Beautiful Spring Flowers In The South of Spain
Hello everybody, here comes my monthly post
I love spring and especially enjoy this season on my farm in the south of Spain. I would like to take you on a little tour and show a bit of my surroundings. I have been living here since 1981, that means I have spent more than half my life here. People who come to visit always like it here and I think that is because of the good vibes.
It is a peaceful place, even if it is only one and a half km away from the center of the village. Alhaurin de la Torre is 8km inland between Malaga and Torremolinos on the Costa del Sol.
These grow on the south side
Use Google Earth for finding your friends
Have you ever used Google Earth? Making new friends here at Wealthy Affiliate, I have used Google Earth to locate them. It is fun to fly over and say, look, there so and so lives.
Being a Taurus, I love this season. After a long sleep, nature awakes and shows its fresh colors. As the temperatures were so mild the winter, warming to approximately 20C during the daytime, spring started early. In January the small almond tree was in full bloom soon to be followed by other plants and bushes.
South side of the house with the Arbol del Amor = tree of love
Over the weeks more and more flowers followed accompanied by bird concerts. When the alarm clock rings at 07.00 birds are singing in the half dark. It makes getting up more joyful.
Orange blossom and oranges on the tree
The lovely smell of orange blossom
The orange field, on the south side of the farm, has 100 trees. They were planted in 1986 and are divided into 2 types of oranges. The early ones starting in December are the Washington or navel oranges. Then in March, the Valencia oranges are ripe. There also are 6 mandarin, 4 grapefruits, and 4 lemon trees. Now these trees, still bearing fruit, have started to blossom. Walking over the field to pick the fruit is a delight as you are surrounded by this wonderful smell.
On Friday we make a tour to deliver the oranges to our friends on the coast and have a coffee with them. They appreciate these oranges as they are freshly picked from the tree and are organic. That means you can use the peel when making orange marmalade.
Some pretty flowers
Get your vitamin D everyday
At about 13.30 we will sit on the patio and eat our oranges, mandarins, and grapefruits. At the same time, we get a healthy dose of Vit. D. No sunscreen of course. In the background, you will hear the busy bees, its sound creates such a peaceful atmosphere.
Part of my cactus collection
My battle with the cactus collection
To sit on the patio is absolutely relaxing and enjoyable. On the patio, I have my cactus collection. Some months ago I gave them all new soil, the plants were very happy and I could clearly see that. Now they have started to reward me for my work with pretty flowers. I can tell you that giving new soil is quite a job.
I protect myself with overalls and garden boots. I also put on plastic gloves which are covered with garden gloves. Believe me, it is not enough as I always end up with thorns here and there. These thorns sometimes irritate for more than 1 month.
Just stick a small piece in the ground and it will grow
Grapevines as sunshades
I have made some photos for you so you can enjoy the spring colors. On the one below you can see the grapevines growing forming a nice shady layer. The old grapevine died some years ago. It must have been perhaps as old as the house, 180 years old. Years prior I had planted many young grapevines to take its place. That was a good decision as in summer time it can get hot on the south side.
Afternoon sun on the cobblestones
Greetings from the south of Spain, Taetske
Photos: private
Recent Comments
91
Good evening Jack,
Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment.
Yes, it is a great place surrounded by nature, very peaceful. I can go to the village or down to the coast for action but I like that my house is a little paradise.
Greetings from the south of Spain, Taetske
You can grow more exotic plants than here in the UK, but saying that the daffodils, tulips, and Hyacinths have been lovely.
Thanks
Antonio
Good afternoon Antonio,
Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment.
Being Dutch I have also tried with bulbs but they never come out as gorgeous as in the world-famous Keukenhof. Happy Meeting with Michelle and Loes, a special Holiday Greetings from the south of Spain, Taetske
oh how I miss my beautiful house in Andalucia. Next month I go to Valencia for the first time in 40 years and I'm looking for a house to stay there. For personal reasons I don't want to go back to my beloved Andalusia, but Valencia is not far away and I will still have the sea and the flowers. Thank you so much for sharing
Good afternoon Catherine,
Thank you for your comment. We are thinking of selling as it is getting too big but it will certainly be hurtful.
Just build a house but smaller here close by as Alhaurin is a very nice area. Perhaps we will emigrate to New Zealand, let's see what the future brings.
I hope you will have a nice stay in Valencia, it will be somehow different compared to 40 years ago.
Greetings from the south of Spain, Taetske
I lived very near to you in Guadalmar, for 28 years. I lost both my husband and brother there and have no wish to return But I miss the weather, the coach of the food and the people so that's why am going back to Valencia
I can understand that very well Catherine.
How long do you plan to stay in Valencia?
Taetske
I hope you have a nice time.
If you feel like it, you can call me on 952410820, best after 15.00,
All the best, Taetske
What a beautiful place. Spain is on my bucket list. But I have to wait until the cooler months. I do not love the heat.
Good afternoon Wendy,
Have not seen you since the 5G post, hope all is ok?
May and September/October are good months to come.
You are welcome.
Greetings from the south of Spain, Taetske
All is well with me, just really busy with my teaching job - happily retirement is not far off and then I can devote my time to WA. :-)
Good afternoon Stephen,
Well, when are you coming so we can have a tinto on the patio?
Greetings from the south of Spain, Taetske
Looks beautiful! We are just starting spring here in Ohio, USA. some blooms just starting, so I am getting excited. Never been much of a winter person.
Take care,
Bill
Good afternoon Bill,
Thank you for stopping by and your comment.
After living so many years in warm climates I am no winter person either. Problem is that with Global Warming Spain is getting drier and warmer.
Greetings from the south of Spain, Taetske
Love seeing your photos! Way back in the 1960s when I was a young hippie, I lived in Nerja for about a year, on the other side of Malaga on the coast. Back then it took about an hour by local bus to get into the city.
Good afternoon Rosana,
That is very kind of you to send me a Nerja photo. Last week we had lunch there as we came back from a mini-trip to Cabo de Gata.
I came to Spain in 1975 starting in the Costa Brava, then came Gran Canaria to be followed by the Costa del Sol. I used to work as a tourist guide for the TUI.
Greetings from the south of Spain, Taetske
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Hola Guapa,
You know that looks like heaven to me Taetske.
I absolutely adore Spain. I miss it so much. Those trees and plants and I can almost smell the flowers.
I have to admit I am rather Jealous as I loved Spain it holds a big part of my life.
Living in Alhaurin de la Torre was the best years I had.
Hey and when is your birthday I am a Taurus too.
Have a wonderful weekend and thankyou for this lovely post of your home and life in Spain.
Debs:)
Hola Debs,
Gracias para tu commentario. Mi dia es el ocho, el tuo qual es?
Thank you for stopping by. Try and fly over with Google Earth.
Greetings from the south of Spain, Taetske
la mia es 27 de abril.
I will take a look for sure it really looks beautiful Taetske. :)