[medit-plants] Re: Introducing Rosie from Portugal

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Rosie!

Your orchid looks like a circus clown!  Love it!

Also remember your wonderful property and natural pond. So beautiful.

Cheers,

Bracey

San Jose CA

Hello everyone,

First of all, well done to Sean for getting things going again. Despite the many other med gardening temptations open to us on the internet I think this list could be a great way of keeping in touch.

I live in the south west of Europe in the Algarve region of Portugal. We have a lively and informal group of med gardening enthusiasts which has grown out of the original Med Garden Society branch. Twice a year we hold large fund raising garden fair type events open to the public and so had to register our own association here to have the legal and financial status necessary to continue. We usually attract over 1,000 people to our main autumn fair which has 12 to 18 plant nurseries selling plants as well free talks and other gardening related activities. Currently we have a new project for a Botanic Demonstration Garden showing the native flora of the Barrocal region.

The Algarve has a classic winter wet/summer dry climate with six to seven months each year with no rain, and little to no frost. We reckon about a Zone 9/10 USA hardiness table.  Our own garden is old farmland (1 ½ Ha) in the eastern Algarve, classic Barrocal (chalky clay) with a natural swimming pond and fabulous old carob, olive and almond trees. Just now we have the start of the wildflowers and today we went on our first orchid hunt, always exciting, so I have attached one or two pics.

If ever you are nearby, come and see us. More info on our web site www.mediterraneangardeningportugal.org  and

Facebook  Mediterranean Gardeners – Portugal  https://www.facebook.com/MedGardenersPortugal?fref=ts

Hope this is OK for a starter, let me know if I have overloaded the system !

Rosie Peddle