Monday, 3 November 2025

HOYA PLANTS, OTHER FLOWERS, AND NEWS

 Dear fellow bloggers, some of you may have noticed my absence from blogging for several weeks now, the reason being the computer I was using which had once belonged to my late husband, stopped working. The screen suddenly went black and  could not be revived. It had served my husband,and myself well. but it was old and needed replacing, so I set about finding a new computer, which I am very happy with, but it is very different from the one I was used to. Because my old computer died, I needed professionavel help to save what was important on my old one, which took quite some time, but thankfully was acheived, but when it came back not all my photos had been saved and nothing was in the same order it had been before so it has taken hours to sort it all out, but now I'm reasonably confident that I know what I'm doing, and ready to start blogging and see all my friends again. You were all greatly missed and I hope to find you in the best of health. See you as soon as I'm able. :)  In the meantime here is a post I made on the 30th of September.


My new Hoya  plant was given to me by a friend in spring It is a pretty plant with arched branches and although I didn't expect it to flower this year, it produced six blooms at the end of the branches.It really needs to be displayed on a high shelf so it can be seen in all it's splendor, but in the absence of somewhere high up to place it, I made space for it on my outdoor coffee table near my swing sofa.

When I lay down on the swing seat I can see the flowers.


Here you can see the way the flowers hang down. They are not ready to open into the beautiful flowers you can see below.


It is called the Hoya Bella.


The Hoya Carnoso as it looks now having reached the top of the Bamboo canes 

The Hoya Carnosa is thriving and the stems have reached the top of the bamboo canes which measure 65 centimeters above soil and 35 centimeters inside the pot. I thought I was being ambitious to use such tall canes but it seems that they could have been even taller, not that I want them to grow further than I can reach, not at all, and I have started winding any new growth around the canes.It hasn't flowered since I moved it to my balcony, and I don't know the reason, but I live in hope that one day it will.






I have posted about the following flowers before  but only when they are in flower.
When you think of Agapanthus many of you will probably think of the beautiful blue ones, but the white are equally as lovely and bloom later in the summer after the blue flowers have finished. They are also known as Lily of the Nile, and African Lily. The ones shown have still to open their petals and have suffered from the constant rainfall. I love daisy looking plants and the next picture shows you some I really like


These are Ice plants



The Belladonna lily Amaryllis belladonna is another flower native to South Africa.



It blooms in the early part of September and is starting to appear all over my garden.


Superbly adapted to summer drought, and winter rainfall.


It needs no irrigation, and this beautiful pink lily thrives in the Mediterranean. I have to have these kinds of flowers as they need so little attention of which I have little to give, and apart from dead heading they take care of themselves.


Heather is another attractive plant that needs no special care.



Heather is a rich nectar source, and grows well in acidic soil. It's in flower at this time of the year and I love the colour of the small bell shaped clusters on long stems, loved by the small blue butterflies and the bees. 


Another Ice Plant


My favourite Camelia tree.






but there is an abundence of unopened buds.Wasps and bees are attracted to it's perfume.





Pruning is the only care needed with these and the following plants.
The leaves of my two Acer trees have changed from red to bronze.






The Carpenter Bee



Dead heading is needed when the flowers of the Hydrangea have finished,and they look attractive when dried in floral arrangements.These two blooms are new.



Azalia


I usually have a few azalias still in flower in September but they won't last long.

I will be linking up to Saturdays Critters.



