The cruel weather of early 2013 has killed some young almond trees. The nuts hang on, black and velvety, in a parody of a monochrome Christmas tree in an achingly-stylish house.

The valley is never totally dead in winter, though it often looks it. Rosemary is one of the hardiest plants in our valley, flowering when nothing else dares.

5 to remember
el mes – the month
cruel – cruel
la almendra – the almond nut
el almendro – the almond tree
negro/a – black

And if you’d like to tweet a link to THIS post, here’s my suggested tweet:
Death and the #secretvalley: #nature in #Spain via @Spanish_Valley http://wp.me/p3dYp6-5D