This is the shoulder season, as we wait to get the vegetable garden planted. We're having a rainy week, so all that anybody can do is wait patiently. We got nearly half an inch of rain over the past two days, and it's supposed to rain again this afternoon.
Meanwhile, here are some flowering plants that we've planted in our yard and around the house since we've lived here (13 years). The previous owners, Jean et Josette, left us quite a few plants — in the ground and in pots — and we've kept a lot of them going too. Our additions have included a lilac bush, above.
And one of the most spectacular plants we've added is a wisteria on the back side of the house. Above, an overall view of the plant as it looks this week and, below, a close-up shot.
This last plant picture, below, shows a flower in the making. It's just a bud right now, but if we don't pick, cook, and eat it, it will open up as a beautiful blossom by the end of the summer.
Finally, here's the afternoon weather forecast for today. How do you like the color coordination between the forecaster and the map?
Time to take the dog out. At least it doesn't seem to be raining right now.
Just like you, it is not raining in Paris at the moment, but it is not sunny either!
ReplyDeleteNow it has been sunny for a while and rather warm ; I took the opportunity to do some errands before the rains come.
DeleteWe never got any sunshine here, but not much rain either. The worst of both worlds...
DeleteHow long do the wisteria bloom? I love them, but less so without the flowers. I'd like to put one to climb our pergola, but then I think about bees next to the table (I know they won't bother us, but some people get hysterical) or spiders (I get hysterical). So I'm weighing whether the beauty would be worth it....
ReplyDeleteYou'll have to share your artichoke secrets with us.
Clear blue skies in Carcassonne today. Impeccable views of the Pyrénées...which means rain in a few days.
It's raining wisteria petals out back right now, so maybe growing a wisteria vine on your pergola isn't the way to go. No artichoke secrets here -- we put in five plants a few years ago, and two have survived. One is magnificent, but the other is puny. Hope your sunny weather continues, and travels up this way.
DeleteYour wisteria is gorgeous! I wish we had one chez nous, they are so beautiful and the perfume is heavenly, but they take years to get to that stage I think.
ReplyDeleteWe're fed up with the wet weather, had more than 2cm in the last two days. We're desperate for some warm sunshine now.
I can't remember when we planted ours, but it wasn't too many years ago. I was afraid it might not get enough sun where we put it, but it's obviously doing fine. BTW, I'm desperate with you. Today's forecast... well, never mind.
DeleteYour wisty is wunderbar ....is it well scented?
ReplyDeleteThis dismal weather...and it was 4.2mm last night, just to top up, so to speak, Jean....
Yes, this dismal weather made me decide to try your tarty flette recipe...oooooo, that was just the stuff for a cold, grey evening....
But it was so rich, that I think it will see us through to the end of the week....last night by itself...
Tonight as the potato part of sossij, cabbidj and spuds....
WHY are we needing to eat Winter Warmers in May!??
A few days ago, when we were still having some sunny dry weather -- remember that? -- I opened the back windows above the wisteria and I thought, what is that sweet scent. You don't smell the wisteria when you go outside, but it really made the house smell sweet.
DeleteLovely!
DeleteI've recently discovered your blog site. I've enjoyed your photographs and writing. They show a love of nature and a kind of elegant simplicity. Keep it up.
ReplyDeleteTony Hull
Thank you, Tony Hull. Taking photos and blogging are an essential part of my life now.
DeleteThese are beautiful photos, Ken!
ReplyDeleteI'm enjoying my old camera, as you can tell.
Deletei've been trying to kill our wisteria for several years. it's trying to take over the garage. i'm losing. badly.
ReplyDeletebut hey here is a fun thing. those blog awards are going around and you are now "it!" since you are on your own for a couple days i thought you might like a distraction. i didnt know if this was your thing or not but here it is:
http://adventuresinthegoodland.blogspot.com/2016/05/liebster-blog-awards-2016and-10-fun.html
:-)
Thanks OFG. You are too kind. It's funny about the dishwasher, because I haven't felt the need to run it since Walt's been in North America. As for elegance, well... it's all in the eye of the beholder.
DeleteSorry about that wisteria. Can't you just cut it off at the bottom of the stem and let it die back? Maybe it has a more complicated structure than that.
I have a feeling Walt is missing all those flowers about now, but I assume they'll still be there when he returns.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't look like the flowers are going to get burned up by a hot sun anytime soon.
DeleteThe wisteria look s bigger than last year. Beautiful blooms and a beautiful lilac bush as well.
ReplyDeleteI guess with all the rain it grew some.
DeleteI have packed myself, the cats and house up and moved to Florida. I am now in perpetual Summertime.
ReplyDeleteThe wisteria here is blooming and smelling fabulous and I have to watch out for all the happy bees, buzzing around.
Very nice indeed.
Happy to be back ... I have been missing Saint-Aignan.
Nice to see you here again. It's hard for me to imagine what Florida is like right now, given the type of weather we are again having. I'm afraid tropical heat and humidity might really do me in, but it certainly has its pleasant side too.
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