Category Archives: Gardening

Travel with Mona to Spain

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We went to Spain several times, mostly to Madrid and Barcelona, but my favorite trip was the bus tour we took around the south and west. I will share here some of my favorite places, mainly Cordova and Seville.

We flew to Lisbon, Portugal, and drove through Andalusia, a region of hills, rivers and farmland bordering Spain’s southern coast. It was under Moorish rule from the 8th-15th centuries, a legacy that shows in its architecture, including such landmarks as the Alcázar castle in Seville, the capital city, as well as Córdoba’s Mezquita Mosque-Cathedral and Granada’s Alhambra palace.

Our first stop was in Cordova (Cordoba). It was an important Roman city and a major Islamic center in the Middle Ages. It’s best known for La Mezquita, an immense mosque dating from 784 A.D., featuring a columned prayer hall and older Byzantine mosaics. After it became a Catholic church in 1236 and the Cordova Cathedral, a Renaissance-style nave was added in the 17th century. 

A new capital

Following the overthrow of his family (the Umayyads) in Damascus by the incoming Abbasids, Prince Abd al-Rahman escaped to southern Spain. Once there, he established control over almost all of the Iberian Peninsula and attempted to recreate the grandeur of Damascus in his new capital, Córdoba. He sponsored elaborate building programs, promoted agriculture, and even imported fruit trees and other plants from his former home. Orange trees still stand in the courtyard of the Mosque of Córdoba, a beautiful, if bittersweet reminder of the Umayyad exile.

Known locally as Mezquita-Catedral, the Great Mosque of Córdoba is one of the oldest structures still standing from the time Muslims ruled Al-Andalus (Muslim Iberia including most of Spain, Portugal, and a small section of Southern France) in the late 8th century. Córdoba is a two hour train ride south of Madrid, and draws visitors from all over the world.

Temple/church/mosque/church

The buildings on this site are as complex as the extraordinarily rich history they illustrate. Historians believe that there had first been a temple to the Roman god, Janus, on this site. The temple was converted into a church by invading Visigoths who seized Córdoba in 572. Next, the church was converted into a mosque and then completely rebuilt by the descendants of the exiled Umayyads—the first Islamic dynasty who had originally ruled from their capital Damascus (in present-day Syria) from 661 until 750.

Seville

This southern Spanish capital is famous for its historic churches and palaces, Moorish buildings, flamenco dancing, and more.

Plaza de España is a semi-circular brick building, Renaissance/neo-Moorish in style, with a tower at either end (tall enough to be visible around the city, these towers – north and south – are major landmarks). In front of the building, following the curve of its façade, is a 500-metre canal crossed by four bridges, and in the center is the Plaza itself. Plaza de España, Seville’s most impressive after the cathedral, was built for the Ibero-American Exhibition of 1929 (Expo 29), along with many of the pavilions in and around the Parque Maria Luisa.

All along the wall by the canal are 48 alcoves with benches, one for each province of Spain, each with a relevant tableau and map, all designed on colorful azulejos (painted ceramic tiles). 

Considered the heart of Seville’s tourist district, Santa Cruz is easily one of the most beautiful barrios (neighborhoods) in the whole of Spain. This neighborhood is home to many popular tourist sites, including the Seville Cathedral and the Real Alcázar, an old palace with stunning gardens to explore.

We spend a day in Santa Cruz, walking through the picturesque streets of Seville.

Going from shop to shop, looking for unique handicrafts and ceramics.

The fans of Game of Thrones will recognize the Real Alcázar de Sevilla as the Water Gardens of Dorne. The incredible royal palace was built for King Peter of Castile, a Christian king and the Alcázar was constructed on the site of a Muslim fortress.

Cathedral of Seville

Also known as the Cathedral of St. Mary of the See, it is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world and the third Christian temple after St. Peter’s in Rome and St. Paul’s in London. Since the conquest of the city, on November 23, 1248, the building of the aljama, or the Almohad Mosque, was converted into the cathedral of the archdiocese of the Kingdom of Seville.

The Tomb of Christopher Columbus and behind the statues of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella
Inside the huge cathedral

A flamenco show to end a long day.

The next day, tasting wine in Malaga.

Last Chance Plans

Love Plans Series, book 10
Sweet and Sassy
Emotional, Sensual, Humorous

NEW RELEASE

A Bad Boy Billionaire story

At twenty, Rick Lambert ran away from the US to escape the accusations hurled at him. Fifteen years later, he returns to settle in Fort Lauderdale.
Flight attendant, Madison Howell loves nothing more than her job. During a flight from Dubai to Miami, she meets the authoritative businessman and his mother.
When people from long-ago cross his path, secrets are revealed, threatening to ruin their romance. Now mature and powerful, Rick confronts his enemies to clear his name, but will it cost him the woman he loves?

The Battle of the Slugs OR Die, Slimer, Die!

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I love to garden but I hate slugs. Spiders and snakes: no problem. Moles and gophers: my cat, Pomeranian, or husband will dispatch those. Slugs are more prolific and tougher to get rid of.

After trying for over a decade, I won the battle of the slugs using three methods. The first method was an accident, sort of. I knew that slugs would die if you salted them. I wasn’t going to salt my lawn or flowers. However, in a fit of rage, I grabbed a spray bottle of cheap (Dollar Tree) orange cleaner with oxy-bleach. Guess what? The slugs practically melt before your eyes after spritzing it a half dozen times. I was positively giddy killing those slimy leafeaters! However, with hundreds of the vile critters, (over a dozen per two square feet), it would have taken forever to hunt them down. Besides, my trigger finger went numb after the first twenty minutes.

