January         Spring starts early around here, new lambs are born, the mimosa is already in full bloom. Soon the swallows will return to no campo.       February         Oranges start falling from the trees. Not only do the orange-fringed streets offer a colourful sight, the fruit is delicious and readily obtainable.       March         A mild month, Nature really awakens, everything around is green, Flowers are blooming everywhere.       April         The storks are returning to their nests, In the vicinity of Alcacer do Sal there are hundreds of them, Feeding in the nearby river Sado.       May         Peaches, apricots and medlars. In short, lots of fresh fruit, that is really ripe. You can share in the abundance of our orchard.       June         The bark of the cork-oaks is harvested, a remarkable sight. Every year the “serra”, the mountains are full of labourers, cutting the bark off trees with admirable skill.       July         Beginning of the summer, time to go to the beach. It is also the time to go picking the wild oregano, when dried it is an excellent seasoning in many a dish. Take some home and relive the scent of a Portuguese summer.       August         It is really hot now. Cool down in the ocean, go shopping or relax in the shade of a cork-oak, just reading a book and enjoying the summer.       September         An ideal month to be out in the country. Walking, biking, playing golf, reconnoitering the surroundings. Visit cities and villages nearby. Be active.       October         Time to pick the olives, everywhere black olives are carted off to the presses. The Portuguese olive-oil is of good quality.       November         After the first rains of autumn the mushrooms spring up everywhere, Chanterelles and other kinds of edible fungi grow under the oaks. The local “tabernas” produce excellent dishes with them.       December         Natal. Portuguese for Christmas. It is a family-feast, complete with Christmas-trees and presents. The snow is fake, for Christmases in the south of Portugal are never white.