May 2013 - Costa Calida Chronicle

in Spain for 25 years.
Starting
Your New
Garden or
Modifying
an Old One
by Clodagh
and Dick
Handscombe,
holistic gardeners
and
authors living
Most expatriates buy properties in Spain with
a very different lifestyle in mind from the one
they experienced previously. They envisage a
more open-air lifestyle to make the most of
the generally dry warm and healthy climate.
However, this is only possible if the garden
is designed and constructed to support this.
For instance:
* The provision of shade from the hottest
suns and shelter from the coldest
winds show the extreme temperatures
are very different from the average
temperatures often quoted by tourist
boards, estate agents and persons attempting
to sell their house privately.
* The provision of good sized covered
and open terraces for when the family
or friends visit for meals or to partake
in hobby activities or games.
* An interesting network of paths that
do not turn boggy after monsoon-like
rainfalls.
* Colourful perfumed and productive
plants with minimum monthly maintenance
needs, especially if you plan
a busy working or social life.
* Safe for both young and elderly.
* A swimming pool located and surrounded
by a low-leaf drop mini garden
so that it is not the dominating
feature of the garden.
* Cooking features beyond a barbecue
so that al fresco meals can be organised
daily in good weather without the
style of eating becoming boring.
* A collection of fruit trees and facilities
to grow at least a few ecological fruit
and vegetables.
* Thick boundary hedges for privacy
and hideaways for nesting birds.
* Trees that not only provide shade,
but also hide surrounding houses and
possibly local eyesores.
* A challenge for the dedicated
gardener/s in the family.
* A garden that looks great from wherever
one stands or sits at all times of
the year, for with an outdoor lifestyle
you will live within it and not just view
it through rain splashed windows as
so often happens in northern Europe.
* Hideaways for peaceful reads and siestas.
* Areas for children and grandchildren
to play safely without constant supervision.
* Matches all aspects of the lifestyle
that you foresee in both the short and
longer term. The latter is very important
if you are to be happy with your
purchase.
In association with Costa Cálida International Radio and www.angloINFO.com
When we wrote the first edition of our practical
and comprehensive book ‘Your Garden
in Spain’, the subtitle was ‘Practical ideas
for gardens that suit your Spanish lifestyle’.
Some years later, our publisher Santana
Books asked us to split the book into
four in order to expand the chapters on growing
fruit and vegetables and the development
of gardens on apartment terraces and
balconies. To differentiate the new edition of
‘Your Garden in Spain’, the subtitle of the
new one, but an essential chapter in both is
Chapter 2.1 ‘Design the garden to match
your lifestyle’, which includes an easy to follow
self questionnaire to help you clarify your
lifestyle needs. We suggest that anyone who
asks for assistance or coaching in designing
or redesigning their gardens to first read the
book and then complete the questionnaire.
Do so yourself before investing another euro
in the garden.
Our books
can be obtained
from
high street
and internet
bookshops
including
Amazon, The
London Book
Depository,
Bookworld
and our publisher
Santana
Books.
If you are
retiring to
Spain, a recent
booklet
published by Amazon Kindle ‘Your Practical
Guide To Having A Great Retirement’
could also be useful. If you are interested in
a hard copy as a retirement present contact
us via our website www.gardenspain.com.
Page 8
Please tell our customers where you saw their advertisement in the Costa Cálida Chronicle
Sales Contact Teresa 619 199 407 or for the Editor Contact Patti 646 005 017
www.costacalidachronicle.com email: costacalidachronicle@gmail.com