Saturday, February 27, 2010
ALMOND BLOSSOM
The sun has been making an effort to come out, although there are still heavy showers. It is surprisingly warm for the time of year.
The countryside around our house is looking so pretty now that the almond trees are in full blossom and everything is so green. The olive groves, with the trees planted in orderly rows, make patchwork patterns on the landscape. I love watching the play of light and shadow on the hills.
With the advancement of spring, the birdsong gets richer every day. It’s always a thrill to see a new species for the first time, so I was delighted to see a flock of azure-winged magpies coming home to roost in our poplar trees alongside the river below our house. They are striking birds,smaller and more elegant than the more familiar, black and white magpies. Their wings and tails are azure blue and the adults have distinctive black caps.
Because of the persistent rains, there have been very few butterflies or bees about. It’s not good weather for beekeepers. Orchids, on the other hand, flourish in these conditions and already the bee orchids are flowering along the stony banks and rocky ground of the hillsides which havn’t been cultivated. This afternoon I picked up some almonds which have started to sprout and I shall plant them individually in pots.
The exceptionally heavy rains have eroded soil and caused the loss of a number of trees planted above steep banks. It is startling to see a mature olive trees being swept downriver at great speed. The terrapins which inhabit the sandy banks have a hard time battling against such a force of water.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
RAGING TORRENTS
By now I was hoping that I would have posted reports on several excursions and events in our area but the wettest winter in Andalucia in living memory has virtually marooned us.
The Rio Milanos in front of our house, which we have to ford to get anywhere, has turned from a trickling stream into a raging torrent. Most days it has been passable only with a 4x4 and somedays, like today, totally impassable. Nevertheless, we have been busy with the building work on our new house see www.countryhouseinspain.wordpress.com.
This morning, In nearby Huétor Tájar, the Rio Genil burst its bank and the bridge connecting the town with the motorway was closed. Here are some dramatic pictures of the scene.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
HELLO
Last month we moved from Los Guajares to our new home near Loja and Huétor Tájar in El Poniente Granadino. This blog will continue my accounts of life in Spain carrying on from www.guajar.blogspot.com. Here are a couple of photos showing our house and a view from the land. At the moment we are very busy with building work - see www.countryhouseinspain.wordpress.com but as we become more settled my posts will be more frequent.
Please also have a look at my other blogs - www.margaretmerry.wordpress.com and www.margaretmerrypaintings.wordpress.com also my web site www.margaretmerry.com.
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