http://www.simplynetworking.es/gardening-in-spain.html Keep upto date on information about Gardening in Spain from Simply Networking Fri, 23rd Oct 08:01:00 GMT en-us http://www.simplynetworking.es/calida-3458-66-11-dealing_with_unwanted_bee_and_wasp_nests.html Thu, 05 Aug 2010 19:08:00 UTC <img src="http://www.simplynetworking.es/wmsimages/90227wasps_1.jpg" alt="Dealing with unwanted bee and wasp nests" width="250" align="left"/>The quest for what to do about wasp and bee nests came from a succession of emails from yourselves and has proved surprisingly time consuming to resolve. The main problem was the bees, as whilst the general consensus was that wasps are just a nuisance and nobody was concerned about chemical disposal, the bees are another matter altogether, their conservation being top priority. Finding a beekeeper isnt always the easiest of tasks, particularly for non-spanish speakers, as many of the bee keepers we came across were vey much localized, so the quest to find an english speaking solution is what... http://www.simplynetworking.es/calida-10289-66-11-brace_yourself_gardeners_scyphophorus_acupunctatus_the_black_snout_weevil_has_arrived.html Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:21:00 UTC <img src="http://www.simplynetworking.es/wmsimages/10128agave_americana_marginataB.jpg" alt="Brace yourself gardeners, Scyphophorus acupunctatus, the black snout weevil, has arrived." width="250" align="left"/>The great Agave meltdown. The mighty agave plants which form dense, living hedges across the region of Murcia and are regularly mistaken for Aloe Vera by newly arrived ex-pats face an uncertain future. Majestic striped, or blue agave americana are drooping, wilting, literally melting in the hot sun, keeling over in an attitude of helplessness by roadsides across the region. nbspBut this has nothing to do with the heat, and everything to do with a hidden menace within Scyphophorus acupunctatus, the black snout weevil and itacutes fat white grubs. The black snout weevil has been present in... http://www.simplynetworking.es/calida-7895-66-11-the_datura_stramonium_is_a_dangerous_plant.html Wed, 31 Aug 2011 21:19:00 UTC <img src="http://www.simplynetworking.es/wmsimages/33359jimson-weed.jpg" alt="The Datura Stramonium is a dangerous plant" width="250" align="left"/>The Datura stramonium or jimson weed grows throughout the Region of Murcia This week national Spanish TV carried a report about a plant which is worryingly common throughout the Region of Murcia, the Datura stramonium plant, also known as jimson weed, devils trumpet, stinkweed, devilacutes cucumber and in South Africa as the mad seeds plant. The news that this seemingly innocent white trumpeted flower with oval fruits covered in spiny shells can cause hallucinations, delirium and even coma or death in anyone who ingests them has provoked a flood of calls for them to be removed from public places and... http://www.simplynetworking.es/calida-6380-66-11-the_geranium_moth_in_southern_spain.html Wed, 11 May 2011 09:04:00 UTC <img src="http://www.simplynetworking.es/wmsimages/68786geranium-in-pot.jpg" alt="The Geranium moth in Southern Spain" width="250" align="left"/>How to recognise and deal with the Geranium Moth One of the great glories of spanish gardening are the vibrant colours of mediterranean plants, geraniums being a particular favourite amongst expats becasue of their hardy nature and generous displays of vibrantly coloured flowers. However weacuteve received a couple of emails recently about geranium moth problems asking how to deal with it and more importantly, how to prevent it.nbsp Recognising geranium moth This is an invader from Africa, with the scientific name of cacyreus marshalli, commonly known as the geranium bronze, which is around 20mm long. Itacutes attracted to the scent... http://www.simplynetworking.es/calida-6146-66-11-what_to_do_when_an_uninvited_queen_takes_up_residence.html Wed, 27 Apr 2011 15:46:00 UTC <img src="http://www.simplynetworking.es/wmsimages/63360bees-1.jpg" alt="What to do when an uninvited Queen takes up residence" width="250" align="left"/>Dealing with bee and wasp nests Itacutes funny how things pan out. Last year we were running around trying to find a beekeeper for everyone else and this year we needed one ourselves. The office is a converted garage area, so we have left the external wooden doors in place, but fitted internal doors as the old wooden ones have very large gaps which let in an awful lot of wind in the winter, a location which attracted the attention of a queen bee in search of the perfect location in which to form a hive. We didnacutet... http://www.simplynetworking.es/calida-5576-66-11-picudo_rojo_a_very_unusual_case.html Fri, 18 Mar 2011 00:05:00 UTC <img src="http://www.simplynetworking.es/wmsimages/69000Picudo-rojo.JPG" alt="Picudo Rojo, a very unusual case" width="250" align="left"/>Picudo rojo/ Red palm Weevil A very interesting set of