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If you've any gardening questions or you live in Brittany and are looking for some gardening help - be it design work, planting or general gardening or you simply would like some advice, please don't hesitate to CONTACT ME or call me on 0033 661 77 23 89 (from UK) or 0661 77 23 89 (from France).

Happy gardening!

Monday 28 April 2008

Glimpses of a Brittany Garden!

Sorry there haven't been many recent postings - the time of year with too much to do outside and no time for anything else! A wet Monday morning here in Brittany finally allows the time to add something to my blog...

This last weekend has been glorious and the warmer weather has certainly brought many plants into flower, with the first of my Oriental Poppies and Cranesbills out now, not forgetting some of the Aqualegias too. We have had swallows around now for the past 2 weeks and I even heard the first cuckoo three days ago! I don't know if anyone else has had this experience today but discovered that a wren has started to rebuild one of the swallow's nests in the barn - despite having two wren's nests to choose from in the same building - not sure what the swallows will think about that when they return to nest build!













The colours of spring are raphidly changing with most trees other than the Walnut now in leaf and many birds starting to build nests too. I did happen to noticed a number of juvenile thrushes in our woodland whilst out for a walk over the weekend so Mr & Mrs Thrush must have started early - do hope they'll hang around as they're great to have in the garden to keep the snail and slug populations down.




























8 comments:

Cheryl said...

Beautiful setting Miranda. The cranesbill are lovely, they are so versatile and elegant in their flowering. The colours of the blooms are like a monet painting. Lovely lovely post.

Miranda Bell said...

You're very kind Cheryl - it is a lovely setting here and would dearly love to have some more time to work on the garden but things are changing bit by bit.... it had been left for a wilderness for around 9 years before we arrived! One thing I am going to do is a series of before and after pics so far so you can see what we originally took on! I can't really believe that before I came to France I was struggling with two herniated lower discs in my back... just goes to show! Looks like we're in for a really wet day here tomorrow so watch this space for more postings!! Take care Miranda

Cheryl said...

My garden was a toxic waste dump I think. When I opened the shed door the first morning I was horrified. Like you I had health problems when I arrived but thru determination and really hard work I have turned this garden around. I am blessed like my father with stamina. I may not be the quickest in the world but I can work, work and work.
It is I find so rewarding, If I couldn't garden my heart would ache.
Love your posts and the connection between us.
Raining here but there is a beautiful rainbow.

Miranda Bell said...

Gardening is a bit of a test of stamina sometimes - I'm sure the days of when I lived in Scotland and went climbing Munroes has helped - you not only need stamina but the sheer determination to make it to the top - only you keep thinking you've got there only to discover there's another mound to climb!! The views are well worth it though... Miranda

Cheryl said...

Well done you...mountain climbing would frighten me to death, fear of heights. The physical strengh you need is enormous. You must be very fit.

Miranda Bell said...

I guess the gardening keeps you fairly fit, but walking up mountains is another type of fitness altogether!! I'm not sure I could do as much as I have previously - we don't have many round here!

The Lake District is a great place to start as a lot of the mountain walks are less severe than those in Scotland... you should give it a go! You really do feel like you're away from it all then!
Miranda

Meems said...

Hi Miranda: All your blooms are radiant and colorful. I know you must be really busy and yet enjoying this time of year in France.
meems @ Hoe&Shovel

Barbara said...

Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving your nice comment. I'm glad you did, so I found your very interesting blog (which I'm now reading through!). I've just seen that you have slow worms too. They are on several places in our garden....the first time I saw them I really was a bit scared ;-) !! You have wonderful roses and even one with your name! That's great!
I'll certainly come back again. Have a good week and better weather than we have (a very wet June until now!),
Barbara