These are the weeks when gardeners can get frustrated. The new season is almost with us but the heat still prevents anything but cursory morning and evening inspections of the garden, and the plants whose renewed growth is a telltale sign of summer's end - hibiscus and bougainvillaea - are yet to break out from their heat-induced dormancy.
House&Home Nick's Garden
Create a sustainable garden that thrives in the desert with the help of Nick Leech.
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However, these are also the weeks when experienced gardeners and novices alike can learn important lessons, and when plans can be made that will help to make next season's plot a pleasure to garden as well as a horticultural success.
Some friends recently invited me to their new home so that I could give them advice on their first garden in the UAE. When I arrived, I was met with apologies, firstly for being asked on such a visit in the heat of late summer, and then for being invited to a garden devoid of plants, without even so much as a blade of grass. Fortunately, I was soon able to put my friends' minds at rest. The garden is a smart, contemporary, well-built courtyard with built-in pergolas and tensile shade canopies. There is even an outside tap.
I was surprised and impressed that shade and water, the two most important factors in any UAE garden, had already been taken care of. While we would have to work with restrictions - the only space for planting was in a 60cm-wide raised bed that ran around the inside of the perimeter wall - all the bones of a beautiful garden were already in place. All that was needed now was the right planting medium, a palette of suitable, hardworking plants and an irrigation system and maintenance regime that would sustain them.
A thorough understanding of your garden's peculiarities is essential when it comes to choosing plants that will not only survive but also thrive. Among these factors, aspect and soil are key. It is important to know how much sun your garden gets and when it get it. My friends' garden faces south-west, which is not ideal when it comes to gardening in the UAE. Fortunately, a taller, adjacent building also shades it, so their plot, which should be the sun's anvil, receives only indirect light. Unfortunately, given the strength of the sunlight here, reflected heat can be a problem, especially when it bounces off buildings and walls.
To mitigate this, we decided to clad as many of the garden's vertical and horizontal surfaces as possible with climbers and vines. Not only would these provide extra shade, but the water lost from their leaves through evaporation would also help to lower temperatures as well as create a sense of "greenness" in a garden where plants have very little space.
Even though they will not be purchased or planted until later in the year, we chose the Rangoon creeper, Quisqualis indica, with its scarlet and white blooms, to clothe the pergola and bougainvillaea, and jasmine, the orange trumpet flower (Campsis radicans) and yellow mandevilla (Urechites lutea) to dress the courtyard walls. Not only will they provide colour and flower throughout the year but some will also introduce fragrance, something that is often missing from gardens in the UAE.
Understandably, given their newfound space, my friends quickly bought furniture for their garden. Rather than introducing lots of pots and shrubs that would leave the space feeling crowded, we decided to use fewer, larger pots and to plant these with architectural, drought-tolerant plants including the desert rose (Adenium obesum), frangipani (Plumeria obtusa) and mother-in-law's tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata).
To help make sure that the chosen plants stand the best possible chance of success, the existing planting material in the raised beds, a very light, desiccated potting mix covered with a layer of pine mulch, will be enriched with locally produced Al Qaria organic compost from the Abu Dhabi Compost plant. Not only is this a more sustainable alternative to the European compost mixes that are often available from nurseries and plant souqs, but it is also considerably cheaper and, because it is produced from horticultural and agricultural waste, is the type of organic compost that lasts longer and has a greater ability to retain moisture.
The woodchip mulch will also be replaced with a sweet sand and gravel mulch. Mulches reduce the temperature of the soil and the evaporation of water from it. Sand and gravel mulches work by allowing irrigation water and dew to percolate down into the root zone and then resist its movement back up to the surface by capillary action. If the underlying soil has a higher water-holding capacity than the sand, the water will remain there until it is used by the plants. In effect, sand mulches are like one-way doors that allow water to flow downwards toward the soil but do not let it out again.
This only leaves the installation of an automatic drip irrigation system. While many are available, their effect and efficiency will be improved by inserting "sand tubes" below each drip emitter. The amount of water lost to evaporation from a drip system depends upon the type of soil under the drip emitter. Slowly draining soils can become saturated and lose water to the air before it can penetrate to plants' roots. One way to overcome this problem is by setting the drip emitters on top of a column of sand that reaches to the depth of the root zone. Water from the emitter rapidly penetrates down to the root zone before it can evaporate from the surface.
