water shortage

digger · Post by **digger** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 7:28 pm

there is a shrub… grows to about 6 ft tall with a mass of red flowers. In-flower for at least six months of the year and still looking good through the winter…..never needs watering, just the odd spot of rain occasionally…and is so hardy it grows down the central reservation of motorways here in Portugal. Don’t know what its called but it’s the kind of thing Algarve villa owners ought to have in their gardens. It also comes in pink and white…….. do you know it, elle?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 7:50 pm

Anybody thought about the economic issues......Bore holes during good times mean less revenue........during bad times and hose bans etc...government lose millions in water sales.....up goes cost of water...but not enough..up goes IMI etc...its a real problem.....what happened to long term planning and desaltation plants ..as every well panned country has....I agree its not money but long term corruption ...greed....and apathy...by the Portuguese Governments over the years.........yes we still and will have forest fires..NO plans.....re stocking forests after the last fires ..NO plans....all we hear is NO money....bit like Africa really isnt it....corruption everywhere......EU money flooded in.....OOOhhhhhhhhhh I get mad...

tricky · Post by **tricky** » Thu Apr 14, 2005 10:15 pm

Hey Digger, I'm sure you could do some digging

and find out what the shrub you suggest is, it sounds just like the thing for our garden, otherwise I'm sure Ms green fingers' could give us a clue.

Tricky

iane · Post by **iane** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 7:16 am

Is this shrub not the notorious nerium oleander ??

digger · Post by **digger** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 12:14 pm

iane wrote:Is this shrub not the notorious nerium oleander ??

Yes it probably is………….. (notorious!?)
I’ve done a gooole and this comes top of the list:
http://ag.arizona.edu/pima/gardening/ar ... ander.html
There are different varieties and you can change their shape with pruning….the ones I know are multi-stemmed (unlike the one in the pic)

...............................................................
…….and I’ve found a site for piglet, paramonte and whoever:
http://www.uk.gardenweb.com/forums/load ... 30111.html

iane · Post by **iane** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 12:40 pm

Digger - I used the word "notorious" because in January/February each year you cant move in Maxmat and some of the local garden centres for specimens of nerium oleander (almost always red) (also everyones got them round our urbanization except me

As you say they are attractive, tough, pretty quick growing and seem to need little water.

(Memo to self) - sort the garden out !!