On Sunday, while out cycling, I was surprised to see one field of sunflowers just coming into bloom. All other adjacent fields do not look even remotely like flowering yet, so these must have been planted well before the usual time.
The grapes are looking particularly healthy; hopefully 2010 will be a good vintage for wine
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The maize seems to be doing particularly well with all the rain we have had; it will be cobbing very soon.
Heat haze over a field of wheat.
and last, but certainly not least, I passed by this little chapel in a very small village with beautiful roses clustered around the doorway.
Love that old building (chapel) and such a beautiful rose arbor around the door. We are hopeful for rain today.
ReplyDeleteCould do with a drop of rain down here, as have not had any. Gosh the sunflowers are well advanced as well! Lovely flowers. And I love the way turn towards the direction of the sun. Hope you enjoyed your bike ride and that it stayed dry for you.
ReplyDeleteBecca, the chapel is lovely, sometime I might be a bit more inquisitive and try to look around, but I think it was shut up. Being a small village, I imagine the chaplain or whoever probably only visits once or maybe twice a week unless it is for something special. Diane
ReplyDeleteVera the bike ride was dry, but I left far too late, and got home with temperatures at 36C. Luckily I always carry plenty of fluid.
ReplyDeleteHope you get some rain soon, but not storms and hail. The latter is no help! Diane
Good for you with bike ride! The chapel is so quaint and beautiful with the flowers. And the sunflowers are gorgeous. Our corn in the fields was planted early this year and we will be having corn on the cob soon for a good while this summer.
ReplyDeleteAll looks lovely - the crops around Niort were all looking very far behind usual schedule when I was there in April!
ReplyDeletePam, I love my bike, but since carrying the camera I don't get as much exercise because I keep stopping!!!!! I love corn on the cob, yummy. Diane
ReplyDeleteKirsty I think most of our crops are later than normal around here, but those sunflowers are particularly early:) Diane
ReplyDeleteI think I may have lost my comment. Let me try again...
ReplyDeleteYour post really struck me as we just completed a cycling trip through the Loire Valley. I remember seeing miles of sunflowers and one field the flowers were beginning to bud-it was beautiful. Also, along that trip wheat fields with red poppies and corn fields. the cycling was a big challenge but an amazing experience. Thank you for sharing.
Love all of your pictures, but the arch of roses over the church door are just spectacular! What a splash of color!
ReplyDeleteLove that last photo!~ And sunflowers always make me smile! When I was a child living up in Michigan, they had a saying about the how well the corn was doing....it's supposed to be "knee high by the 4th of July" I wonder if they still go by that? The corn there looks great!
ReplyDeleteWish riding around here was as picturesque as your view.
ReplyDeleteNot that I have kept up with cataloging them, but I "sorta" collect pictures of churches, especially the smaller ones. The scenery was lovely in your "haze" photo.
I am pleased you did not get hail Diane. Those grapes look like the makings of many a wonderful bottle of wine. :)
ReplyDeleteMarjie, I have been past that little chapel many times, and thought how lovely it looked, but this time the roses just stood out. Diane
ReplyDeleteVelva the Loire Valley is probably hotter than we are here, so the sunflowers should be a bit ahead of us. I have only seen that one field with any flowers on it, the remainder look to me as if they have at least 2 to 3 weeks to go. We also have masses of poppies down the side of the wheat fields at the moment but we do not get complete fields here like further South. Great that you enjoyed your trip and the cycle ride. Have a good week Diane
ReplyDeleteLyndsey, sunflowers always seem to have smiley faces and I love they way they all look to the sun. The roses were quite spectacular, Diane
ReplyDeleteMya it is very picturesque all around here. I could probably take many more photos when out on the bike, but then I would never get any exercise done or any work back at home either!!!! Diane
ReplyDeleteJoan I am also very happy that we did not get hail but they are still threatening more storms..... If we are to enjoy that wine, the grapes do not need hail either. The harvest was badly hit last year so we certainly do not need it again. Diane
ReplyDeleteI love to see the area around your home through your eyes. The arbor over the chapel door is gorgeous and speaks to another time and place. I always set to wondering about the lives of people who originally planted and cared for these floral displays. I hope you are having a wonderful day. Blessings...Mary
ReplyDeleteMary I always enjoy your comments, you always seem to appreciate the pictures I take. I also loved the roses at the chapel door. Have a great day. Diane
ReplyDeleteHi Diane, everything is beautiful! I feel like bicycling to see and snapping all the places. Thanks for shring with us! Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteLooks like some bountiful harvests coming your way. Those sunflowers could make anybody smile. Along with maybe a good 2010 wine. Love the roses around the church door. Nice ride.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lani for your comments. You have a good day as well.Diane
ReplyDeleteHi Gaelyn, yep I am looking forward to some of that wine. French bread, cheese and wine, watching the sun set and the sunflowers, who could ask for more? Diane
ReplyDeleteWOW! some stunning views the 6th picture I really like beautiful countryside and with the wine cheese and bread you get I am getting quiet jealous :)
ReplyDeletePhilip you had better come and join us. Nigel is here for two weeks from the 13th. We plan on doing some new viewing, but we will be spending a lot of the time watching the Tour de France with a bottle (or 2):) of wine, cheese, bread, pickle and whatever. Diane
ReplyDeleteI am certainly enjoying comparing our gardens, yes our courgettes are also producing like mad. I was surprised that you had not had any ripe tomatoes yet. I am told the sunflowers are out in the region but I have not personally seen any yet.
ReplyDeleteI was thrilled when that cactus flowered, it opens and closes with the sun!
Lindy, that cactus was exceptional. My tomatoes are still not ripe!
ReplyDeleteNo up to date pictures for a bit, my camera has given up on me, it must have worked too hard! Lucky it is still under guarantee. Diane