Penelope is on fire!

Only a couple of weeks ago this majestic tree adorning our front garden was bare. Naked. Unclothed. But within just a few days it has sprouted all of its leaves and buds which have now started to open up and, typical of this tree, started to shed the flowers all around it, sometimes making the lawn turn blood red with its lovely flowers.

Some would consider this tree very messy, we don’t mind at all. It’s a lovely sight and humans, animals and birds love it.

I think this is a “single” Sultani or as they’re called locally “Mohammedi” Rose. It has a very nice scent. Unforutnately some bugs have taken a shine to these and other bushes in my garden and they’re chomping at the leaves and damaging flowers. I’ll take some advice from the botanists in the Budaiya experimental farms and hope that they’ll identify what needs to be done, if anything.

Do you have any idea what’s chomping at my plants?

Remember a couple of days ago I posted that I was ecstatic that the adeniums by the pond in the front garden were budding? Well, I noticed this morning that one of them has bloomed! Happy happy. Love the deep red of this one.

I love hibiscus flowers. There are thousands of them I know, but they all obviously share some basics which distinguishes them from the others. I’ve had and still do have several bushes in my garden, unfortunately, they’re very susceptible to the dreaded mealy bug, especially in the summer, and as the summer is already here (and I’ve already had to uproot and young afflicted hollyhock) I do hope that they won’t suffer too much this season.

In any case, this is the first bloom in the two hibiscus bushes I planted in this location at the front garden. I’m very pleased with its dainty and organic appearance. Love the serration on its petals and that stile is quite magestic too, don’t you think?

I bought this caper several years ago from one of the Bahrain International Garden Shows, I think it was the 2006 or thereabouts. I left it in a medium-sized pot and it did well for a while. But like with everything else, time caught up with it and I thought it had died and being lazy (with a copious measure of hope) left it there.

I confess that after a while I gave it no further mind but fully remember its majesty when it did flower in its younger years. I further confess that as the cats started using the planter by the front door as a latrine – abhorrent beings they are – I resolved to move the plant and plonk it in the position it occupies now in order to prevent those infernal felines from doing their business there. My success in that department was good, but imagine the amplification of that feeling once I saw that the dry twig actually sprouted some very healthy looking leaves!

Now, just this morning, I notice this lovely flower – a day or so old and past its prime to be sure – yet, it serves as an excellent indication of the health of this lovely plant, especially when taken with the second bud to grace it too.

I am rather happy that the Caper has not only survived, but out of necessity, also found what seems to be its perfect place in my garden.

I so look forward to it thriving for some time to come.

It’s really strange that when you observe a garden, or any other space for that matter, and you are used to that particular view, you not only get to take it for granted but your mind disappears some detail and you never really appreciate it. However, I found that if you do frame it through the camera and take a picture, more often than not you would be pleasantly (or otherwise!) surprised. It’s almost as if the two-dimensional view – especially if done well – would make you see it for what it actually is, in all of it’s glory.

Consider this for instance. It’s a view I pass several times a day without giving it much thought. In fact, I didn’t think it as “lovely” as it obviously appears here:

Isn’t this a picture fit for a gardening magazine?

Looking at it now and noticing the beauty of the “tear drop” in the middle; the depth that the Ixora on the left leads to the lovely purple Datura flowers and then onto the bed of Calendulas and onward to the rose bushes below the French windows. Then we notice the gorgeous framing offered by the two plumerias, going through to the two Cassia Fistulas and then at the very back, at the wall, we see the passion fruit climber in the middle and the plentiful flowering of the Oleander is just.. well, beautiful!

And then just imagine this space a few weeks from now once the plumerias are fully clothed and the fistulas have shed theirs leaves and replaced them with new growth, and you will be once again pleasantly surprised.

All of this in the arid climate of Bahrain? Yes, indeed it is. As I’ve said in the previous article you can indeed grow just about anything in this lovely country, but for a short while until the scorching sun put an end to this particular enjoyment and forcibly transfer your attention to the most heat tolerant plants; namely the palms, plumerias and the cacti.

But let’s not dwell on that. Here. Enjoy this view as well, taken a minutes of the one above and is what is available opposite. The one on top I call the Southern Garden; while the one you see below, obviously, is the Front, or even Northern garden.

I do love my garden!

Have a pleasant day.

One would be forgiven to think that in a garden as small as mine that distinct climates exist in its different parts. I know the pictures make it look big, but trust me on this, it’s less than 700 square meters in total area. The garden is divided in three parts; here, you see the Southern part of the garden and it has traditionally been the warmer part. This is due to the neighbour’s high perimeter wall and its sheltered nature too.

Here, the warm-climate loving plants thrive. The two plumerias you see here framing the path grew from almost mere sticks to be the giants they are today. And it is only six or so years since I planted the two Cassia Fistulas you see in the background. The ixoras particularly like this part of the garden, as do the passion fruit climber in the background. The rest, well, they’re annuals of all sorts, the one you see behind the ixora is the lovely purple variety of datura.

Forgive the length of the grass in this picture. It is done on purpose as I have recently sanded and re-seeded the whole lawn with bermuda grass seed and it’s coming along quite nicely. I’ve cut the grass once about ten days ago and don’t want to disturb the young shoots again for another few days. The lawn was quite tired after eight years and was about to give up, which required this drastic intervention. I’m glad that the bermuda grass is taking hold now and I hope that it will bring back the lawn to its full former glory.

How are you keeping your lawn pristine and lush in Bahrain? Do you have any particular tricks you employ to keep it good? I’d love to hear from you.

Have a lovely May Day holiday.

It’s flourishing this year, thanks for my wife’s choice of filling it to the brim with red chrysanthemums

And here’s a close-up of those gorgeous mums:

If you wish, click the picture above for an original size which you can use as your desktop background, or flip it 90 degrees and use it as a background for your iPhone.

I’m happy that the 60 trays of sod was enough to cover the full area. I saw this morning that a couple of slivers are left exposed and will buy just one more tray to cover those little areas. But overall, I’m quite happy with it.

Here are some pictures: