Bournemouth 1962. Denise moved to Spain in 2000 and has worked as a translator since then. She joined the SUR in English team in 2008 and is in charge of the cultural agenda as well as being the resident gardening expert.
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Gomphrena globosa is native to Brazil, Panama and Guatemala but is cultivated in many countries around the world. It is prized in Hawaii for making leis, in Nepal for making garlands to celebrate 'Brother's Day' and in Trinidad the flowers are valued
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The Virginia cup plant or Silphium perfoliatum, also commonly called Roisin Weed, will reach about two metres tall once fully grown. It has a habit of sprawling through the border with the flowers peering over the top of other plants unless is it ade
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Commonly called Safflower or false saffron, Carthamus (Cártamo in Spanish) is an attractive addition to the garden. It is also highly valued commercially for the oil from its seeds which is richer in unsaturated fats than olive oil. The flowers ha
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Ligustrum japonicum 'Recurvifolium', or wavy leaf privet, is a hardy shrub or small tree. It is an evergreen with glossy, dark-green leaves which have wavy edges. The curled leaves are slightly lighter underneath and give the effect of movement, a fa
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Cladastris is a genus of nine trees, eight which are native to Asia and one to America. Cladastris kentuckea from the US is a small to medium sized deciduous tree, 10 to 12 metres tall when fully grown, and with a rounded crown between 8 to 10 metres
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Malaga Peter Doig Malaga. Until 25 June, Centro de Arte Contemporáneo. 'Studiofilmclub' is an exhibition by Scottish artist Peter Doig. It consists of posters created by the artist advertising films for his cineclub in Trinidad and Tobago. P
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Malaga The Wall Bar Malaga. Hotel Vincci Posada del Patio, 11pm, entry free. 23 June. Susan Valery and Adrian Lombardi. Jazz and vocals. 24 June. Eva Jimenez and Joan Masana. 30 June. Son de Oro. Modern neo jazz pop with vocals from Estíba
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Fuchsias should be showing lots of new growth if you remembered to cut them back hard this spring. To keep the new growth bushy and to encourage lots of flowers, trim back the stems to three or four sets of leaves. If you didn't cut them back earlier
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Oenothera is a member of the Onagraceaea family, commonly known as Evening Primrose. The most well-known evening primroses have yellow flowers but O. speciosa has delicate pale pink blooms which attract lots of pollinating insects. The blooms of most
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Pimelea ferruginea, or the rosy rice flower, is native to Australia and New Zealand. Pimelea is a genus with around 80 species in the Thymelaeaceae family; a group that includes the heavily scented shrub Daphne. Unfortunately the Pimelea is hardly sc
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1) Use nappies to line flower pots; apparently the adult ones are best as they contain tiny beads that absorb liquid and turn it into a gel, thus conserving water for the plant to take up as it needs it. 2) Mix potting compost with cat litter (this
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Polygala myrtifolia, commonly called the myrtle-leaf milkwort or September bush (La Lechera del Cabo in Spanish), is native to South Africa. It is a member of the Polygalaceae family (milkworts) which has 17 genera and approximately 950 species. P
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Digitalis obscura, commonly known as the sunset foxglove or willow leaved foxglove, is native to southern and eastern Spain and Morocco. In Spanish it is known as 'brugía', 'dedalera negra' and 'hierba de las úlceras'. The flowers are unmistakably
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Myoporum parvifolium is also known as Creeping Boobialla, a name given to a similar-looking plant by the aboriginal people of Australia but adopted for this dwarf shrub. It is a member of the Scrophulariaceae family (figworts) which includes around 6
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Last week I mentioned using an insecticide called Bt spray. It contains Bacillus thuringiensis which is toxic to pests but won't harm bees; they're immune according to planetbee.org. Most shop-bought chemical sprays, even some of the ones purporting
