Showing posts with label weather. Show all posts
Showing posts with label weather. Show all posts

02 February 2013

I'm still thinking of Spring.








In my last post I told you I had found some tulip tips just peeping up through the cold ground.
Since then our weather hasn't improved. It's still cold and has poured with rain everyday.


Yesterday we had some publicity posted  in our mailbox
 advertising these tulips in a basket for only 3.99€

Similar to the ones waiting to flower by the front door of my ' Petite Maison '



We dashed off to the S/market ( Aldi ) which is 30 mins. drive from where we live, hoping to buy at least
 two baskets, but  I was so disappointed.as they  had sold out early that morning. 

 I did the next best thing & bought a bunch of tulips @ 1.99€





Tulips are not easy to arrange as they will soon bend over, drooping to where ever they want to go.


























Have a peep at the pictures I've taken to show you what I was able to do with just one bunch.

I brought out some of my small white containers that I love to use for flowers.Then chose     
 a few tulips, cut the stems short and  opened out their petals to make them look like this.

Have you ever tried doing this?

























I first saw this method about 30 yrs ago, when I wanted to learn about flower arranging.
I'll always remember it, as the demonstration was given by a man who showed simple ways of using just one
or two flower stems with  clusters of flowers and buds cut  to produce a very decorative arrangement.






As you can see, one bunch or bouquet,  I should say, as I live in France,  goes a long way.


Hope you liked what I did with one bouquet of tulips from  the super marche.
and @ a Bon marche prix.

a bientot 

Barbara Lilian


26 January 2013

I feel like spring is on it's way.

Today I felt a little bit of spring had arrived at my house.  So I decided to do make some changes on my blog.  First was to get rid of the snow scene header picture with  the falling snow. I know it's a little early but it brightened up my day browsing through my files of flower pictures to share some with you. I hope it brightens your day.

Just a week ago we had snow and were waiting for the snow plough to come to clear the road outside of our house, and today we had blue sky, which always makes me feel so much happier.



The view from the garden.
All the bare trees waiting for their leaves to start sprouting.





I  took a walk around the garden to see if there was any sign of growth after it had been under a blanket of snow. To my surprise I saw the green tips of the tulips sprouting, much earlier than usual this year.


This is what they'll look like when they are in flower.
A dwarf variety (sorry I don't know the name) which stay in flower for a long time. 





Our son & his lovely wife used to live here before they moved to Denmark, her own part of the world .
These little tulip bulbs were planted by them almost 15 yrs ago.








A pretty bunch of pink tulips to brighten up the table.











This picture was taken at one of our favorite walking places, part of the lake is still frozen.





 Even though spring hasn't really arrived 
I hope my little bit of early spring 
will cheer you up as much as it has for me.


A bientot

Barbara Lilian.

19 January 2013

Some snowy scenes in France

We've had several snow falls this week on and off and our forecast is more again this weekend .
I know it's winter and we should expect snow, but I just wanted to show you a few pictures.


Isn't this fantastic
I found it on Pinterest.





The 1st blanket of snow.



Our House from a distance.




La Petite Maison terrace.




Our farming neighbour from the next hamlet.
Hope he comes past our house to clear the road.




This picture was taken from the balcony.
Two young Deer looking for food.
Hope they hide tomorrow, as it's the day of the local Chasse/hunt.






Couldn't resist showing you this one
for all my lovers of Paris.
I found  it on Pinterest.




Hope you enjoyed sharing my snow scenes.

If you have snow keep warm.


A bientot 

Barbara Lilian.





11 November 2012

Ma Maison Fleurie.



Do you remember when I told you about the very first time I met the floral judging committee which to me seemed to made up from anyone who liked flowers regardless of their knowledge. That was 20yrs ago. It has come a long way since then for rural France.
The competition judging is done at the beginning of July. That period this year was not very good weather wise, We'd had a lot of rain & not very much sun, so the flowers well behind in blooming due to lack of sun. So consequently all the hanging baskets & troughs were at there best when the jury had been & gone.

