This is so Stupid...but I thought I would put it on anyway.

Just in case you are 'lost in France', remember someone out there does speak English...probably.

The Hidden Dangers of mixing French Rural life with too Much OOH LA LA!

It's important to remember that although life seems idealic here in the French Countryside - there are dangers - especially if you let your guard down!

French Garden Chic!

For the French woman fashion must seem effortless - and this goes for fashion in the garden too...... Makeup is worn to a minimum - perhaps a dash of lipstick - but that is all. Their hair is either cut very short or tied in a chignon.

For clothing the emphasis is on the whole look : a bright traditional apron with wide pockets is usually worn. But remember a French woman has her own individual style and does not like to follow "trends."





She might team a scarf with this ensemble, along with a pair of reliable wellington boots in order to take out the guesswork and compliment the outfit!

Walking in the Charente

Although this blogger's Charente garden lies bang in the middle of the countryside, it is far from boring or lacking in stimulation. Apart from the fantastic views, there are many footpaths meandering through the woods, between tended cognac vineyards and rolling sunflower-covered hillsides.

Having more time on our hands during the winter months we decided to write our own little guide to walking in the Charente, accompanied with many illustrations and hand-drawn maps.

Much history abounds and our researches began 100 million years ago, when a sea covered the Charentes, as evidenced by fossils in the form of shells which are found everywhere. Not far from us, archeologists discovered important finds dating to the Neanderthal period. Footpaths cross routes which were once important Roman roads and cut down into valleys where isolated Romanesque churches stand, for the most part, abandoned.



Amongst the many medieval churches is the Knight's Templar chapel at Cressac, with its world renowned unique frescoes which depict scenes from the crusades as well as St George.


Our book, "Walks & Drives", sets about to reveal some of these hidden charms and history of the countryside and towns of the ancient regions of the Charentes : the Angoumois and Saintonge, including the towns and cities of Aubeterre, Angouleme, Cognac and Saintes. Illustrated with more than 150 pen and ink drawings, it offers a choice of twenty-one different mostly circular walks...all of varying length. Each itinery includes directions along with hand-drawn maps and comment in both FRENCH and ENGLISH.




If you are interested in purchasing a copy you can buy one on Amazon, linked here. Or, if you have any problems, contact me.

Red Red Rose!

As you may have guessed from a previous blog - I just LOVE roses! So here is a rose garden I have knitted onto a tea cosy to enjoy before the real blooms emerge. (The pattern is taken from "Wild Tea Cosies" by Loani Prior)

Seven New Roses for the Garden!

The roses which we ordered in the winter for delivery in the spring arrived yesterday. Subsequently I have been busy getting them in.....not to mention rushing round for more planting compost and manure!

They were delivered by Guillot , a firm which specialises in old roses or 'roses anciennes'. Amongst a huge variety, I chose the rose bush, Hugh Dickson (image source) and



'Queen of Bourbons' :




Other roses ordered included 3 more climbers, and one contemporary rose which they sent as a gift which is highly scented - so I placed it near the house.

I can't believe it, but in total I have THIRTY roses!!!!

Frog Spawn

Okay, here is how the frog spawn looked 3 weeks ago!


And this is how it looks now:




And these are my new summer shoes!

Lemon Tree very pretty

Just realised that I have been doing so much gardening (apart from a break for a hair appointment!) that I haven't had time to blog! Brought my lovely citrus trees out of the house for the summer...the lemon tree has 20 lemons on it and the orange tree is a lot taller and bushier than last year and has buds....go on bees, start pollinating!

Dug and Dusted!

The three vegetable patches are all ready for the spring! I have planned each one out : the large one will have some lettuce varieties as well as cabbage, beetroot and strawberries. The two smaller ones will be planted with lettuce, marrows, pumpkin, onions, gerkins and bordered with marigolds! Yes, marigolds, as their scent is said to deter slugs and snails....Mr Bad Back does not wish to waste his beer on a bunch of slugs - and this I suspect includes more than just the garden variety!

The Healthiest Tree!

The Olive Tree is known as the healthiest tree as it is not susceptible to destruction by fungus and bacteria and was first harvested in Syria more than 6,000 years ago. In Greece the olive tree was so sacred that anyone who destroyed one was sentenced to death or exile! In fact Plato's olive tree is still alive even though it no longer produces fruit. Here is my lovely tree - bought locally as an early birthday present....it is great to think of it living on after I have gone!

Digging!

"A man should never plant a garden larger than his wife can take care of." [T. H Everett (N.D.)]

French Frogs!

Frogs here in the Charente make a lot of noise - especially this little green tree frog pictured here on the window sill. His croaking woke us up even though the window was closed!

Lettuce Facts!

Did you know that Thomas Jefferson, our 3rd US President (1801-1809), grew 12 varieties of lettuce at his home, Monticello, in Virginia. (Image Source)

Lots of Lettuce!!!

Several weeks ago I planted lettuce seeds. The year before only 1 in ten germinated, so based on this I planted many....too many!!! They have all germinated and I am inundated with tiny lettuce seedlings...which are difficult to handle and separate. Yesterday I separated all the tiny seedlings into larger pots and if they all flourish I will just have a huge salad party!!

Beer Does Have a Place in the Garden

"Like men, slugs will often head out under the cover of darkness to find beer, but whereas men have developed an incredible ability not to fall into their tankards, slugs have yet to reach that crucial stage in their evolution. Unfortunately for them, but happily for the gardener, the slugs will die when they drop into the submerged glass of beer you have generously left out for them."
from "The Curious Gardener's Almanac" by Niall Edworthy

Frogs and toads are a gardener's great friend because they eat so many pests, especially slugs and aphids. Creating a pond is a great way to attract them - this gardener's pond is being developed and more photos will follow.

Mama Moves Out of the Kitchen and into the Garden!!!

New At This

After all the physical work I've done lately in the garden...ie. moving earth from one part of the garden to another, digging, lobbing, planting, etc., I have decided to keep a record so that I can see how it all progresses....So today I am going to take photos of all the trees I put in in November plus the newly dug vegetable patches .......... It will be great to see a real difference as the years go by....fingers crossed!