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Marbella / Estepona Mercedes López Charro Marbella. Until 31 May. Kasser Rassu Art Gallery, Blvd Príncipe Alfonso de Hohenloe Mercedes works as a freelance illustrator drawing a wide range of lifestyle, fashion and food illustrations, using tec
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Charity fundraising Chamber of Secrets Torremolinos. 13 May, 8pm. Montemar Theatre. 32.95EUR An evening of magic, mind reading, comedy and music. Ticket price includes Sangria, beer or refreshments. 15EUR of each ticket goes to Cudeca Hospice. Limi
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Marbella / Estepona Concert at the dolmens Estepona. 6 May, 8pm. Parque San Isidro Labrador. Los Pedregales. 12EUR. The cello and sax duo 'Electro Experience' (TIN Fernández and Karol Marin) will be performing at the dolmens. Bookings: 675942975
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Marbella / Estepona Pedro Rodríguez Marbella. Permanent exhibition, Kempinski Hotel Bahía. Pedro Rodríguez 'Pedrín', a Malaga sculptor, has an exhibition of his works in the Galería de Arte de Pedrín in the Kempinski. One of his works 'Olly',
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When to feed a plant isn't a direct science and is really down to a gardener's instincts backed up by a bit of basic knowledge. Container grown plants benefit from being repotted in fresh compost every year. However, even fresh potting compost has a
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The Boxleaf azara or Azara microphylla is a graceful perennial with downward arching branches. Once mature it can reach up to eight metres tall in ideal situations but is more likely to be around four to five metres if left to grow unchecked. It is n
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Marbella and surrounding area Paco Vivar Brinkmann Gaucín. Until 22 April, El Cuartito, C/Nueva. An exhibition of photos by Spanish photographer Paco Vivar. La Plazoleta Gaucín. Until 30 April, La Plazoleta. La Plazoleta, Gaucín
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Malaga Ernst Kraft Malaga. Botanical gardens 'La Concepción'. A sculpture 'The Tree of Life' by Ernst Kraft will be on permanent display in the gardens on the lawns next to the pond. The minimalist structure of iron rods is five metres tall a
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Chionanthus virginicus is a large, deciduous shrub or small tree in the Oleaceae family (olive) and is native to the US. It has glossy, dark green, pinnate leaves that turn golden in autumn and long clusters of fragrant white flowers from spring, jus
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The bright yellow flowers of the Forsythia have faded heralding the time to prune. It is when the leaves start to appear that the buds for next year's flowers start to form under the bark so the time to get the secateurs out is now. Forsythia is very
Local
There's no other time of year when visitors and foreign residents have their eyes opened as much to the pomp and ceremony of religious tradition in Spain than Semana Santa (Holy Week). Across the country finishing touches are being made to this year'
Local
There's no other time of year when visitors and foreign residents have their eyes opened as much to the pomp and ceremony of religious tradition in Spain than Semana Santa (Holy Week). Across the country finishing touches are being made to this year'
What to do
Marbella / Estepona Roger Cummiskey Marbella. Until 31 March, The Golfer Sports Bar Abstract oil paintings in an exhibition entitled 'Potpourri'. Benezra Gallery Marbella. Until 30 April. La Quinta, between Marbella and San Pedro.
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Common names for this member of the Saxifraga genus includes St Patrick's Cabbage, Whimsey, Prattling Parnell, Look Up And Kiss Me and London Pride, the latter being the most popular. Although 'true' London Pride (Saxifraga x urbium) is a hybrid betw
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Charity events Animal shelter visit Benalmádena. Benalmádena Animal Rescue Shelter. First Sunday of every month, 12pm-3pm. The animal rescue centre will host visitors to see the shelter. Includes a visit by a dog trainer and vet to answer que
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Erysimum linifolium is commonly called the Spanish wallflower. It is a genus in the Barssicaceae (cabbage) family which has over 180 species. The genus is also known as Cheiranthus. Erysimum linifolium (Alhelí de invierno in Spanish), is native to Sp
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Music The Wall Bar Malaga. Hotel Vincci Posada del Patio, 11pm, entry free. 10 March. Daphne & Nicky. Jazz and bossanova. 11 March. Twin Room. Sonia Veravocals and Josu Jungutu on piano. Vintage swing. Guy Braunstein and friends Malaga.