It is surprising how often factors such as climate, aspect, irrigation and soil are either forgotten or ignored. Whether you have an established garden or are just starting out from scratch, now is the time to consider these issues and to act accordingly. Early successes with plants and gardens are almost entirely a matter of understanding your context and getting the basics right.
Ask Nick
I often see people searching the trees in my local park for fruit, but the trees in question do not look like fruit trees. I've seen the fruit lying on the ground and they are small, sometimes green and sometimes brown. Do you know what they are?
This isn't an easy question because I would need to see the trees and fruit for myself, but if the tree isn't a date palm, then it's most likely a jujube, or Ziziphus zizyphus.
These trees are found throughout Asia and the Middle East, where they are called red, Chinese or Indian dates. They are also grown in southern Europe and in Spain. The fruit can be seen in markets where it is commonly referred to by its Catalan name, Ginjol.
The best fruits, apparently, are partially ripe. Unripe, green fruits tend to be bitter while overripe brown fruits can be slimy because they are high in mucilage, a substance found in many plants and believed to have medicinal properties. Ziziphus fruits feature widely in traditional remedies and cuisine throughout south and South East Asia.
Garden buy: Marimekko Kumina tablecloth
As far as we're concerned barbecue season is just round the corner. What better time to spruce up our outdoor eating areas?
This tablecloth from Crate and Barrel is a good place to begin. With its bright summery tones and bold pattern, it's the perfect backdrop to a casual outdoor dining experience.
Designed by Erja Hirvi, the Marimekko Kumina orange tablecloth features oversized pumpkins, courgette and squash flowers in a vibrant crescendo of colour. Kumina is made of cotton twill and available in three sizes. Crate and Barrel, Mall of the Emirates and Mirdif City Centre, Dubai.
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
RESULTS
Time; race; prize; distance
4pm: Maiden; (D) Dh150,000; 1,200m
Winner: General Line, Xavier Ziani (jockey), Omar Daraj (trainer)
4.35pm: Maiden (T); Dh150,000; 1,600m
Winner: Travis County, Adrie de Vries, Ismail Mohammed
5.10pm: Handicap (D); Dh175,000; 1,200m
Winner: Scrutineer, Tadhg O’Shea, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
5.45pm: Maiden (D); Dh150,000; 1,600m
Winner: Yulong Warrior, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
6.20pm: Maiden (D); Dh150,000; 1,600m
Winner: Ejaaby, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson
6.55pm: Handicap (D); Dh160,000; 1,600m
Winner: Storyboard, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
7.30pm: Handicap (D); Dh150,000; 2,200m
Winner: Grand Dauphin, Gerald Mosse, Ahmed Al Shemaili
8.05pm: Handicap (T); Dh190,000; 1,800m
Winner: Good Trip, Tadhg O’Shea, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
Red Sparrow
Dir: Francis Lawrence
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Joel Egerton, Charlotte Rampling, Jeremy Irons
Three stars
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RESULT
Manchester United 2 Burnley 2
Man United: Lingard (53', 90' 1)
Burnley: Barnes (3'), Defour (36')
Man of the Match: Jesse Lingard (Manchester United)
Stage 3 results
1 Adam Yates (GBR) Mitchelton-Scott 4:42:33
2 Tadej Pocagar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates 0:01:03
3 Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ) Astana 0:01:30
4 David Gaudu (FRA) Groupama-FDJ
5 Rafal Majka (POL) Bora-Hansgrohe
6 Diego Ulissi (ITA) UAE Team Emirates 0:01:56
General Classification after Stage 3:
1 Adam Yates (GBR) Mitchelton-Scott 12:30:02
2 Tadej Pocagar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates 0:01:07
3 Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ) Astana 0:01:35
4 David Gaudu (FRA) Groupama-FDJ 0:01:40
5 Rafal Majka (POL) Bora-Hansgrohe
6 Wilco Kelderman (NED) Team Sunweb) 0:02:06
Abu Dhabi traffic facts
Drivers in Abu Dhabi spend 10 per cent longer in congested conditions than they would on a free-flowing road
The highest volume of traffic on the roads is found between 7am and 8am on a Sunday.
Travelling before 7am on a Sunday could save up to four hours per year on a 30-minute commute.
