WELCOME TO Val's Alentejo -I write about my region of Alentejo. My art ,painting, my cottages, Family life, my animals -Travels And my love for Roses- and rural country life.

Monday 18 March 2013

"Could it be spring"!

What a beautiful morning this morning.  After one month of solid rain , soggy ground and grey skies.  I was becoming quite depressed. 
Today the sun is shining down and the skies are blue.  
  There is still a nip in the air, I can handle that, especially when Mr. sun is out with his friendly smile. 
I was able to take a few photos of some of the plants that survived Sat night's big storm.  And the new plants, that are still not planted .
 Friday afternoon , during a little respite. I went to the nursery and bought a few plants. 
You will all remember from one of my last posts the beautiful path that our family friend Pete built for me. I think it looks really nice.  
The little patch of grassed area next to the path hopefully  during the next week will have some new flowers and plants.  
I bought a fully grown lemon tree .  It even has lemons already on it.  
Some pansies, Fushia , Gerda. and a wihite daisy bush. -
  The other photos are from around the garden.
Petunias.. just a little more sun and they too will be smiling.
My soft lilac daisy plant. I cut it completely down  beginning of january..and its blooming again.  How perfect Mother nature makes her flowers.
Wishing you all a wonderful Monday.. Val  @ Rose Cottage

43 comments:

  1. Your flowers look gorgeous Val and the garden is definitely looking very Springlike. It's so good to feel the sun on your back isn't it and can't wait for it to shine here. It was quite bright this morning so I took myself into Leigh on Sea to have a browse round the shops but it was still very chilly. Cloudy now so in for the afternoon for some reading. Have a lovely week.
    Patricia x

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    1. Thank you Patricia,
      I can tell you, the poor flowers got such a bashing with the heavy rains we have been having. I couldnt believe it when the sun came out this morning.
      Its still cold. I have the wood burner bright and warm..
      Glad you took some time to get out. You are near the end now Patricia..
      happy days val xx

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  2. Your garden photos are beautiful Val.

    Lucky you having sunshine
    we have wintery showers today
    and it is so cold.

    I love a visit to the garden centre and picking u bits and bobs, glad you had a good time in yours.

    Happy week.

    x Fiona

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    1. Hello Fiona,
      Nice to see you,
      Thanks for your visit.
      I try not to take too much cash with me when i go to the garden centre.. otherwise i would buy loads of things.
      I did enjoy buying my few extra fill ins.
      I hope that our weather holds for a while.

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  3. Spring is inching its way in here too. Your photos are lovely, and the quality of light gives a sense of the chill still behind that sunshine.

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    1. Hello Pondside,
      Thank you for your comments.
      Yes, its still cold here. I only hope that we can have a couple of extra days with this lovely sunshine though.

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  4. hooray for the sun! i do really like your path. thanks to pete!

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  5. Hi Val...the path is lovely. Is the yellow painted pavers? I would love to have a lemon tree, but I'm afraid our winters are too cold for it to survive.

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    1. I am so pleased with the path. It makes such a difference.
      If you have a lemon tree in a pot..you could take it in in the winter maybe!
      Thanks Meggie for your comments.

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  6. Hello Val! It was lovely speaking to you today! What a fantastic surprise to find out that you are chatty, just like me!

    Like I told you, today it's been a little bit warmer, and sunny, with blue sky and the birds were singing!

    I am afraid that it doesn't feel very Springlike, yet and that I am looking forward to going to Italy, as I want to buy some plants: a couple of grapevines, a bouganvillea, a few palms and cacti, not to mention lots of geraniums. The list is long... It's exciting!

    Your garden is beginning to look nice and the path is great! You can now "Follow the yellow brick road!" Do you own a pair of red shoes, Val? I have!

    PS: I just noticed your new lemon tree: gorgeous!

    CIAO

    ANNA
    xxx

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    1. Thank you Anna.
      Would so much like to see your name out there in lights ):Great to chat.
      The same here, sunny, but not very spring like. the sun has to be much warmer.
      What great excitement, when you will be able to get working on your garden in Italy.
      It takes time , energy ,effort and a little 'cash'.. i have been working 8 years now on my garden. I never seem to stop.
      The lemon tree is half grown.. its already producing lemons.
      ciao..xx

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  7. How lovely to buy a lemon tree and also those pretty flowers,what a cheering sight and lets hope we get more sunshine and blue skies.
    Sarah x

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  8. I am so excited about my lemon tree Sarah. I dont know why i didnt plant more a long time ago.
    Can't wait to get into the garden.
    Everything is coming on though.
    thanks Sarah.

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  9. Ahh lovely to see this sunny post, Val....We have had snow today which turned to rain, thankfully! LOVE your lemon tree plant! and pretty plants...ENJOY the more settled days...And do send some over here! hehe...Love Maria x

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    1. Hello Maria,
      Thank you for your comments.. It was just a fluke day yesterday.. the heavens have opened up again and its pouring.

