Spring Has Awakened at Quinta da Carlota
There is a moment, somewhere between the first almond blossoms and the smell of warm earth after the rain, when everything changes at Quinta da Carlota. The silence takes on a different tone, it is no longer the stillness of winter, but a whisper: new leaves opening, bees returning to the orchards, the footsteps of someone coming to gather something for the day’s basket.
April and May are that moment. And those who visit us during these months realise, from their very first walk across our 20 hectares, that spring does not arrive gradually, it happens all at once.
What is growing now
Our gardens are at one of their most generous moments of the year. This week, between greenhouses, beds and open-air rows, you may find us harvesting:
- Vegetables and leaves: leeks, beetroot, peas, asparagus, spinach, broad beans, green beans, rocket, tomatoes, Portuguese cabbage and lettuce freshly cut early in the morning.
- Aromatic herbs: chives, coriander, parsley and sage the herb bed is, without doubt, the most fragrant corner of the Quinta in April.
- Fruit: the first strawberries beginning to appear, as well as bananas, mangoes, oranges, avocados, lemons and limes.
Many of these products vary from week to week. In April and May, each day in the garden is slightly different from the one before, and that is perhaps the most honest way to measure the passing of time.
A basket at the entrance: and a gesture that defines the house
Rather than placing our garden on a menu, we have chosen to share it in another way: every day, we prepare a basket of fruit from the Quinta, available to our guests free of charge. It is there for anyone who would like to take a mango to their room, a strawberry on the way to the pool, or an orange for the late afternoon on the veranda.
It is a small gesture. But perhaps it is the most natural way to explain who we are: a country house where what grows on our doorstep is yours too.
Walk through the garden: that is what it is there for
We invite all our guests to wander through the orchards and gardens. In April, it is an especially beautiful walk: asparagus reaching for the sky, broad beans in abundance, strawberry plants beginning to turn red, sage scenting the air. If you would like to pick something to take back to your room, just let us know, there is always something ready to be gathered.
For those travelling with children, this is often one of the most memorable parts of their stay. The first time a child realises that tomatoes grow on a branch, and not on a shelf, is a lovely thing to witness.
A meal made to order: if you ask
Quinta da Carlota does not offer a daily main meal service. But we do make this available on request, preparing a meal with the produce of the day. At this time of year, a meal truly “built from the garden” might include a delicate asparagus soup with chives, a rocket, beetroot and strawberry salad, broad beans sautéed with sage and lemon, or a spinach rice dish with a freshly cracked morning egg. Everything that reaches the plate has been picked only a few hours earlier.
All you need to do is let us know a little in advance, ideally when booking or on arrival, so that D. Graça can prepare your meal.
Come before summer arrives
April and May are, probably, the two most beautiful months of the year at the Quinta. The garden is at its peak, the days are long enough for walks until late afternoon, and the heavier heat of summer, the kind that calls for shade and a pool, has not yet settled in.
If you are thinking about a countryside escape to the Oeste region, this is our invitation. Bring good shoes, an appetite for the outdoors, and a little space in your basket to take something back with you. Spring is waiting outside. Book your spring stay directly on our website.
