Sorry to be a holiday bore but this week I travelled from this:
To this:
The journey was hell on earth, packed into a sky-borne cattle truck with a manic four-year-old sat behind a gentleman who had absolutely no patience with said 4-yr-old and probably could not understand why we were not flogging him into submission. I am not looking forward to the return journey, but for now am enjoying the delights of the Princess Yaiza hotel in Playa Blanca, Lanzarote.
Anyway back to gardening matters. I have not yet managed a trip to Lanzarote’s botanic gardens as our excellent host The Propagator suggested, so here are some I prepared earlier.
1. Our new pirate ship
The highlight of the Easter holidays before coming away for the Little Weeds was the completion of their new pirate ship play area, complete with wheel and telescope.
2. Cherry blossom
Our little cherry tree was just starting to burst into blossom when we left. By the time we get back it will probably be in full bloom.
3. The first tulip
It has been a long time coming and here it is. I can’t remember the variety but it was from Peter Nyssen last year.
4. The Charleston pulmonaria
Last year I helped clear a bed of irises at Charleston which were being strangled by pulmonaria and I got to take some of it home. It had become lost in the long grass where I originally planted it so this week I dug it up and replanted it in the partial shade border under our west-facing fence.
And a couple of updates from our holiday island:
5. Growing amidst the volcanoes
Lanzarote is a volcanic island. Nearly 300 years ago the south of the island where we are staying experienced a series of volcanic eruptions and on the drive from the airport we could still see the huge cooled lava flows across the landscape under peaks that look like a child’s drawing of volcanoes. But the Lanzaroteans have developed a way of agriculture using individual pockets created using little dry stone walls to capture rainwater which means they are able to grow vines and make fairly decent wine.
6. Hotel horticulture
Lanzarote, which has no natural source of fresh water, relies on collecting rainwater and desalination, which makes the rainforest inside our hotel all the more impressive.
Don’t forget to head on over to The Propagator’s blog to see what everyone else is up to in their gardens this weekend.
Carrots and Calendula 
Goodness, the pirate ship is amazing as is the tropical rainforest inside your hotel! Have a wonderful holiday.
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Thank you!
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Feeling very envious of the limpid blue skies. Lots of interesting contrasts in your blog. Hope your return journey is more peaceful!
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Thanks – me too!
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What a contrast from the UK to Lanzarote! Hopefully the hint of sunshine we had yesterday will return ready for when you get back though – it’d be a shame if it was still all grey and dreary then!
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I prefer the blue sky that you have here … Here the clouds and the rain make me want to leave. Lanzarote is a trip to do. (I already know Tenerife) Have fun!
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Thank you!
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Was feeling that we were enjoying beautiful sunshine until I saw your sky! It will at least be properly spring when you get home and you will have lots of tulips to enjoy!
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Sounds like you are enjoying the canaries. We had our honeymoon on fuertaventura. With an 11 week old baby. Can’t recommend that part.
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We can see Fuertaventura from our hotel. Last time we were here we had an 18-month-old, now a 9, 7 and 4-yr-old. Not sure I can recommend that either 😬
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Wow! That is like two Saturdays in one!
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Well you failed at the first word! You’re not! The jury’s out on words 4,5 and 6. The pirate ship looks great. Of course the joys of the trip out to Lanzarote (and the potential joys of the trip back) will be insignificant as your OH repels all boarders from his new garden domain.
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Wow, a slide on the pirate ship – what a great way to walk the plank! I can’t imagine an island w/no natural water source other than rain. As a species, we live under some problematic situations. And that rain forest . . . how much rain water do they have to collect every day to keep it going . . . breaks the mind thinking about it. Anyway, hope you enjoyed your holiday & blue blazes to old farts who’ve no patience for restless kids.
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