This slug fence works! 1/2 inch of sisal (jute) rope on top of wooden borders.

To the rescue: my husband. He said he remembered something about sisal rope deterring slugs. He stapled half-inch rope on top of the wooden edging around the beds, making sure there weren’t any open spots. Voila! We watched as slugs climbed up the sides of the boards and turned around and went away. Of course, by now we had two spray bottles. They could slither away but were soon dark spots on the grass, waiting for natural decomposition.

A slug’s natural predator: wild turkeys!

While these two eradication programs were going on, we had a benevolent act of nature occur. The wild turkeys that come by twice a day to feed on spilled birdfeed (I think the blue jay does it on purpose) decided to fly over my deer-proof fence. The ten or so turkeys wiped out the rest of the slugs. After two weeks, I found one slug. He was trapped within the borders of the raised bed, unable to get out over the rope. I tossed him into the grass. Maybe a turkey will come by for a snack.

Try something a little different this week: HOW TO FIX A BROKEN LIFE

Alternate Ways of Gardening Part 1

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Too hot, too cold, too wet. I’ve lived and gardened in the heat of Arizona, the iciness of Alaska, and a very wet part of Oregon. I’m also nearly seventy years old and have fibro myalgia that causes joint and muscle pain.
I’ve learned to adapt. Here’s one alternative way to get plants to grow.

Fish totes and plywood boxes: awesome raised ‘beds’


Fish totes are the three-foot-wide plastic containers crabbers and fishermen use to keep their catch. They’re sturdy and have forklift pockets for ease of movement – if you want or have to move them.
My husband drilled drainage holes in the bottom of ours and lined each with a pallet bag to keep the initial fill of soil in them. The bags decompose after a year or so, but that’s long enough for the soil to settle. When I needed more area, my husband built plywood boxes and set them on pallets to get the same versatility. I use a four-in-one garden soil mix from a local sand and gravel company. There’s pit run sand, compost, and a couple of other components. All I know is that it’s great stuff.

From my garden last year

I couldn’t bear to toss the weak tomato (left). It was struggling in its two-gallon pot. The ground was too low for me and hard to dig by mid-summer, so I put it in a new fish tote with a few pepper plants. Deer ate the peppers but forty days later it didn’t matter. The tomato plant had grown over where they had been.
As the summer sun moved across the sky, what was once the sunny site in the yard was now in the shadow of the garage. No problem. My husband put the forks on the tractor and moved it (and the other containers) into the sun.
I’ve planted tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and loads of other plants in these super pots this year. So far, we’ve had a very chilly and wet year: only three days in the seventy-degree range. The extra warmth these ‘raised beds’ get has put my tomatoes way ahead of my neighbors’ plants. It’s not a competition thing. I grow for food. Any extra goes to bless the local food bank where they have a very efficient distribution system.
What tricks do you have for growing in your part of the world? Let me know in the comments section.


After the day is done or when it’s too hot to go outside, read a book! Here are a couple of box sets you might enjoy.
Murder is to Die For: Cozy Mysteries
Cute But Crazy – Quirky Careers
Unforgettable Blessings
Unforgettable Courage

Chill Out in the Garden!

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April 11, 2022, Willamette Valley, Oregon (my yard)

In the northern hemisphere, it’s springtime! Or, depending on where you are, summer! Here in Oregon, USA, we’ve had a very long winter. We had snow on April 11 and only last week, there was frost on the windshield in the morning. It looks like I won’t be getting any cherries, plums, or peaches this year. The apples and pears bloomed late, so we may be okay there.

Gardening is great exercise!

What does the warm weather mean to you? To me, it’s gardening season. That also means I need to get in shape. Here’s a chart that should make you happy about spending time weeding and trimming. Need a butt lift? Move loads of soil or compost around!
Before you commit to your garden project, be sure to have your gear. Plenty of water to drink, a hat, sunscreen, gloves, and of course, a camera to take before and after pictures. Stretch all those muscles first, too. I have a five-gallon bucket with a swivel seat on it that holds my tools. Very nice to have portable accommodations. I never have been a fan of the kneeling pads but my chair/toolbox combo with a handle is great.


MOST IMPORTANT: Audio gear! For me, it’s my Echo frames. Not only do they hold the lenses that help me see, these also have little speakers above the ears and a mic somewhere in front. Since they’re linked with my smartphone, phone calls come through, too. Gloved hands are dexterous enough to tap the right temple, and it’s answered. Need tunes? I tell Alexa, “Shuffle music by Led Zeppelin” or Leonard Bernstein, depending on my mood. I wear scrubs so the phone’s nearby in a big pocket.

Tunes are good, but my go-to request while working and always while driving is, “Alexa, read my book.” Whatever book I’ve been reading on my Kindle device, continues. It DOES NOT have to be an AUDIBLE book, either. Alexa’s voice is pretty cool and way better than the first generation of book readers.

Any story that is ‘Text-to-Speech: Enabled’ on Amazon will work on your Echo. You can do so much more work when you’re listening, waiting for an exciting scene to finish. Even when I’m spent and finally go inside, the story follows me. No Echo frames? Any Kindle or Echo device will keep up with your place in the story. Just ask, “Alexa, read my book.” Smart stuff is awesome!

MURDER IS TO DIE FOR: Diehard Dames Amateur Detective Series

Looking for a long read to listen to for the road or a special project, check out MURDER IS TO DIE FOR. This cozy mystery set won’t make you blush (it’s not spicy) but will keep you intrigued.