tell you as it was only 8 degrees on the tops when we rode through in April!

In the mountains surrounding Zahara

We are spending three days in this wonderful White washed village which has been perched upon the mountain since Moorish times. We are here to see the wildflowers and spent today visiting the most likely sites with naturalist Peter Jones.

What a day we have had finding, can you believe it a patch of WILD PEONIES growing under the Cork Oaks. Peter knew just where to find them as he has been guiding here for the last 11 years. Read More…

Apr 152014 0 Responses

Thyssen to Tulips

Today was quite a mixture. First up – Sandemans Free Tour of Madrid which I can highly recommend. 3 hours of history which gave us a very basic grounding – basic because I can remember only so much! After 5 kings called Philip and two called Charles I lost the plot.

After a quick refreshment Phil and I chose to try the Thyssen Museum of Art where I again managed to soak up only so many Rubens and Goya, Philistines that we are.

Luckily for us the Madrid Botanical gardens were right next door and oh so much more familiar. We are here just at the right time. The first of the Old Roses are only just opening. The tulips (Attila) are just finishing, the peonies are just starting as are the first of the Savias.

If you want a display of Tulips like this in October – NOW is the time to plant!