Since coming to live in France I have had to get used to snakes and I HATE snakes.

We have both vipers and grass snakes.  The vipers are more prevalent than the grass snakes and every year there is a near miss with them.  The reason I am posting this is that one of those near misses occurred today.

But to go back a week or so..  there was a grass snake in our pond, as there was the year before and, of course, one of our fish went missing.  This year we couldn’t get it out as it had found a hiding place under the wood but, eventually it disappeared until I nearly stepped on it.  I screamed, the snake screamed and then did disappear!

And then today, I was in the greenhouse and bent to pull up a weed and almost pulled up the viper instead.  Adri is the person who rides me of snakes, (now Adri LOVES snakes) one on the steps earlier in the month. One in the hall a few days later and now the one in the greenhouse.  For all we know it is the same one who just loves it here.  We try not to kill them so the favoured method is to sweep them up (vipers are not that big) in a brush and pan and let them go in the field opposite..

I hope this is the last one but it is only May and there is a whole summer to go….

 

 

 

 

As I have said all the Rhodos are coming out so I thought I would post a few more pictures

On the continent of Europe gardeners dread but also welcome the arrival of the ice saints.  St Pancras, St Severus and St Boniface.

I The Ice Saints, known as Les Saints de Glace in France, are the time which after the three day period we are not meant to have any frost and you can buy and plant your annuals.  It is by no means infallible as we all know to our cost but mostly it works.

This year the period is May 11 through May 13.  So fingers crossed as I want to buy and plant my annuals plus I don’t want my potatoes to freeze..

The garden is changing by the day.  The rhododendrons are all coming out and they will be followed by the Japanese azaleas.  Here are some pictures.

 

I have 4 tree peonies and two of them are currently flowering.  They are absolutely beautiful.  Judge for yourselves..

I have lots of Welsh poppies in the garden and they are also just coming out.  They add some lovely colour at a time when things are just beginning.And then there was the salamander.  We have always had them from when we first bought the house.  Unfortunately they spray a form of acid if they think they are being attacked which means we don’t want the cats near them (also for the sake of the salamander).

May has begun well.  Warm but not too warm and, no frost.  A huge bonus.  The azaleas and rhododendrons are also coming out and everything is growing.  Winter is becoming a distant memory.

I am so proud of this azalea.  For the last three years it has been frosted.  This year it is truly spectacular.

I usually plant the tulips in pots and over winter them in the greenhouse.  This year these are the tulips I chose.  By growing them in pots I can position them round the house where I can see them..  also no danger of the mice eating them, provided I cover the tops of the pots.  I learnt that the hard way!

 

We have cold nights but warm days at the moment.  As long as the nights don’t get as low or lower than zero I don’t mind.  The potatoes are coming up and I don’t need them frozen.  That is what happened last year, despite them being covered and I had to replant the lot!

Above are two views over the box garden towards the veggie garden (up the stairs to the left).

 

 

Some examples of the blossom now out.  A Japanese quince, a flowering cherry, crab apples and an apple tree.