Tuesday, 7 October 2025

THE CRESTED TIT


The house is quieter now and I can only hear wood creaking or the wind blowing outside. Pedro left on the fifteenth of September, and is dearly missed. He would knock on my bedroom door each morning and when I said enter, he met me with a cheery smile and a "Good Morning Grandma" " Did you sleep well" or "What shall we do today, I have a meeting at 11, but I'm free in the afternoon."Lovely memories of my good - natured Grandson. Yes I'm the doting Grandma, who's affection knows no bounds when it comes to my grandson and even more so when I know the affection is mutual. The next time we will see each other is at Christmas, but it will soon be here. During my daughter in-law Paula's holidays,(she is a school teacher of English and French,) I saw more of Paula and my son Marco Paulo, and we had many happy reunions, and  I see my daughter Eva three times a week, and Marco and Paula once a week so I'm not short of company. Also just recently I have met up with old friends and we have had lunch together in various restaurants and spent pleasant afternoons together. It is cooler now in the mornings and evenings  but the afternoons are still hot but bearable. The new gardener has planted plugs of graminha grass to replace the scorched grass  spoilt by the summer heat. I collected the grass from other areas of the garden, and fingers crossed that they take root and do well. My time spent gardening is limited and I suffer the consequences afterwards, but what little is achieved makes me feel good. Now you are up to date with how I have spent my time, and know the reason why I am sometimes late in commenting on your blogs and even photography has taken a back seat when I have felt over tired and I can't sit at the computer because of the pain in my knee. The following image is an old photo that I don't remember sharing before,but please forgive me if I have. I hope you enjoy.


I love all the birds of the tit family but the Crested tit, I think you'll agree is simply charming.


A short post for a change.

 I will be linking up with Stewart at Wild Bird Wednesday and Eileen at Saturday's Critters both amazing blogs with loads of wildlife to enjoy.

Monday, 29 September 2025

THE CAPYBARA Hydrochoerus hydrochoeris.

Something a little different for you this week.The capybara is a native of South America, and when I visited the Biological park de Guia some years ago I took these photos of this very large rodent, which is the largest rodent in the world, but I never shared my photos until today. The capybara are social animals, often described as calm, relaxed, and compassionate, even adopting wild strays and abandoned young from other litters. They are very friendly, get along with humans and make friends with other animals as well. Crocodiles and capivaras are the best of friends and often can be seen swimming together, as the crocodile does not see the capivara as a threat because of it's calm disposition. The capybara has webbed feet to help it swim and escape from it's preditores. They live in herds and are herbivorous rodents, they are active at  twilight, feeding on grass and aquatic vegetation. Their twilight activity is likely because capivaras have fewer predators to fear, almost all animals love them. They are however threatened by jaguars ocelots which steal their young, eagles, and the dreaded anaconda, but their main threat is from humans. They are hunted extensively for their meat and their hide,which is made into leather coats. It is a great shame that this kind and gentle creature should be hunted at all.


Their facial features are located towards the top of their large heads to help them see and breathe whilst 
swimming. keeping their noses just above the waterline at the edge of the banks. They can also dive and stay under water for up to 5 mins at a time.


The gentle giant of rodents does not mind if other animals sit on its back.




Their pups drink milk for the first 16 weeks of their lives, suckling indiscriminately from any of the mothers in the group.



Linking to Saturday's Critters, and if you would like to check it out, click on the icon on the right sidebar. You won't be disappointed to see many different creatures from around the world. You too can join in by posting a pet, or any creature you like on Eileen's blog. "Saturday's Critters".

Monday, 22 September 2025

PORTRAITS OF A WOODPECKER

All these photos were taken on the 1st of August. As I have had quite a busy social life lately I'm posting them now as I haven't had much time to take any recent photos. I hope you enjoy them as they are the last of my woodpecker photos for this year


















































Tuesday, 16 September 2025

NATURE PHOTOS

It is much cooler now, still sunny, but it's pleasant to be outdoors again. The following photos for the most part were taken this week on my balcony, and in and around the garden and farm, but the birds in the shade were taken about three weeks ago when Eva, Pedro, and I went to the park. I used the same strategy as before, and headed for the nearest bench in the shade and waited for the birds to come within view. They were all hunting for food and many were successful as you will see in the images below. 


Plunp March Frog

 






I think this is a Hornet or an Asian Wasp as there is a nest in the abandoned cow shed.




I could only manage to photograph the rear end.




Not a good photo, but I wanted to show the eyes and this is the nearest I came to showing the face.


These little blue butterflies are everywhere in the garden.


A Coal Tit taken from my balcony


Not sure, but probably a Buzzard


A thirsty wasp on my balcony


Drying off afterwards.


The Geranium Bronze butterfly is back again






Western Conifer seed bug  Leptoglossus occidentalis


Saw this insect on my balcony


  • The following photos were taken in the Park, all some distance away.












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