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28 MAY 03 JUNE 2010 FEB 26 - MARCH 4 2010
Summer plantings
for your apartment by
Clodagh & Dick Handscombe Practical gardeners and authors
PLANTS DON’T get any less expensive nor the summers any cooler so ensure that you don’t waste money on unsuitable plants or lose plants due to poor positioning, planting and care, especially if living in an apartment or town house. Last month we introduced you to our latest book ‘Apartment Gardening Mediterranean Style’, the fourth in our series published by Santana Books. In this book we purposely listed the best plants for apartment terraces, balconies and windowsills with photographs and descriptions under the following headings: 1. Plants that love the sun and are not thirsty – these include an interesting collection of succulents, cacti and aloes. 2. Plants that can tolerate continuous sun but are thirsty so considerably more care is required – these include the easiest annuals for Spain and collections of perennials, climbers and bulbs.
3. Plants that are best grown in semi shade - and there are many such plants to choose from such as hydrangeas, fuchsias and stephanotis. 4. Plants that can live in more shaded positions most of the time if there is reflected light such aspidistras, Christmas cacti and Cinerias. 5. Northern European house plants such as the Peacock plant and Peace lily that can be coaxed to survive in semi shaded terrace positions. Each description includes a clear indication of the plants’ thirstiness, salt tolerance in case you are near the sea or salt pans, frost resistance if in the inland towns and villages and whether perfumed such as the Lady of the Night, Carnations or French Marigolds. By the way, plants are listed in the descriptions by botanical names but there is also a plant list by English names with the page numbers of the descriptions. So experienced and beginner gardeners will be able to trace plants speedily. Veer away from these lists and your investments in plants are immediately at risk. And there are other risks to be taken into account: Firstly the compost in which
Do your bit to re-green the Med
plants are supplied is often good for growing plants under mass production conditions in hothouses but dries out too quickly under typical home garden and terrace conditions. Secondly many composts for re-potting plants are not ideal so it is best to make your own blends using mixes of a peat based compost, worm compost and sand. A good garden centre will be able to advice on the best brands to use. As we said last month, many apartment
blocks could do with more colourful balconies for the enjoyment of residents and passers by. Please do your bit to re-green the Med. Our new book can be obtained from high street bookshops such as Bookworld and Carrefour and if more convenient by mail order from www.bookworld.com or www.santabooks.com. The latter also take telephone orders on 952 485 838. If you wish for autographed copies for presents contact us via www.gardeninginspain.com.
CLODAGH AND DICK HANDSCOMBE are practical gardeners and authors who have enjoyed living, gardening and writing in Spain for twenty five years. Their latest quartet of best selling gardening books are ‘Your Garden in Spain’, ‘Apartment Gardening Mediterranean Style’, ‘Growing Healthy Vegetables in Spain’ and ‘Growing Healthy Fruit in Spain’. They are available from high street and internet book shops including www.santanabooks.com. © Clodagh and Dick Handscombe www.gardeninginspain.com May 2009
A Palatial Paradise THE JAIPUR PALACE is located in La Herrada Urbanisation in Los Montesinos and earlier this week, RTN visited the delightful restaurant, situated within the Monte La Herrada Commercial Centre. The Jaipur Palace boasts indoor seating as well as a fabulous outside terrace, owned by the same people who own the Jaipur Palace and Alhambra Palace in Balsicas. The experienced restaurateurs
also own the Cash and Curry Indian wholesalers, supplying most of the Costa Blanca’s Indian restaurants with their ingredients and situated next to the two restaurants. In Spain since 1999, the family has over ten years experience in running successful restaurants and as soon as you walk into the restaurant, that experience and attention to detail shines through; right down to the stunning table
settings, friendly atmosphere and background music.
ENTERTAINMENT The restaurant offers an extensive menu which includes two lunchtime menus (priced at either €5.95 or €9.95) and an evening menu (€12.95). And with Bollywood weekends, with authentic Punjabi dance shows as well as flamenco dancing every Friday and Saturday
evening, the Jaipur Palace doesn’t just offer excellent Indian food; their entertainment is also second to none. The restaurant specialises in tandoori style cuisine as well as balti, curry, muglai and handi dishes and their Indian chef has years of experience cooking traditional Indian food. Their menu is in English and well set out and there are more than ten different naan breads and 11 different rice dishes to accompany their varied and delicious main courses, which also include a selection of vegetarian dishes. There is an extensive children’s menu which includes non Indian dishes for fussy youngsters.
DELICIOUS RTN started with a tandoori mixed grill which included chicken mint tikka, traditional chicken tikka, chicken malai tikka and lamb tikka and arrived at the table on a sizzling hotplate. The succulent chicken was placed on top of sautéed onions and peppers and was accompanied by a garnish of carrots and cucumbers. The whole dish was simply mouth watering and it is no wonder that the It’s simply Jaipur Palace boasts that it specialises delicious in tandoori style cooking! at The For the main course, RTN had Jaipur the chicken muglai, a coconut and Palace!
almond based dish that has a bit of a kick yet not too spicy. The dish was garnished with coriander, almonds, sesame seeds and sultanas and instead of rice came with several pieces of naan bread, light and fluffy and so unlike the usual doughy and stodgy naan bread that you get in other Indian restaurants. The curry itself can only be described as deliciously tasty and RTN had to resist the urge to lick the plate!
TAPAS MENU The restaurant is open from 10:00 until 23:30 Monday to Sunday and offers 10% discount for take away. They also offer free delivery to areas in the near vicinity including Quesada, Vista Bella and Los Montesinos. A fantastic Indian tapas menu is available between 10:00 and 17:00 and priced at just €4.25 for four dishes and a glass of wine or beer, is an absolute bargain! It is also a great idea for families with picky children or for people not familiar with Indian food as they can try a selection of tapas to see which they prefer. Dishes in the tapas menu include onion bhajis, chicken and vegetable pakoras, channa chaat and potato patties. For more information on the Jaipur Palace please call 966 720 519.
TO GET A 10% DISCOUNT OFF YOUR MEAL AT THE JAIPUR PALACE, SIMPLY CUT OUT THIS ARTICLE AND TAKE IT WITH YOU.