We now take our crop of Manzanilla and Blanqueta olives to a local press at harvest time. Something about feeding the raw olives in at one end of the process and a golden delicious liquid appearing at the other inspired our logo – as being analogous to the creative processes of painting, writing and cookery. In addition we have a lemon, orange and almond grove, the later at the foot of our stepped garden with pomegranate and fig trees.
For artists we have the ruins of a Moorish farmhouse and a pretty cottage, both ripe for renovation.
Our first course in 2002 on The Writer’s Notebook began a programme of week long residential courses sustained over sixteen years with many inspiring tutors such as Mimi Khalvati, Penelope Shuttle, Mark Doty, Matthew Sweeney, Michael Donaghy, Sue Whitmore and many, many others. Mountain walking weeks in the Spring and Autumn were guided by the author of ’50 Walks Costa Blanca’ Gill Round.
Cook and Dine sessions with ‘The Strawberry Tree’ https://www.strawberry-tree.co.uk/gallery are planned for June this year.
A Walkway Above Relleu’s Amadorio GorgeFebruary 13, 2022 - 5:13 pmJust opened, a brilliant addition to the attractions of Relleu valley – a high walkway into the deep Amadorio gorge beyond the 17th century dam. Until this exciting addition, the gorge was virtually inaccessible as it descended from Relleu to the Pantano at Orcheta. Occasional daredevils have made it through the tortuous , narrow, occasionally […]
Excellent 2021 Olive HarvestFebruary 6, 2022 - 6:46 pm200 litres plus with a contribution from every tree in our Valero groves, a bumper harvest after last year. The Extra virgin produced excellent – and plenty over for friends. We went on to an olive oil tasting at nearby award winning ‘Señorios de Relleu – where Hugo Quintinilla let us sample his four varieties: […]
Florentina Irises Spectacular this yearMarch 16, 2020 - 12:05 pmThe rains earlier on have generated a spectacular display of Iris Florentina and Germanica on our second bancal. They are only matched by the African daisies which are spreading everywhere. Irises flourish in our climate – the colony we have has grown from about half a dozen we planted fifteen years ago.This a spectacular year […]