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  10. Val, your flowers are beautiful...and when I read your comment, you're right, we are getting 3-5 inches tonight/tomorrow...HO! HO! HO!...:)JP

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    1. Ohh.. lots of snow JP:
      I spoke too soon. Its tippling down with rain again. my poor plants.
      when will the warm days come.!

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  11. Dear Val, exciting to make a new little garden around a lemon tree, already grown! It is the best season when we can plant out the pansies and petunias, and enjoy their beauty. We are going into the fun season where you plant for spring and we are cooling down and can plant the same things for our few winter months where the flowers can cope. We can enjoy our pretty flowers simultaneously! xxx

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    1. I started today with the Garden.. its just been non stop rain... had a respite this morning.. but we are heading for a whole week of wind and rain. I think we will have a rainy easter. thanks Patricia... best wishes..

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  12. Oh, it's spring there with you!1It looks lovely, I like the path.Beautiful flowers. Groetjes, Gerda

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    1. Thank you Gerda,
      It was a beautiful day yesterday.. but the rain has come with avengence today.
      will spring ever come.!

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  13. I think it looks spring there by you - So pretty! sandie

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  14. Dear Val, Wish I could snatch those pansies right out of your garden. Happy planting. ox, Gina

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    1. Thank you Gina,
      a short one day of bright sun and a hint of a spring day.
      Its winter back again.. rain rain rain

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  15. Thank you so much for your lovely comments.

    It's nice meeting you, I met Judy through Phyllis from Around the House blog, I love her blog as well. Judy's cottage is my dream home, beautiful ladies such beautiful gardens.
    I am now following you too.

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    1. Thank you for coming over.. will see you over at the other blogs..
      best wishes val.

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  16. A lemon tree- I love it! We had our hopes up for spring and now we are covered in snow again. Michigan winter always breaks our hearts a few times before it's over. I'm used to it and have faith that soon I will be back in my world of green. Your flowers are lovely. They give me hope!

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    1. Hello Lisa,
      I was so looking forward to working another few days in the garden..but the weather has turned to winter again.. its just non stop rain.
      I did get the tree planted and my pansies..but am sure they might be damaged by the rain..

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  17. Hi Val. You know us crazy americans, just because we celebrate something, we think everyone else does. Anyway I know we all are celebrating the coming of spring. Your 'yellow brick road' turned out beautifully and your garden in farther along than mine. Only a few daffys and some camellias..Thank you, Val, for you kind comments and hope you have a great week and it still stays warm and sunny so you can get all those beauties planted..Happy Tuesday..Judy

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    1. Hello Judy,
      I wish i could say that the warmer spring days are here to stay. alas.. its just winter again. rain rain and heavy winds.
      Thank you for coming over Judy, always nice to read your comments.

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  18. A sunshine day after so much rain ! The spring is in your garden !
    I liked the path that your friend Peter made !Your lemon tree is beautiful and you will have your own production !!
    Have a wonderful week Val !

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    1. Dear Olympia,
      The spring day, was short lived. Its started to rain very heavily and we will have it for the next week. Seems like a wet Easter.

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  19. How lovely everything looks on such a sunny day. Certainly gives you the urge to start planting. Your new path looks fantastic! What a good friend Pete is to do that for you.
    Won't be long now 'til you have a thriving garden. Look forward to seeing your lemon tree and other plants progressing as Spring finally comes to stay.

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    1. Its all short lived Betty,
      Pretty demoralizing.. its raining hard again. I think we are in for a wet Easter this year.
      The garden is coming along.. but cant really enjoy it or get down to the real business of the gardening days.
      thanks for coming over .. nice to see you

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  20. I am terribly jealous, Val! It all looks so summery already! Here just cold and rain and no fun! Good to see those impressions of your garden! Have a good weekend (hopefully with lots of sun!) Christa

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  21. Dear Christa,
    That sunny day, was short lived. It started raining the next day. and its still raining. It will be raining for the whole of this next week. I think it will be a wet Easter.
    Its cold and the heating is still on.
    Thanks for coming over... nice to see you. xx

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  22. It certainly looks like Spring to me Val!

    You know I've been reading a crime book by Robert Wilson, and there are so many mentions of Alentejo, it made me think of you. It's fun to think: yeah I know somebody living there!

    my best wishing for a Happy Easter dear Val : )

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  23. Val, would you believe that after sending you an email saying I couldn't comment as it wouldn't open, its now opened!!!! Sods law they call it. Anyway nice you're back with a lovely post. Suzy xx

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  24. Hi Val
    I am not sure where you could get wood wick candles in Portugal but maybe you could buy them online.
    Cheers Shell

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  25. Hi Val

    Are you still blogging? You seem to have disappeared from my blog roll again?
    Hope all is well

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  26. Val, you are right..Mother Nature does miracles with her flowers especially after all the rain you said you had. I love it when I cut back and the plants re-bloom to cheer the yard (and me) up again!...:)JP

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