Page 42 - Spanish Insight - August 2019

By Lorraine Cavanagh, Viveros Florena, Competa, Malaga.
Lorraine Cavanagh is the author of the best-selling attitude, innovative ideas and, above all, personality. Vouchers, Soap Nut Products, Shabby Shed
Mediterranean Garden Plants and Citrus, The Zest of Plants are outside in the sun, wind and rain – just like Shop and lots, lots more ……
Life. in your garden! They’re well- loved but toughened and Weekly bio food and health market on
Lorraine has lived in Spain for 32 years and is a acclimatized to life in the hills. Wednesday mornings.
mother, grandmother and hispanófila. Her passions This is a Mecca for plant-lovers, an Aladdin’s Cave of Catch our larger Spring and Winter Markets too!
are plants, the environment, Spain, food and drink, plants - and Lorraine and her team are always on hand Summer Hours: June, July, September, 9 – 2.
and travel. She runs, with her team, a very special to give loads of free advice and help in plant selection. (Closed for the month of August)
garden centre – Viveros Florena - near Cómpeta, Come and have a chat over a free coffee in their Winter Hours: October to May, 10 – 4.
(Malaga), 2 km from the village down the Sayalonga delightful patio area. We are always closed on Sundays & Mondays.
Road or 15 km up from the coastal motorway. First Landscaping and Advisory Service. Delivery within Tel: 689928201
impressions are stylish – the place oozes “relax”. This Local Area. E-mail: florenaspain@hotmail.com
is far from the conventional garden centre – plants Stockists of Organic Products and Neem oil, English Web: www.viverosflorena.com
are attractively arranged in a rustic setting of wood, Roses, a Rainbow of Irises, Trees, Shrubs, Bedding, See us also on Facebook – Lorraine Cavanagh’s
bamboo, gravel, stone and cane. It’s a place with great Herbs, Fruits, Veg, Rare Citrus, Pots, Composts, Gift Garden Centre.

MEDITERRANEAN GARDENING by Lorraine Cavanagh of Viveros Florena, Cómpeta, Málaga
Mexican/Mountain Marigolds

We all know and love marigolds, flowers of field trips in the south western parts of the go lanky. It becomes drought tolerant but will
our childhood. African marigold (tagetes U.S., over 150 plants and Mount Lemmon in look fresher with an occasional deep soaking.
erecta) and French marigold (tagetes patula) the Catalina Mountain range in Tucson was The lacy compound leaves are very attractive
are well known and loved but do you know named after Sara as she was the first woman and the flowers are bright golden yellow with
the Mexican marigold (tagetes lemmonii)? to climb it. The Lemmons first saw the tagetes darker yellow centres. Prune annually to keep
When Hernán Cortés conquered the Aztec whilst camping during their honeymoon the plant bushy; wear gloves as the foliage
nation in 1552, the magnificent gardens and soon had established plants of tagetes can cause contact dermatitis in some.
of Montezuma were plundered and many lemmonii in their garden in California; progeny It is found naturally growing in canyons
new plants were taken back to monastery of these plants were released to the nursery throughout southern Arizona and Mexico at
gardens through Europe. One of those was trade by the early 1900’s and their direct elevations between 1000m and 2500m from
the marigold and, since then, hundreds of descendants are now available to us. whence it gets its other name of copper
hybrids of tagetes have developed across The first thing you’ll probably notice about this canyon daisy though it will also grow happily at
the world. The brilliance of their flowers, their lovely plant is its wonderfully pungent aroma lower elevations. Top growth can be affected
ease of growth and sturdiness and chemicals – variously described as ripe passionfruit with by hard frost, but it will bounce back again
in their leaves, that discourage many insects, a hint of lemon/mint/camphor intermingled from as low as -8C and is happiest in poor
make them must-haves. And being so easy with marigold. Some don´t like it – and deer thin soils. Don´t spoil it too much – rich soil
to germinate and grow, they are ideal plants certainly don’t – but I find it wonderfully and overwatering will make it sprawl. Prunings
for children. refreshing, as do the bees and butterflies! Its can be used for cuttings, they will root quite
But the Mexican or mountain marigold, tagetes other common name – the sangria plant – is readily and it is easy, too, from seed. Use these
lemmonii, is a different beast altogether and apt because its bruised foliage does smell young plants to line pathways or at edges
much rarer so we are delighted to have in like a large glass of sangria stacked with fruit of flower beds where you will brush against
stock these small, bushy and evergreen – quite delightful! Bushy, to about 1m high them to release their lovely fruity aroma. For
shrubs. These are not annuals like most other with a spread of at least double that, it loves those of you close enough to Viveros Florena,
marigolds but perennials. Native to southeast hot sunny spots. Short day length triggers come and smell our marigolds!
Arizona, they were one of the ‘finds’ of John flowering so it is classed as an autumn-winter We’re going on our Summer Holidays and the
and Sara Lemmon, self-taught and hugely flowerer; be patient through the summer as Garden Centre will be closed through August.
influential field botanists of the 1800’s. They it puts on growth. Plant it in sun, or with a Hope you all have a great Summer and see
introduced to cultivation, over a lifetime of touch of shade, but not too much or it will you again in September.

SUMMER

HOLIDAYS!

Viveros Florena
will close on 27th
July and re-open
on 3rd September.

42 Spanish Insight August 2019