Spring in Dubai marks the end of an outdoor life, as temps creep up to the high 30's we spend less time outside, by the time it hits 40c anything and everything that involves being outdoors is an effort and not welcomed.
Just walking from the kitchen door where the photo below was taken from to the garage door at the rear of the photo is hard work and you can feel the sun quite literally peeling the skin from your body and by the time the external garage door is opened, car reversed and door closed, one feels like a shower is needed.
This recently planted tree died off shortly after planting, during my 4 weeks away and after much welcomed rain, it sprung back into life and will hopefully now survive the summer.
The roses have now finished flowering but I'm pleased they actually flowered in the first place and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for their survival over the summer months.
I have yet to discover what fruit this plant will produce, but I think it is a squash. The tomatoes and strawberries have finished and I'm hoping the gardener doesn't yank them out the ground and chuck them away, as he does with everything once it finishes flowering.
I'm leaving Dubai for summer and returning to the UK till the end of August at the earliest, I have learnt a lot over the past 2 summers and every year I have different successes and failures. The sweet peas and nasturtiums let me down this year, but the bean plants and sunflowers were plentiful, although no beans were produced. I've also grown and eaten the aubergines and chillies. It's all to do with timing and transplanting at the right stage and shading from the harsh sun.
I'm looking forward to trying to grow some root vegetables this year, invest in shade netting and an irrigation system.
How's your garden growing this spring and what plans do you have for the rest of the year?
Great pictures. The garden is very neat. I like the row of flowers with the pebbles. Our sunflowers are just starting to get going and the snapdragons are in full bloom.
ReplyDeletesadly the sunflower has finished now, will save the seeds for next year
DeleteThese are going to be most welcome if you sit outside within the evening once the sun has gone down. bear in mind that sure blues and whites show up particularly well within the weakening lightweight, therefore try and use plants with flowers of those colors. during a barbecue space, grow a number of herbs so they'll be simply picked and used.
ReplyDeletewe have loads of herbs growing that we use from the garden, sadly tree won't be any sitting outside now as it is now summer and way to hot
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