Life in a Brittany Garden

The weather, whilst mild and incredibly still for the most part, (despite hail yesterday, and two nights of frost which have now blackened the Dahlias) has been been wet. And horribly damp in the house. I am a bit of a baby when it comes to getting wet. I hate being wet. When I’m out…

Of course it’s been worse. But it is so damp! Visibility about 50 metres. Low cloud. Not raining but so much moisture it feels like it is. My spirits plummeted – and they were already pretty low,  and remained low for the day. Strangely, as the day progressed, it got warmer and warmer outside. I didn’t realise…

Obviously not 57 varieties, but I’ve got lots! I love the colours, forms, markings and abundance…. The harvesting of them has given me a bit of a push. Plus, I have attacked parts of the garden with shears and secateurs. This has made me feel better. I have also been nurturing this Brugmansia for a…

This one with no pictures. I’m feeling sorry for myself. At this time of year I look at the garden and see nothing but an overgrown, neglected, unkempt and, frankly, abandoned mess. And I wonder how this has happened? Given that I barely move away from this place. Ever? And this is all I do?…

The weather forecasts keep saying that there will be whole days when it won’t be drizzling, and there will be sun and just some white cloud. But everyday it seems the forecast gets amended to account for the fact that it is still drizzling, and that the sun and white cloud will be along later. Watching…

A Wasp Spider (Argiope bruennichi). These are spreading northwards in the UK, but came from Europe. I first saw one a couple of years ago in the meadow near the house and watched it all summer. This one’s in the garden so I can see it whenever I go outside. The strange zig zag on…

My favourite fungus is abundant at the moment. Even in places where I’ve not found it before. In fact masses of different fungi all seem to have decided that the conditions are just right for fruiting.  The Miller (Clitopilus prunulus) I don’t generally share my Millers. As I’ve said, they could be a bit problematic…

This beautiful and very tasty mushroom had me a bit confused for a while. I am nothing near an expert – nor even a particularly knowledgeable amateur. But there are a fair few fungi that I confidently identify and eat. This one I picked on the cliffs at the beach. “It’s an Agaric” I said.…

There are huge quantities of pristine, newly emerged Peacock butterflies everywhere. I can easily count at least 30 each time I wander out into the garden the moment the sun comes out after yet another downpour. But I was happy to see the Sedum flowers being shared with the Red Admiral and the Comma. And…

….I hope not. For the last few years September has been synonymous with glorious weather, empty beaches and lazy days under the parasol. This year feels a bit different. Torrential rain yesterday – which on one hand will be welcome for swelling the many shelling beans that I’ve sown. But which has battered and flattened…