What to do
Malaga Museum Jorge Rando Malaga. Cruz del Molinillo, 12 The works of contemporary artist Jorge Rando are on permanent display. The museum also holds poetry and musical events. Rando y Ciriza Museum Jorge Rando. Malaga. Until 30 April. Cruz
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If you know that some of your plants are going to need supporting or they'll be flopping onto neighbouring plants once summer comes, then now is a the time to put in stakes. Use twiggy sticks left over from pruning, bamboo canes or metal stakes but b
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Fast growing, the mist flower is an evergreen perennial shrub reaching up to three metres high by about the same width in just a couple of years. This plant is known by two genus names; the most recent is Bartlettina sordida although it was previousl
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There are approximately 600 species in the Ranunculaceae family which includes buttercups and spearworts. One of the species that has become a popular garden plant is Ranunculus asiaticus or the Persian buttercup. As the name suggests, they origina
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Mijas / Fuengirola Artistas Eclécticos Mijas Pueblo. Until 17 March. Clínica Veterinaria, Avd México 21. Works by Sinikka Ahokas-Gröhn, Elaine Carlton and Richard Wood. www.artistaseclecticos.com Mercedes Llamazares Los Bolichos. Until 23
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Music and dance The Wall Bar Malaga. Hotel Vincci Posada del Patio, 11pm, entry free. 17 February. Susan Valery and Adrian Lombardi. Jazz and vocals. Mäbu Malaga. 17 February, 10pm. Sala Velvet Club, C/de las Comedias. Mábu is an indie b
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February 14th, Valentine's Day, is traditionally known as a day for lovers with cards, chocolates and red roses exchanged. Less well known is that St Valentine is also the patron saint of epilepsy sufferers. In ancient times, when there was very
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Marbella / Estepona Emmanuel Janvier Estepona. From 18 February until 5 March, New Longman's, Plaza de Manilva, 6. An exhibition of acrylic and watercolour paintings by Emmanuel Janvier. The inauguration evening on 18th starts at 7pm and wil
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Lysimachia ephemerum, also called Willow-leaved or Silver Loosestrife, is a member of the Primulaceae family and native to Southwest Europe. It grows wild in some parts of Spain, usually on banks of streams. Unlike Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum clethro
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If you haven't felt like getting out in the garden due to the cold winds (and even snow in some areas) then the return of the sunshine should give you the motivation to get out there and start preparing beds for the spring. Digging is the best way to
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Malaga Ortega Bru Malaga. Until 28 January, ArsMálaga Palacio Episcopal Around 100 religious paintings, sculptures and drawings in tribute to sculptor Luis Ortega Bru. Malkovich, Malkovich, Malkovich Malaga. Until 29 January, La Térmica,
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Charity events Concert for Mutiplesclerosis Rincón de la Victoria. 28 January, 8pm. Sala las Musas. A concert in aid of the Esclerosis Múltiple charity features Naiala Narciso, Eduardo Díaz, Aires de Torremolinos and Esperanza Márquez. Char
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The plant genus Breynia includes around 35 species of evergreen shrubs. The most popular of which are the colourful variegated forms as the tiny greenish flowers are virtually invisible. The oval leaves form in flattened, frond-like sprays on pink or
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Flamenco 'Quebranto' Nerja. 21 January, 9pm. Centro Cultural Villa de Nerja. 12EUR The dance company Antonio de Verónica trace a path through the different rythms of flamenco. 'Con Temple' Vélez-Málaga. 22 January, 9pm. Teatro del Carmen. 5EUR
What to do
Marbella / Estepona Magpie International Gallery. Marbella. Until 23 January. C/Virgen del Pilar. 200m from port. An exhibition of art work entitled 'Relaciones' (Relations) by Austrian artist Dana Nowak. Cecilia Noriega-Bozovich Marbell
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Calibrachoa is a relatively new genus of plants to many gardeners; the first cultivars weren't available until 1992 and there are still only about a dozen named varieties available in a wide range of vivid colours including soft pinks, bright fuchsia
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Malaga Gerald Brenan Museum Churriana. Until 1 February. Casa de Gerald Brenan, C/Torremolinos. A collection of photographs of Brenan, his wife and the many friends, among them writers, aristocrats and beatniks, that visited the house in Ch
What to do
Music and dance Malaga Philharmonic Orchestra Auditorium of Museo Picasso. Malaga. 17 January 8pm The Cuarteto Fucco formed by violinists Nicolás Ciocan and Raúl Baixaili, viola Razuan Cociodar and cellist Carlos González, all teachers from th
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Davallia canariensis (synonym Trichomanes canariensis) is an epiphyte fern native to the west Mediterranean region, the Canary Islands and Madeira. Common names include the Hare's Foot Fern and Shinobu Fern although they tend to be used for the genus
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For centuries apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been used as a folk remedy for all sorts of health problems and recently there has been a renewed interest in its benefits, although there aren't many scientific studies to back up the claims. These claims