The day was the least congestion in Abu Dhabi in 2019 was Tuesday, August 13.
The highest levels of traffic were found on Sunday, November 10.
Drivers in Abu Dhabi lost 41 hours spent in traffic jams in rush hour during 2019
SHOW COURTS ORDER OF PLAY
Centre Court (4pm UAE/12pm GMT)
Victoria Azarenka (BLR) v Heather Watson (GBR)
Rafael Nadal (ESP x4) v Karen Khachanov (RUS x30)
Andy Murray (GBR x1) v Fabio Fognini (ITA x28)
Court 1 (4pm UAE)
Steve Johnson (USA x26) v Marin Cilic (CRO x7)
Johanna Konta (GBR x6) v Maria Sakkari (GRE)
Naomi Osaka (JPN) v Venus Williams (USA x10)
Court 2 (2.30pm UAE)
Aljaz Bedene (GBR) v Gilles Muller (LUX x16)
Peng Shuai (CHN) v Simona Halep (ROM x2)
Jelena Ostapenko (LAT x13) v Camila Giorgi (ITA)
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA x12) v Sam Querrey (USA x24)
Court 3 (2.30pm UAE)
Kei Nishikori (JPN x9) v Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP x18)
Carina Witthoeft (GER) v Elina Svitolina (UKR x4)
Court 12 (2.30pm UAE)
Dominika Cibulkova (SVK x8) v Ana Konjuh (CRO x27)
Kevin Anderson (RSA) v Ruben Bemelmans (BEL)
Court 18 (2.30pm UAE)
Caroline Garcia (FRA x21) v Madison Brengle (USA)
Benoit Paire (FRA) v Jerzy Janowicz (POL)
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Abu Dhabi race card
5pm Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic Prestige | Dh110,000 | 1,400m
5.30pm Abu Dhabi Colts Classic Prestige | Dh110,000 | 1,400m
6pm Abu Dhabi Championship Listed | Dh180,000 | 1,600m
6.30pm Maiden | Dh80,000 | 1,600m
7pm Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap | Dh80,000 | 1,400m
7.30pm Handicap (TB) |Dh100,000 | 2,400m
Opening Rugby Championship fixtures: Games can be watched on OSN Sports
Saturday: Australia v New Zealand, Sydney, 1pm (UAE)
Sunday: South Africa v Argentina, Port Elizabeth, 11pm (UAE)
Abaya trends
The utilitarian robe held dear by Arab women is undergoing a change that reveals it as an elegant and graceful garment available in a range of colours and fabrics, while retaining its traditional appeal.
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
Afghanistan squad
Gulbadin Naib (captain), Mohammad Shahzad (wicketkeeper), Noor Ali Zadran, Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmat Shah, Asghar Afghan, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Najibullah Zadran, Samiullah Shinwari, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Dawlat Zadran, Aftab Alam, Hamid Hassan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman.
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
Banthology: Stories from Unwanted Nations
Edited by Sarah Cleave, Comma Press
Manchester United's summer dealings
In
Victor Lindelof (Benfica) £30.7 million
Romelu Lukaku (Everton) £75 million
Nemanja Matic (Chelsea) £40 million
Out
Zlatan Ibrahimovic Released
Wayne Rooney (Everton) Free transfer
Adnan Januzaj (Real Sociedad) £9.8 million
Is it worth it? We put cheesecake frap to the test.
The verdict from the nutritionists is damning. But does a cheesecake frappuccino taste good enough to merit the indulgence?
My advice is to only go there if you have unusually sweet tooth. I like my puddings, but this was a bit much even for me. The first hit is a winner, but it's downhill, slowly, from there. Each sip is a little less satisfying than the last, and maybe it was just all that sugar, but it isn't long before the rush is replaced by a creeping remorse. And half of the thing is still left.
The caramel version is far superior to the blueberry, too. If someone put a full caramel cheesecake through a liquidiser and scooped out the contents, it would probably taste something like this. Blueberry, on the other hand, has more of an artificial taste. It's like someone has tried to invent this drink in a lab, and while early results were promising, they're still in the testing phase. It isn't terrible, but something isn't quite right either.
So if you want an experience, go for a small, and opt for the caramel. But if you want a cheesecake, it's probably more satisfying, and not quite as unhealthy, to just order the real thing.
