It's difficult to use the terrace for a couple of weeks, because the black redstart family is in their summer residence at the top of a column under the roof. The chicks grow very fast, and the parents have to feed them frequently; when anyone goes out on the terrace they stop the feeding process and click shrill warnings to the chicks to stay still. I worry that if we disturb them too often or for too long the chicks will starve.
Black redstarts are called rougequeue noir (black red-tail) in French, but here they are known as rossignol des murailles (nightingale of the outside walls). Pretty!
The camera needs replacing, so there are no photos of Musatelier's rossignols des murailles, but you can see what they look like on http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rougequeue_noir.
Monday, June 25, 2012
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Greens of the fields
This morning I went to the new library in St Dizant to change my books, and as it's actually summer now, went on Broomstick.
It's such fun at the moment, before it gets too high on the UV index or too mosquito-infested to enjoy a saunter around the countryside. Every time I go out, the fields have changed. The wheat is various shades of yellow, some looking close to harvest-time; the maize and sunflowers contrast with their different takes on what is an appropriate green for a fast-growing plant (sunflower leaves are a deep yellowish green, while maize leaves have a blue tinge). The vines have all their new growth in a light green. They practise rotation of crops here, so the big field to the left which was sunflowers last year is wheat this year; one would think that wheat would look less interesting, but a wide strip next to the lane has been left unsown, and it's full of wild flowers. And, of course, butterflies; butterflies were hard-hit by the repeated winter and not many survived in Europe, so each sighting is a joy.
It's such fun at the moment, before it gets too high on the UV index or too mosquito-infested to enjoy a saunter around the countryside. Every time I go out, the fields have changed. The wheat is various shades of yellow, some looking close to harvest-time; the maize and sunflowers contrast with their different takes on what is an appropriate green for a fast-growing plant (sunflower leaves are a deep yellowish green, while maize leaves have a blue tinge). The vines have all their new growth in a light green. They practise rotation of crops here, so the big field to the left which was sunflowers last year is wheat this year; one would think that wheat would look less interesting, but a wide strip next to the lane has been left unsown, and it's full of wild flowers. And, of course, butterflies; butterflies were hard-hit by the repeated winter and not many survived in Europe, so each sighting is a joy.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Roundabout at Mirambeau
Roundabouts are taken seriously here in France. Not so much as traffic measures (though it has been known for people to be cautioned by the local gendarmes for not signalling when leaving a roundabout, and quite rightly too), but as places to ornament.
A couple of years ago the roundabout at the edge of Mirambeau had a make-over which included an ironwork arch and a carrelet (fishing hut on stilts). Now it has a miniature vineyard as well, and roses and other plants for which this area is known.
Need a passenger to take photo!
A couple of years ago the roundabout at the edge of Mirambeau had a make-over which included an ironwork arch and a carrelet (fishing hut on stilts). Now it has a miniature vineyard as well, and roses and other plants for which this area is known.
Need a passenger to take photo!
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