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 16 June 2014

hot days & flowers.

The Alentejo heat, when it arrives , is one of the hottest places in Europe.  The heat just came within  a few days. Oh boy, is it hot. The first few days of last week, were too hot to even swim. 
Air-con on and fans.  I have been staying in during the hot hours of the day.   The best times of the day, are early morning and from five to around 9pm. 
 On Friday last.  My Dutch friend , who lives on the other side of the village invited me for tea.  We meet up about every two weeks.   She is coping well after the death of her husband.  They were married over 60 years.  Her husband died in February.

Along the way. I took photos of some of the wild  poppies growing on the hedgerows.  Where these poppies above are.  Once there was a whole hedgerow of them.   But the municipality having to keep the hedgerows low and due to constant clearing.  There are only a few popping up around our village.
Over tilling of the land has caused less and less of the wild poppy to appear.   It's such a shame.

Some years ago, i took seeds from a few and tried to get them to grow in my fields, but my efforts were not rewarded.  I think they grow when the seeds are blown here and there.


                                                                  This cactus plant, is growing outside my friends front gate.  The flowers are such a bright orange and are so pretty.   Mr. M, used to love their fruit.  Soon these will be bearing fruit.


 I am not sure about this flower.!  It is growing all over the hedgerows on the side roads. It looks like a cornflower to me..or a thistle.. !!
 These two cactus are different from the one above.  These are in my friends garden.   You can notice the difference in the shape of them.. this one is totally round.
  Lots of beautiful pink roses in my garden.   They really got hit with the intense heat that we have been having. The secret , i am sure many of you know.  Is to water early in the morning or late at night.  They simply love being fed.

 These yellow roses. I had sent from Germany.  A friend ordered them for me,  they never fail to give the most beautiful scented, strong  blooms.    Roses, are the one flower that withstand the hot heat of the Alentejo.     I do loose some blooms, but more buds come and at the moment roses are blooming all over.  Its the one plant, that I have been able to learn more about , as the years go by.   I just love to see them.  I am loath to cut them for my vases.

On saturday past,  Jeffrey my little brown terrier,  went into a barking fit.  
 Near the oleander hedge outside  of olive cottage.  He just wouldn't stop.  I knew there was something in the oleander trees. Thinking it was a lizard and to make him happy, as he really wanted me to see what it was.    I went over to where he was barking.  I couldn't see anything.   I bent down trying to see what was there amongst the fallen leaves.. and as I did so, a snake's head popped up .  His eyes were staring right into mine.  I think the whole village must have heard my scream.  It crawled out and slithered into another area, jeffrey hot on its trail.  It was at least 1 half foot long,  It looked really mean.  What a fright.   My oleanders are drooping , they have so many flowers on them.
I think that many of you will agree, there is always something to do around the garden.!

 Filipe , Maria and Diana , spent some hours with me saturday and sunday.  We all had a pleasant weekend, here at "Quintinha das Rosas.."



I would like to thank all my dear blogging friends who left comments on my last post.  Please forgive me for not commenting back, somehow I get lost in time and space, always so much to do these warm days.    I do appreciate you popping over so very much.

val

 



26 comments:

  1. too funny on the snake scare - guess it wasn't venomous, though, thankfully. :) love the blooms. i love cacti, too. our pricky pears bloom yellow, here, but have been getting a fungus blight the past couple of years.

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    1. It really was Tex. After my screaming fit, I laughed and laughed.. I was just about to put my hand in there.. we dont have snakes that can kill us here.. but we do have some vipers that can give a bad bite . What a shame about the cactus getting the blight.. There is also a whitish flower on the second cacti in my friends garden.. but they are all mainly orange.. Thank you for your comment Tex.. always nice to see you.x

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  2. That cactus flower is gorgeous. One day I want to go to the desert in spring, so I can see the cactus blooms. Nice to catch up on all your doings. I'm sorry about your friend;s husband.

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    1. How I would love to go to the desert with you Jen.. To see those tall tall cactus.
      Thank you for your kind words.. my friend is so sweet. Her son is with her , so she is not alone. Its very sad, when we loose someone.

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  3. The poppies are beautiful! We too have cactus and they have been blooming due to recent rains-I eaten jam made from the fruit. I would have screamed too seeing a snake. We have a number of very poisonous snakes here. Your roses are so beautiful-I've not had good luck growing them myself!

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    1. Thank you Jan..
      I have never tried the fruit.. but many here eat them.
      What a good idea to make jam from the fruit.
      Oh boy, did I scream.
      Its so nice to see the poppies, but not so many now.
      Thank you for your comments Jan..

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  4. Love all the flowers Val, especially the roses. It is to be 91 here today...hot!

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    1. Thank you Sylvia.
      We have the same heat here as you are having. Alentejo is the hottest province in Portugal.
      pleased you like my roses..

