We’ve had to wait two weeks longer than usual in our garden, but they’re finally here ….. the first almond blossoms of 2014.
Flowering time: Early January to end of February.
Which flower do you always look forward to seeing in the garden?
Related articles:
A Year in the Life of an Almond Tree – Andalucían Style!
Pretty in Pink: The Almond Blossom of Andalucía
“There is no standing still because time is moving forward.” ~ Greg Lake
I photographed this little gecko from inside a window. Unusual angle, isn’t it? I love how his little toes are sticking to the surface of the glass to give him grip.
He seemed like the perfect subject for this week’s Travel Theme: Still
Related articles:
Contrary to popular belief – YES, it does get cold here in sunny Spain in winter!
Don’t get me wrong – even in the depths of February we usually have sunny days with blue skies, but as soon as the sun begins to drop behind the nearest hillside, it’s time to change into jeans and thick socks ready for the cold evenings and nights. By European standards, the temperature doesn’t drop very low (around 6 Celsius) – after all, that’s one of the main reasons we moved here from England’s perishing winters, but it surely feels cold.
Houses around here are built to keep out the warmth of the sun during the long, hot summer months rather than for keeping warm in winter. Village houses are built close together (causing shade), and with small windows. More modern houses, like ours. might have patio doors and larger windows, with insulation in the walls – but we still have tiled floors rather than carpeted ones and inadequate heating (by UK standards).
Fortunately, on our land we have 47 almond trees, which come in handy when pruning time comes around during the autumn months. Branches here and there are selected for firewood – after which I send my hubby out with the saw.
Here cometh the first benefit!
On another day, the branches need chopping into smaller logs to fit in the fireplace, before being stacked in a dry place.
Thus comes the second benefit of the log fire – and still without a match being lit. (Well, my hubby certainly always leaves me in no doubt how warm he gets whilst sawing, chopping and stacking!)
Later follows the third, warming benefit ….. and the bit I like best – the log fire!
See how much better warming value we get, rather than telephoning a local supplier for yet another load of logs to be delivered.
WHAT???
Other posts you might enjoy:
The Green, Green Vegetables of Home
East of Málaga: The Weather in Winter
Chickpea and chorizo soup with smoky paprika bread
Looking through the lines and patterns of the Royal Alcazar in Seville, Spain.
This is my contribution to this week’s Worpress Photo Challenge: Lines and Patterns and the Travel Theme: Through
We don’t see this beautiful little flower very often because it is usually hidden in the daytime and opens during the hours of darkness to release it’s beautiful perfume. I’ve written about the Dama de Noche (or night-scented jasmine) before, but it made an appearance today because we had heavy rain for most of the morning, and have had a dismal, cloudy afternoon. The poor plant must think the evening is upon us already!
Still, we have had a long hot summer and the ground desperately needed the rain. I know that the sunshine will soon be back 🙂
Anyway, it gave me the opportunity to photograph raindrops on the flowers from An Unusual POV, which just happens to be this week’s WordPress Photo Challenge!
You might also enjoy these other entries from:
East of Málaga 