Category: Plants
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Coronilla valentina subsp. glauca Citrina
This subspecies of Coronilla valentina has pale yellow, scented flowers from January through April. It is a small (about 100x100cm), evergreen Mediterranean shrub, at home in brushy, dry habitats such as the garrigue. It needs well-drained soil and can take half-shade. It is hardy to -15℃ but likes warm and sheltered conditions. I’ve planted it…
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Lobularia maritima
Another one of those seemingly boring little things that turn out to be “superplants” in the dry garden. Lobularia maritima is a Mediterranean native and a fast-growing, long-blooming ground cover with small white or purple, honey-scented flowers. In my garden, depending on location, they bloom in the spring before going dry in the summer (can…
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The Potager in Winter: Cabbage & Co.
Cabbage works like a charm here – at least if planted over the winter. I usually plant cauliflower and Brussel sprouts in early or late fall. They’re just fine with colder temperatures and as soon as the weather gets warmer you can watch them grow bigger by the day. Last year I planted a little…
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Jasminum mesnyi
When we moved in last summer, it took some time for me to discover the large Jasminum mesnyi because it was well hidden behind a thick Eleagnus hedge. It had been planted up on the retaining wall between the garden and the neighbors lower back terraces. It had apparently never been trimmed and was hanging…
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Vinca minor / major
Periwinkle as ground cover Vinca has always been a “must-have” for me. I love it for its shiny dark green leaves and the bright blue, purple, or white “pinwheel” flowers, appearing between February and May and for some varieties again in late summer. In the front garden near the entrance portal are some Eleagnus and…
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The Potager in Winter: Lamb’s Lettuce & Fedia
Growing vegetables during the Mediterranean winter is as easy as sowing/planting in October/November and harvesting from January. Last fall I sowed sugar snap peas, cima di rapa, wild chicory, salsify, purple cauliflower, radiccio, lattughino, lamb’s lettuce and fedia etc. Lamb’s lettuce is one of the easiest and most satisfying lettuce crops – it’s not prone…