photographs were sent in to us this week from Jonathon, the Murcia tree surgeon, showing a tree which had been completely infested by red palm weevil, yet appeared to be completely healthy.nbsp One of the biggest problems facing those fighting the infestation of red palm weevil is the fact that it is so difficult to detect whether a tree has an infestation or not, as many of the symptoms are not noticeable until the weevil has caused considerable, and often fatal, damage to the tree. All of the... http://www.simplynetworking.es/calida-4486-66-11-picudo_rojo_report_following_mazarron_seminar.html Wed, 08 Dec 2010 12:05:00 UTC <img src="http://www.simplynetworking.es/wmsimages/69467Red palm weevil picudo rojo cartagena 09-11-2010 13-56-43.jpg" alt="Picudo Rojo, report following Mazarron seminar" width="250" align="left"/>Red palm Weevil/Picudo Rojo, itacutes down to you 2010-12-08 At the request of several residents, we attended the seminar given by Mazarron council about the treatment and spread of the Red Palm Weevil across the Region of Murcia. Theres been a great deal of concern amongst the expat population about the proliferation of this pest and the damage it is causing to palm trees, with little clear advice given to owners of trees about how to treat the problem and what to do if they suspect their trees are infected. We have written a great deal of copy... http://www.simplynetworking.es/calida-4485-66-11-red_palm_weevilpicudo_rojo_information_summary.html Wed, 08 Dec 2010 11:32:00 UTC <img src="http://www.simplynetworking.es/wmsimages/" alt="Red Palm Weevil/Picudo Rojo, information summary" width="250" align="left"/>Picudo Rojo, article overview nbsp2010-12-08 Basic information about Red Palm Weevil/Picudo Rojo The Red palm weevil in Murcia, important information for residents Click Red palm Weevil Red palm Weevil, legal disposal methods Click Red palm Weevil/Picudo Rojo For Professional Palm pruning, treatment for Red Palm Weevil and tree surgery, Call Jonathan on 650 911 755 Fully Qualified, professional tree surgeon. nbspnbspArticles about Picudo Rojo/Red Palm Weevil in Murcianbsp 19th December 2010, San javier council continue battle against Red Palm... http://www.simplynetworking.es/calida-4146-66-11-is_there_a_preventative_for_the_cochinilla_del_carmin.html Mon, 08 Nov 2010 23:53:00 UTC <img src="http://www.simplynetworking.es/wmsimages/35354Cochinilla del carmin 25-10-2010 10-24-02.jpg" alt="Is there a preventative for the Cochinilla del carmin?" width="250" align="left"/>The Cochinilla is devastating prickly pears in members fincas. 2010-11-09 The unseasonally warm weather is exacerbating the problem with the Cochinilla del carmin which is devastating the regions prickly pears and causing a problem for many members of the gardening club at the moment. There were varied discussions about the problem at the last meeting, the concern of several members being the question of whether there is actually a preventative measure against the pest. Weve double checked with the Ministry of Agriculture and beennbsp told that there is no preventative measure, the problem should be treated as soon... http://www.simplynetworking.es/calida-3755-66-11-60_million_insects_released_to_combat_tomato_wilt_virus.html Mon, 27 Sep 2010 14:47:00 UTC <img src="http://www.simplynetworking.es/wmsimages/91609Pimenton de bola region of Murcia 18-09-2010 23-46-39.jpg" alt="60 million insects released to combat tomato wilt virus" width="250" align="left"/>Murcian news, the percentage of damaged crops has gone from 60 to 2 percent 2010-09-27 One thing anybody gardening in Spain soon learns is that there are a vast number of pests and problems in the region, many of which are completely unfamiliar to novice Spanish gardeners. Pests out here tend to occur in large numbers, and the word locals apply to these concentrations , plagas literally, plagues, is most appropriate. But whilst learning to control and combat these unfamiliar menaces can be a nuisance and an inconvenience for domestic gardeners, it can be a major problem for agriculturalists, who... http://www.simplynetworking.es/calida-3458-66-11-dealing_with_unwanted_bee_and_wasp_nests.html Thu, 05 Aug 2010 19:08:00 UTC <img src="http://www.simplynetworking.es/wmsimages/90227wasps_1.jpg" alt="Dealing with unwanted bee and wasp nests" width="250" align="left"/>The quest for what to do about wasp and bee nests came from a succession of emails from yourselves and has proved surprisingly time consuming to resolve. The main problem was the bees, as whilst the general consensus was that wasps are just a nuisance and nobody was concerned about chemical disposal, the bees are another matter altogether, their conservation being top priority. Finding a beekeeper isnt always the easiest of tasks, particularly for non-spanish speakers, as many of the bee keepers we came across were vey much localized, so the quest to find an english speaking solution is what...