Tavira

Paul speaking: ‘Always be happy in the Lord, let your moderation be known in everything pray for what you want saying thank you first. And God’s peace, which isn’t understood, will fill your minds in Christ Jesus.’ ( Sandy’s joyful understanding of Philippians 4: 4-6)

Towns host plants and trees in fascinating ways that change the sky line and break a line of buildings. Let us look at Tavira, a town that straddles the Gilão River about 35 miles from Faro. We are still in the Algarve and in each photograph notice the trees or plants.

We will walk  towards the town.

Looking into a blue sky, one often makes out the shape of these fine trees, and often, their green contrasts with the white, pale pink or grey of buildings. Their pine needles held up to the sky on branches, carefully spaced in a dance around the trunk.

These two could be in any town here in the Algarve, as I often look out for them as one does a greeting.

I think they are a Norfolk Island pine, but I am  not sure. Please tell me if you know.

‘ That which interests me above all else is the calligraphy of a tree or the tiles of a roof, and I mean leaf by leaf, branch by branch, blade by blade of grass.’

Joan Miro

Tavira’s Castle Garden has a surprise. Let us walk right in. Is it a Christmas rose as big as a tree, a poinsettia, or something else from my childhood. 

It is arches of orange honeysuckle. It is a dense display that captures all of us in the garden as well as the bees.

There is a story I read about a lady botanist who wasn’t allowed to travel because she was a woman so disguised as a man, she is recognised to  have been the first woman to circumnavigate our Earth by maritime transport.  Her name, Jeanne Baret, she  may also  have been the first European to observe this lovely plant.

It grows thicker and better with more blooms when its roots are cramped. It  loves  sandy, slightly acidic soil, a sunny place, and can grow as a vine, bush, or tree.  The plant can live up to 50 years. They are evergreen where rainfall occurs all year or deciduous if there is a dry season.

Tavira also had tiles that drew my attention with work continuing on renovating old buildings.

The river, town, and for me, the garden and plants made for a pleasant day in Tavira.

Let us travel a bit with the word  tiles.

‘ You can’t climb a tile wall.’

Bill Engvall

‘ Neath tile or thatch That man is rich Who has a scratch For every itch.’

Ogden Nash

‘ A house is built of logs and stone, of tiles and posts and piers; a home is built of loving deeds that stand a thousand years.’

Victor Hugo

Take care,

Sandy 🙂