THERE'S no such thing as too many flowers – at least, Estepona doesn't think so, although it has decided to stop at around 400,000 just in case.
Landscaping the seafront in Estepona (photo: Town hall)
The self-proclaimed 'Garden of the Costa del Sol' – and that's no idle boast, given that it has nearly 200 acres of greenery – has been spending its spring wisely, by planting everything from African Marigolds and Busy Lizzies through to petunias and begonias, via geranium, lilac, zinnia, marigold and cockscomb.
Mostly, says services councillor and deputy mayor Blas Ruzafa, Estepona is aiming for 'brightly-coloured' floral displays to 'embellish' the town, and species that will be fully in blossom by around July or August when the majority of the holidaymakers arrive.
A full renovation of the seafront esplanade gardens began this week, with over 20,000 flowers planted along the borders between the Avenida Andalucía and the Avenida Juan Carlos I.
Palms, cacti and other trees and bushes are being planted and pruned, since, as Ruzafa says, garden areas, especially close to the beach, are a town's calling card, and in Estepona's case, the esplanade is one of its most heavily-frequented parts in summer.
For this reason, a complete overhaul of the promenade has just been completed, using 'modern, efficient and sustainable materials and elements' and making it more 'pedestrian-friendly', Ruzafa explains.
With 2,000 new flowers being planted per acre of ‘green’ land, Estepona's claim to be the ‘Garden of the Costa del Sol’ is probably fairly accurate (photo: Town hall)
“We wanted to make it a more dynamic, modern area in line with the general urban transformation taking place in the town centre and its surrounding areas,” the councillor says.
The giant jazzing-up operation does not stop at nature. Ruzafa's team has spent the last month cleaning out and disinfecting pipes serving ornamental fountains, servicing water pumps, and repainting – around 30 of these decorative, cascading landmarks will be given some thorough TLC over the coming months.
Estepona's water features are a work of art in themselves – among locals' and tourists' favourites is the one on the so-called 'El Barco roundabout', named after the blue and white fishing boat in the middle of it which has been turned into a fountain, and which sits opposite the yacht marina.
It was once a fishing boat, but now it's one of Estepona's 30-plus ornamental fountains (photo: Town hall)
To finish off icing the proverbial cake, Estepona is double-checking and repairing all the scenic lighting on its monuments – fountains included – mindful of the fact that a great holiday is not just about fabulous weather, food and entertainment, but about spending it in a place that looks lovely and will make pleasing-to-the-eye photo-fodder.
Spain's main coastal holiday magnets, all round the mainland and islands, work hard to make their beach areas inviting and as 'natural' as possible; even urban beaches can be 'landscaped', with buildings that blend into and complement their environment and plenty of trees and garden parts among them.
Doing so is key to earning the coveted Blue Flag – coveted, because it's prestigious, but not because, in Spain's case, it's unique; the country has been a world leader in its number of 'blue beaches' for 34 years on the trot.
It's also essential for the 'Q' kitemark, for 'quality', and for the rarer but now highly-sought after 'Eco-Playa' flag, recently awarded to fellow Costa del Sol holiday haven Torremolinos.
YET again and for the 36th year running, Spain holds the record for the highest number of blue-flagged beaches in the world, with its east-coast region of the Comunidad Valenciana having more than any other.
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