Fifty Grades of Shade
We have recently been sent a heavy humid heat wave from the African land expanse. The Agencia Estatal de Meteorología has seen itself prompted to issue a Yellow Alert warning of […]
The Posidonia Seagrass Crisis
The Posidonia oceanica sea grass, also known as Neptune Grass, is under threat. This marine plant is of an utmost importance to the coastal ecosystem of the Mediterranean Sea and […]
An Early Summer Heat Wave
AEMet, Spain’s Meteorological Institute, has given a weather alert concerning an Ola de Calor, a heat wave. That’s early. The big Summer heat wave normally comes around July 20th, give […]
The Enchanting Flowers of the Pomegranate
According to legend, the pomegranate (Punica granatum) grew in the garden of Eden. The pomegranate is a great and versatile fruit; it has been cultivated and naturalised in the Mediterranean region […]
Oranges and Sunshine
When we first came to Mallorca, it was one of our first ambitions to have a lemon tree in our garden. We pretty soon succeeded in planting our very own […]
The Mallorcan Bindweed
The Mallorcan Bindweed (Convolvulus valentinus) is an exquisite plant with a rather pretty flower. The bindweed is a hermaphrodite plant which usually comes with a blue flower but, occasionally can also be pink as […]
The Salt of the Earth
I have decided to give up on alcohol, well, almost. There will be no more spirits from now on, no more Cava, no more cocktails, no spritzers, no highballs, no […]
Flower Power
The Fira de ses Flors in Costitx is a bit of a misnomer. More appropriately, it should rather be called a fair of flowers, plants, trees, shrubs, herbs, grasses, ferns […]
Wild Gladioluses
One of my many Mallorcan delights is a small and delicate wild flower with up to twelve soft purple florets. They are wild gladioluses (Gladiolus italicus), also known as Common […]
Pruning the Vines
Out there in Mallorca’s vineyards, this year’s first young shoots have appeared. The grapes will start to form in May and will grow and ripen over the Summer, before the […]
Wild Flowers
If you have lived in Mallorca for a number of years, say ten or even longer, you will not fail to have noticed that there are certain patterns, be that cycles […]
The Art of Grafting
I am continually amazed about the cleverness and competence of Mallorcan farmers. Agriculture on the island may be on a historic low and in continuous decline but, the few pagesos […]
Les Fleurs du Mel
I am not trying to quote Charles Baudelaire today. The blossoming tree photo has nothing to do with his Fleurs du Mal. Instead, the tree flowers of spring attract bees and […]
24 Hours in the Life of an Island
(near Felanitx, at 00:40:23) Twenty-eight years ago today, I orchestrated an exciting photo event in Los Angeles, California, in collaboration with one Red Saunders. Together, we edited the book that […]
Delightful Pear Trees in Bloom
I sometimes wonder whether I like the first Mallorcan Springtime better than the second one, or the other way round. The first Primavera would be in January/February with half the […]