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  5. Always enjoy hearing what's going on at Alentejo, Val. We have had a pleasant spring with plenty of rain, but the heat of summer arrived yesterday and we'll be in the 90s(F) for many days to come. Like you, only want to be outside 6-8 am and after 7 pm. Stay cool!

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    1. Hello Sanda..
      We also had lots of rain..and like you its so so hot.
      I have been in most of the day.. the heat,makes one lethargic.
      not to complain..
      thank you for passing by Sanda.. always enjoy reading your comments and your posts..

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  6. Oh Val what a fright you must have had when that snake popped out. No wonder your dog was barking so. Do be careful, are they dangerous? Your roses are as lovely as ever and don't appear to have been affected by the heat. I agree I always water very early in the day and/or late evening. As for the cactus, I didn't know they bore fruit that was edible. The things we learn from bogging never cease to amaze me! Take care.
    Patricia x

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    1. Hi Patricia,
      can you imagine.. It frightened the whit out of me.
      );- I knew Jeffrey had seen something.
      I have lost a few blooms to the heat..but others come in their place. Its so hot here at the moment.
      Yes, certain cactus bear fruit.. here they are used along with the sisal plant to divide properties.. Many people eat the fruit.. M, used to have a long stick with a knife on the end to cut the fruit off, so he wouldnt get pricked.
      I know what you mean.. I have learned so much from blogging..
      Enjoy your week Patricia.. thank you for coming over myway..
      val x

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  7. Always wonderful visiting with you, Val, and taking time to smell the flowers. Stay clear of those snakes. :)
    Enjoy the summer!!
    xoxo's

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    1. Thank you Marcia.. Nice of you to pass by.
      Yes..taking time to smell the flowers.
      A happy summer to you too Marcia..

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  8. Hi Val: Your roses are beautiful even with all the heat. That must have been quite a scare with the snake. Do you know what kind it was or if it is poisonous? It is very nice that you and your friend can get together once in awhile. It is very helpful to have friends. Try to stay cool and try to remember we were just complaining about the long winter!! I'm trying to on the hot days we have had, but now we are having some winds that kind of cool things down, but the fire hazards are so high here with the drought we have been in. Hope everyone stays safe this summer..Happy Monday..Judy

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    1. Thank you Judy,
      I try to keep my garden especially the roses watered.
      We do not have snakes that kill here in Portugal.. but there are some that give a bad bite and one can get really ill.
      Its hot here.. I do agree with you.. we forget all the heavy rain. Today was a good day.. if it was like this all the time it would be great. There is a cool breeze coming through the door now its 9.12pm..
      I hope that there are no fires ...its so sad to see California country and houses being burned.
      I have a couple of good friends in the village. Its nice to see each other now and again.
      Thank you for your kind comments Judy.. stay well
      val

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  9. Things are look good to be so hot, I guess you and he plants have adapted to the climate. Maybe you will get some rain and not be so dry as last year.

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    1. Thanks for your comment Sunnybrook-
      Yes, it seems that the heat of summer has arrived.
      I have lived here so long now, I am used to the climate .. we might get some rain this weekend..but it will be brief..

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  10. Your roses are looking lovely Val - I would have screamed louder than you if I had seen that snake - I don't like it too hot either and always stay indoors where it is cool - like you say early mornings and evenings are best in the summer. Enjoy the rest of the week.

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  11. Your roses are so pretty. Love the yellow ones. We just got some heat today and for the next few days it is suppose to be really hot.

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  12. Your roses are so pretty. Love the yellow ones. We just got some heat today and for the next few days it is suppose to be really hot.

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  13. Val, when t is hot and humid, I am not happy either so I understand your need to stay cool and relaxed!...:)JP

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  14. Oh Val, your roses are simply beautiful. They are a vibrant pink color. I bet that was such a surprise when you came across the snake - Yikes! The Poppies are so pretty too. Do you know that they are our state flower? I've always loved them, and we don't pick them ever, so I see a lot of them growing here and there.

    Try to stay cool, Val. It's been hot here also, but not too bad.

    love,
    ~Sheri

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  15. What lovely hot days and flowers you have Val. I particularly like the last photo, which looks quite enchanting. Oh dear, a snake, I hope not venomous; animals always seem to know when they are around. I do love the red poppies and pink roses so much. Beautiful. Happy week Val.xxx

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  16. It was so hot here for one day last week that I found it too much and I'm sure it wasn't anywhere as warm as it has been with you! What a fright meeting the snake eye to eye! Can you eat cactus fruit or are they just ornamental? You German rose looks beautiful especially in that heat! Sarah x

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  17. I gather the whole of the Mediterranean is having an early heatwave, Val. It will seem like a very long summer if those temperatures continue. Your roses and oleanders are beautiful, but like you I wouldn't want to find a snake among them. I'm glad you had Jeffrey to chase it away.

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