Tuesday 1 June 2010

In the Garden - Part 70

After three days, it is still raining!!   Nigel is very disappointed with this weather and he only has a couple of days of holiday left.  All the cycle rides we had planned have been changed instead to exercise on the cycle trainer in the barn.  Not a very exciting view and it does not change.

We had friends to dinner last night; we had not seen them for a while, so it was good to catch up with their news.  Recipes for the meal that we had have been on previous blogs, but for anyone interested we had Topinambour Creamed Soup, followed by Cassoulet and Salad.  Then the standard cheese course, followed by Chocolate Dessert Cream.

As there is nothing that newsworthy, I decided to take a quick trip around the garden with the camera, in the drizzle, to see if I could find anything worth taking pictures of - even the garden is now needing some sunshine.

I have no idea what this rose is.  It was already planted in our garden in the UK when we bought the house and I took a couple of cuttings.  This is the result.  The perfume from it is quite incredible.
27th May

28th May

29th May

This climbing rose was already in the garden here in France, variety also unknown.  It is quite a delicate pink, but it looks almost white here.

The bees are very happy with this sage, (when there is a lapse in the rain!); Again, this is sadly not a true depiction of the deep blue which it actually is.

The peonies are looking quite sad after all the rain we have had.

These are just the lower branches of the cherry tree, bending under the weight of fruit.  The tree is  mature and a good size, about 6 metres high and the same wide.
It is simply laden; I got quite wet picking this morning. Every time I touched a branch, I got a shower!!

The potatoes are thriving and the young leeks and chard are getting away well.

There are small courgettes already on this plant; a few days of sun and we should be picking them. These are round courgettes that are ready at about cricket ball size. In America you may call them zucchini.

This poor little chap was getting very wet on the peonies.

32 comments:

  1. What a fantastic rose Diane!! WOW!! I love it. Sounds like a great dinner and your garden is looking wonderful. All that hard work is paying off.

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  2. Your gardens are lovely, even in the rain. Sure glad you're getting out in it to pick those cherries.

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  3. Hi Joan and Gaelyn, The garden is lovely and I normally enjoy it but this rain is getting a bit much. Hopefully soon it will dry out but I think it going to be too late for Nigel!! Diane

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  4. Your menu for your guest sounds fantastic! The cherries look so good I am sure they were worth getting wet over. Are you going to cook with the cherries or just enjoy them fresh off the tree?

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  5. What lovely photos. The rose is exquisite. I'm sorry Nigel is having such bad weather for his holiday. I hope it will clear today. Blessings...Mary

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  6. Yes, your cherries are definitely in advance of ours :)
    It is certainly interesting to compare your garden with ours Diane.

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  7. Excellent photos - what a beautiful yard you have.

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  8. Linda, I have frozen quite a few cherries, de-stoned, so far. We have also been eating as much as we can fresh, but there are limits to that! I have limited freezer space here, so I have in the past bottled them in cognac but that can get expensive:) I may also make some cherry brandy, but it is all a case of doing it in a hurry as once the birds and the wasps get in......... Diane

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  9. Hi Mary, we are also hoping that it will clear bit the forecast is not very promising! Have a good day. Diane

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  10. LindyLouMac, I am amazed that we are ahead of you with the cherries, our second smaller tree is not ready yet but I see many trees around us that are. Diane

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  11. Hi Pam, thanks for the comments. I also think we have a lovely garden and I feel very lucky. Diane

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  12. Fantastic photos - I must get a camera sorted soon, I am really missing it. Well done on the veggie plot - it looks great xx

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  13. My peonies will be blooming in the next couple of weeks, so you're ahead of me. We also have no roses yet. Your peach colored rose is a real beauty!

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  14. Some very lovely photos of a beautiful garden, you have. The rose is stunning, I love a rose that has a heavy perfume as well as beauty.

    We are just getting into our rainy season. In summer we get those afternoon showers. Nice thing about rain though...it makes things grow!

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  15. ah, i wish i lived somewhere with a standard cheese course! i guess i could just make it happen here...
    sorry about the rain. but the rose seems to have managed to be magnificent anyway!

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  16. Just popping in for my first visit. WOw, but your photos are excellent - and your cherries! Hope the weather improves for you and you can get out on your bikes. Cycle rides in the barn doesn't sound quite so exciting!

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  17. Hi Roz, I know the feeling of no camera, Its a bit like an amputation of part of the body! Diane

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  18. Hi Marjie,
    It is strange how we are all at different times with flowers. You seem to be ahead with some while behind with others. Diane

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  19. Lyndsey, yes the rose is stunning. We should be having much dryer weather now. The rain is wonderful for the garden but we have had enough now for a bit.Diane

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  20. InnBrooklyn. The French never have a meal without cheese before the dessert. It is an easy habit to make happen:) Diane

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  21. Hi Vera, Thanks for the visit. Your right, cycle rides in the barn somehow are not so much fun, but it is a good way to keep the fitness going temporarily! Diane

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  22. Diane - I think it is because of the poor spring we have had in Italy this year, last year we harvested the main crop of cherries on 2nd, 3rd and 4th of June :)

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  23. LindyLouMac. Yes I am sure you are right. Everything seems to be haywire this year! Diane

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  24. Your garden looks great and that rose is very pretty. I'm curious as to what it is. Lucky you with the cherry tree! Ours died and I so miss the jam, pies, etc I made from it. I'm sure you will be glad when it quits raining. It has been doing that here off and on for the last couple of days but we really needed it. Now it's just very humid. Your yard looks fine despite all the water! Have a good day!

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  25. Diane: You have wonderful flowers in your garden.

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  26. Cassoulet is perfect for rainy weather....I love the pictures from your garden.

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  27. Hi Fishing Guy, Thanks for the comments. Diane

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  28. Hi Bo, Thanks for the visit. I agree Cassoulet is fantastic for a cold day, (which it was), but oh it is so filling! Diane

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  29. Hi Diane...

    That peach colored rose is one of the most beautiful I've seen.. Perfect form... Do you know the name of the variety??

    Lovely flowers! I've grown to love peonies just this season!!!
    Poor little insect.. Hope he dried off..
    Take care,
    Leesa

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  30. I have no idea what the rose is Leesa, I will see if the one in the UK is still flowering when I return in October, if so I will try and find out. Diane

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  31. Hello,
    I'm pretty sure the rose is "Apricot Nectar".I have one in my garden in Sydney ( Australia )and it not only looks beautiful but smells divine, plus can take the humidity here, so it must be a very tough cultivar.
    Incidentally, I love reading your blog as I come from Charente, and even though I have just returned from a holiday in France,I can't go as often as I would like & I love seeing the landscapes and towns I am so familiar with through your eyes!

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  32. Arabella you may well be right. I asked at the nursery and they told me I would need to go to the Royal Horticultural Society. Too much hassle, I just love the rose and it is superb at the moment.

    Thanks so much for your kind comment, if you are this way again let me know and maybe we can meet. Take care great to hear from you. Diane

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