After years of enduring Ireland’s damp and chilly winters, Brian and I decided to try something different. In 20219, we bought a villa in the picturesque town of Mijas, Spain. It was a bold move for a couple so deeply rooted in Ireland, but the prospect of sunny winters and a change of scenery was too tempting to resist.
Settling into life in Spain came with its adjustments. The warm climate, slower pace, and vibrant local culture were pretty similar to Connemara but there was a language barrier. Lots,of English and Irish pats which became great over time but I missed the familiarity of home and to be honest, we wanted Spanish life, not expat life… To bridge the gap, I decided to recreate a piece of Ireland in my Spanish garden. My mission was to see if any of my beloved Irish plants could thrive in this completely different environment. My daughter and her new husband decided to pay a visit (you get a lot of those..) so i insisted they went to our Connemara house and took some cuttings from my favourite plants.
At first, the results were mixed. The bog rosemary refused to cooperate, wilting in the heat despite my best efforts. But the fuchsia, ever resilient, thrived and became a star of the garden. Encouraged, I experimented further, planting wild thyme and hardy lavender alongside Mediterranean natives like bougainvillaea. The mix brought a sense of home to our new space. Bougainvillea would not survive back home though. It’s not hardy enough and to be honest, i’m glad. It sheds petals like a hairy old dog. it’s a real pain sweeping them up.
Brian, on the other hand, quickly embraced Spanish life. He loved the relaxed rhythm of the mornings, the long lunches, and the friendly neighbours who would often drop by with fresh oranges or a bottle of wine. We became regulars at the local marketand even tried hour hand at paella-making, with hilarious results. It’s not as easy as it looks!
One of the things I loved most about our Spanish winters was the sense of community. Much like in Connemara, we found ourselves welcomed by the locals and fellow expats alike. Whether it was chatting over coffee in the plaza or attending village festivals, there was always something to enjoy. A bit gossipy but hey ho…
Though Spain offered sunshine and new experiences, my heart remained tied to Ireland. Every spring, when we returned to Connemara, I’d bring back seeds and inspiration from our Spanish garden to try at home. It became a delightful cycle of learning and adapting, blending the best of both worlds. Lots of hit and misses on that front.
Looking back, our winters in Spain were more than just an escape from the cold. They were a chance to grow, to embrace change, and to make new friends, try new foods and most importantly for me, dabble in Mediterranean gardening! Happy days indeed.