At the beginning of last week I received my invitation from M. Le Mayor to attend the diploma presentation  which was to be held in 'La Salle de Fete' in my commune.  This year chairs were set out in rows & a screen was in place up on the stage with a projector for a photo slide show of all the entrants gardens or fronts of houses. I thought wow! our little commune has certainly come into the 20th c. what progress since 20yr. ago. The Mayor welcomed everybody & explained about the slide show. Then he started to give out the diplomas for the different categories & clicked onto the laptop to show the photo of the winners garden or house. Somewhere along the way the photos seemed to be out of synchronisation with the receiver of the diploma, as the little old who was sitting next to me said 'Why is M. Charbonnier collecting a diploma that's not his house it's mine' after 23 yrs. my understanding & communicating has greatly improved, although I still make the odd 'faux pas'  Apparently right from the beginning of the presentation the photos were not the house of the diploma receiver, but nobody had said anything. Oh well ! maybe next year they will get it right, nobody seemed to mind, all the entrants seemed to enjoy looking at every one else's gardens or window boxes and every entrant was given a diploma even if it was just for making the effort of planting a few flowering plants and each one of  went away with a Camellia shrub to help them add a little more colour to their garden. 
Then the aperitifs were served, which always goes down well, delicious canapes made by the local boulanger and a glass of wine, followed by plenty of refills. Everyone then mingled and chatted about their gardening success 's or the failures due the bad weather early in the year, hopefully going away with encouragement  for 2013.
My categorie is for Terraces & balconies & this year I received a 'Diplome d'Honneur avec mention special.

I was well satisfied with my award, but it was not as rewarding for me as the one I received 2yrs ago. That year I won the 1st prize for the whole of the department, not just the commune. But who ever it was who won it this year, I'm sure they will feel as proud as I did and who ever you are I say congratulations.





My Diplome d'Honneur









The balcony with hanging baskets and troughs.


 


Close up of the Surfinias in the trough.






One of the many window boxes.




A half wall basket.




Hanging basket in front of the holiday cottage.







More Surfinias.



On the steps leading to the pool.




A metal ware container from Denmark.
This is a glimpse of some of the flowers that helped me win my Diplome d'Honneur.
Hope you enjoyed sharing my flowers.
A bientot 
Barbara Lilian.

29 September 2012

Pumpkins in the autumn sunshine.

We have nice sunny days again where I live in france. After being indoors for three days because of rain, we decided to take a pic-nic & drive around taking roads we don't usually use. I'm so glad, as look what I found.
These were growing in a potager near to the roadside and I couldn't resist taking these photos.


Pumpkins.
Known as potiron in French.

 



Just think what wonderful lanterns these would make.
My grandchildren in Denmark want me to send these to them.






All shapes, colours and sizes.









This one was growing on a plant  twisted all around a wire fence.


I thoroughly enjoyed my afternoon.



.This one I found at my daughters.
Lovely autumn colours, tempting me to get my paints out !
 

Hope you liked sharing my autumn sunny afternoon 'a la campagne'. 

Enjoy your weekend

A bientot.

Barbara Lilian.

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15 September 2012

Almost the end of Summer

When I lived in England, and the month of September arrived, I always thought, that's it summer's over now, but here in central France where I live I've found that September is a lovely month. Fortunately we're still enjoying warm sunny days by the pool and as we had a late start to good summer weather this year, all the summer flowers are now at their best. Hopefully as we've been given a good forecast for the next 2 weeks, our summer will stretch out a little bit longer. Naturally some of the leaves have started to change colour and the early mornings & evenings are dewy & slightly chilly, so the signs of Autumn is on it's way. A new season which will be a joy for all it's colours and the fruits on the trees to enjoy, also searching in the woods for the hidden mushrooms, if I'm lucky enough to find them. I've never quite mastered the art of  'trouver les champignons'.

Today we've spent a lovely day with some of our friends who are staying in the house which we rent, called 'La Petite Maison'. I thought you might like to have a peep.




La Petite Maison terrace
with a grape vine covered pergola & the beautiful climbing Campsis,
 with it's vivid flame coloured trumpet flowers.






The grapes and Campsis growing happily together.



La Petite Maison.
A peep inside the cottage, with it's cosy lounge.


 



One of the many hanging baskets.
Still looking good.




Preparing to share aperitifs on the deck with our friends, on their last night.

 


Their last view of La Petite Maison for another year.


  







Hope you liked seeing the end of summer at La Petite Maison.
Au revoir.


A bientot.

Barbara Lilian.