When we lived in the UK, March was a time of anticipation. We planted seeds and kept them well protected. We watched the array of spring flowers emerge and then die back.

Here, in this dramatically different climate, March is often highly productive and offers bowlsful of fresh herbs and leafy greens on a daily basis. It won’t be long before the coriander bolts and goes to seed, and the spinach etc. shrivels in the heat. Only the hardy chard is likely to survive the summer months.

The ponds bring in so much wildlife. Water is essential to biodiversity. The birds drink and bathe in the shallows daily, and the frogs are very much in evidence. The swallowtail butterflies are one of my favourites. They look so tropical, and seem to relish the buffet on offer in the borders!

The final photo is an ongoing project, that’s already taken a few weeks. When we moved here, these oleanders were already quite tall and substantial, but after six years have become overwhelming. The trunks of some were 25cm in diameter, and they were in danger of knocking over the wall behind them as they swayed in high winds. I’m slowly reducing them all to no more than half a metre tall, secure in the knowledge that they will grow back into bushy specimens in no time. I don’t like using power tools, so the whole job will be completed with my trusty secateurs, loppers, and a pruning saw. All the waste will remain on site (even though it is toxic, it is still biomass and I’m developing a ‘circular’ system) and will be composted until it’s safe to use around non-edible plants in a couple of years. Check back to see progress later in the year!

Still hardly any rain. The reservoirs are perilously low for this time of year. Mulch, mulch, mulch (and don’t lose hope).

Happy March gardening!