Well, a bit of a chill in the air today but no ice on the windscreen this morning. I have been tidying up the pots and terraces. Cutting back the geraniums and binning the ones which have too many geranium moth holes in them. Most will come back and give a good display later on.
Lisa was here yesterday, ( garden help, see 'The Cast' ) her first visit since before Christmas so between cups of tea and catching up on each other's hysterical good and bad stories of our holiday's we discussed the plants and our respective families. I then departed for the warmth of my log fire and left Lisa out in the cold with her strimmer ( like a true friend does).
I have started planting some winter flowering pansies to cheer up the terraces while the geraniums are resting. As you can see in the photo I am standing next to a stand of five pots which are on the back steps going down to the garden. The house is upside down with the living rooms and kitchen on the first floor so to make the most of the views across the valley.
The other pic is of Teucrium Fruticans, Bush or Tree Germander ( Spanish: 'Olivilla') which I took this morning also, and is a brilliant blue that brightens a January day. Behind you can see Palms and an Acacia Dealbata ( Spanish: Mimosa, hoja fina) this will be flowering soon, and i will post a picture when it does. The garden is just ticking over at present but as soon as there is something interesting to photograph I will be on it. Olive trees are pruned and actually the weeds aren't growing as fast as normal. Time to write i feel. Alistair is busy researching his next book and is deep in thought ( well it looks like thought!).