April and a beautiful Easter Sunday

The first local brocante of the year is always at Angles sur l'Anglin on Easter Sunday so off we went to have a look ....

We had to park right down by the river but it was a lovely day.

Then in amongst this Mark found ...

Treasure!!

 He's been looking for one for years, its to take bread (or maybe pizza) out of the ancient bread oven we have here.

The river at Angles sur l'Anglin

Wisteria outside the Gite

Wisteria along the front of the Farmhouse

Apple blossom in the back garden

February at Chenevaux

 February - sunshine, showers and spring flowers.

A very busy bee in some mahonia flowers

First daffodils

Hellebore in the sun

Lots of colonies of snowdrops

A double rainbow!

Lots of clearing done to make space for new shrubs and trees.

Viburnum in  flower in the gite garden

Mark was in charge of meals on the 14th!

January 2017 at Chenevaux has been a bit chilly so far

Winter sunset at Chenevaux

For well over a week now, and set to continue for a few more days it has been as low as -8C at night and during the day not much above freezing.  We're getting through plenty of wood on the log burners!

No snow but pleanty of ice around

At least it has been sunny so we have been able to do some outdoor work.  The project of landscaping the "pond" has been delayed due to the frozen ground but a batch of plants that were delivered a couple of weeks ago arrived just in time to be heeled in in the veggie garden.  Progress so far ...

The pond late autumn

Mark cut out a lot of the brambles and sloes about 15 months ago and we then ( with help from Mark's brother ) put the groundcover on the bank to stop them growing back - this photo was taken late Autumn 2016. The bullrushes have spread but we don't mind that. What we don't want is all of the other weedy mess.  Normally the area would be at least 30 cms under water at the end of the year but after a very wet late spring in 2016 it has been and remains really dry.  So as we could get down there it was wellies on and onto the next phase.

Lots more digging out of brambles, clearing and pruning later it was time to start planting.  Having ordered 40 low growing, ground cover cotoneasters the idea was to plant 10 a day for 4 days, however we didn't allow for the fact that the soil under the membrane would be like concrete, so it took a lot longer. Now the new delivery of plants to finish the central area; mahonia, red cornus and rose of sharon; will have to wait until the weather gets warmer again.

40 of these cotoneasters planted!

By the way if you ever think about planting on a steepish bank - its not easy!  I found that at the steepest point I had to sit on the ground with my legs astride the planting area and hope I didn't slip down to the bottom.

The right bank

In this area, which has also had loads of brambles dug out of it - inspired by our visit to Sissinghurst last spring - we have planted 250 anemone blanda to add to the existing bluebells. They were enough for about half of the area but are supposed to colonise quickly.  As you see from the photo below we are hoping for miracles but you've got to start somewhere!

Anemone blanda at Sissinghurst

Silver birch trees with oak and beech in the background

These are the silver birch trees we planted a few years ago, starting to make an impact in the winter sun.

Its Summer, fancy a swim?

 Summer at Chenevaux - blue skies, sunshine, come and have a dip in the pool .......

 At last, blue skies, sunshine and summer temperatures, in fact the forecast is for 32C today!  Jam making season has started with mixed red fruit ( raspberries, redcurrants, cherries and blackcurrants ) and apricot already done.  The early plums are starting to drop too so that's next on the list before the birds eat them all.  Oh - and a yummy summer pudding the other day made with brioche and with a dollop of creme fraiche.  Food glorious food !

Summer guests are enjoying their holiday in the Gite

The holiday season is in full swing and guests are enjoying the pool, golf, croquet, table tennis and their own badminton set.  Today they are at Futuroscope near Poitiers - a full day out as there is a firework display at nightfall.

We've just got two weeks available in the Gite between now and the end of September, weeks commencing 20th and 27th August - get in touch with us if you are interested chenevaux@orange.fr
 

The Farmhouse back garden has lots of colour, love these hollyhocks!

And the crocosmia.

Its a bit jungly but the overall effect is "impressionistic".

The wisteria along the front of the Farmhouse is flowering for the second time, and the scent is gorgeous.  And the roses are putting on a great show after being spoilt by days of rain earlier in the year.

Peace

Ena Harkness alongside a honeysuckle outside the bathroom window = perfume indoors!

Aleric Barbier

And this is a nerine that is in a pot outside the back door ( which is actually at the front but ... )

Anyway, its nearly time for the men's final at Wimbledon so I am going to turn on the telly, sit in my reclining armchair and clap ( hopefully ).  I wonder if we will spot any friends in the crowd?

June at Chenevaux

Having had a lot of rain at the end of May ( rather an understatement ! ) the garden is now trying to become a jungle.  Mark is constantly out on the tractor mower and the dead heading on the roses is endless.  However the good thing is that trees and shrubs that have struggled in previous years are flourishing.  Just looking back at photos taken about a month ago when we had lilac, clematis, irises and peonies in flower the gardens look totally different.

 

The montana clematis covers an arch in the back garden of the Farmhouse, it is scented and this year the flowers lasted for about a month.

Peonies are so beautiful, and sadly so short lived.  I planted a selection when we first moved here and they are now a good size with lots of blooms.

Once again the seallows tried to move into the house.  Flying in chattering to one another and sometimes perching on a beam before we shoo them out like naughty children!

The fields opposite the front of the house. The pretty blue haze is linseed, and this year there will be sunflowers in the area that is soil.  They are about 50cms high now.

This parasol pine is in the gite garden.  Just look at all of the new growth.

And look at the size of the figs!

Bullrushes on the edge of the pond.

The plants in the back garden looking happy and lush.  The canes are there to support tomatoes.

Happy gardening!

Just some pictures of lovely flowers and gardens in the May sun at Chenevaux!

 Its all happening ....

Fragrant wisteria along the front of the Farmhouse

Montana clematis at the end of the path in the back garden of the Farmhouse

The Gite garden, you can just see the pool

This is the Gite garden again, I was leaning out of the bedroom window which is why its wonky!

A clump of lovely iris

I think this one came from a lady in the village - its the first time it has flowered, beautiful.

and some bright pink blossom.