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The Wild Asparagus Hunters are Out and About

It´s that time of year. Cars parked in odd places, the solitary person - usually a man, popping up above a bank or from behind an olive tree. The hunters of the wild aparagus are here. The plentiful rain scattered with a day or two of sunshine has brought them out in droves. Some have their route, others instinctively know where to go. They appear, walking back to their cars, with a huge bundle of foot long green spears of asparagus. And off they go, probably not to be seen for another year - or another week if the rain continues. No matter how hard the shoots try and hide the older men hunt them down with stick in hand, to fob off the spiky old growth, and uncover the tender new stems of wild asparagus. Everyone has their favourite way of cooking them but the most common seems to be in a Tortilla - the thick Spanish potato omelette to which you can add anything that comes to hand - or is hunted down. My one or two shorter stem finds don´t come close to the experienced hunters catch. I...

Cherry Blossom Reigns

Not so long ago the first sign of winters end saw the almond trees in flower, now spring is well and truly underway looking at the magnificent yellow and purple tapestry covering.

It´s now the reign of the cherry blossom from delicate whites to crimson pinks to adorn the countryside.

This is without a doubt my favourite time of year, within about a week the vines go from no sign of life to uncurling leaf buds, everything shoots, grows and flowers like a jump for joy.



Cherry blossom is a sign of the red harvest to come and many areas have a cherry festival. In the north of Spain the river Jerte flows in the Sierra de Gredos and they hold la Fiesta del Cerezo en Flor an this year, 2011, they are organising the III Marcha Senderista del Cerezo en Flor, a walk for the flowering cherry.

My neighbouring town, Castillo de Locubin also hold a cherry festival at harvest time, I´ll post the date when I find out.

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