tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411415681180349252024-03-05T19:30:45.776+01:00olives and artichokes - a Mediterranean gardenolives et artichauts - un jardin méditerranéenchaiselonguehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11372135992072231446noreply@blogger.comBlogger361125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-441141568118034925.post-23204475909998905492011-05-25T22:56:00.001+02:002011-05-25T22:56:44.597+02:00New blog<p>This blog has moved to : <a href="http://olivesandartichokes.wordpress.com/">http://olivesandartichokes.wordpress.com/</a></p> <p>All previously published posts are now on the new blog and all new posts will be published there from now on.</p> <p>Thanks to all for your visits and comments over the past three and a half years.  I hope you’ll enjoy the new blog.</p> <p>See you there!</p> chaiselonguehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11372135992072231446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-441141568118034925.post-63672208587234882742011-05-24T18:02:00.001+02:002011-05-24T18:02:08.336+02:00First tomatoes<p>Most of our tomato plants now have flowers on them and the Languedoc plants are looking especially sturdy, so I wasn’t surprised to see that they are the first plants to set fruit.  An exciting time of year!</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TdvWcGc_LsI/AAAAAAAAJDQ/ac5soZi98LQ/s1600-h/IMGP0199%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP0199" border="0" alt="IMGP0199" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TdvWddsDn3I/AAAAAAAAJDU/m1CYwGsdxQc/IMGP0199_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="631" height="432" /></a> </p> <p align="center">The double row of Languedoc tomato plants with the Roma plants in the background.</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TdvWeKIILHI/AAAAAAAAJDY/2XOcfIhwbrE/s1600-h/IMGP0193%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP0193" border="0" alt="IMGP0193" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TdvWeq095KI/AAAAAAAAJDc/r34wukl4SIA/IMGP0193_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="398" height="328" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TdvWfX5_efI/AAAAAAAAJDg/A6OgJQMAdZQ/s1600-h/IMGP0196%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP0196" border="0" alt="IMGP0196" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TdvWf0TEYQI/AAAAAAAAJDk/MVUVvgIr33A/IMGP0196_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="395" height="335" /></a> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> chaiselonguehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11372135992072231446noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-441141568118034925.post-45829527616682015092011-05-23T12:33:00.002+02:002011-05-23T14:30:36.801+02:00Marché fermier<p>It was a sunny, hot day yesterday for the farmers’ market at Mas Rolland and the streets of the tiny old hamlet were filled with stalls, music, visitors and tables where people could eat. One of the nice things about this event is that it takes place before the holiday high season starts – it’s for people from the villages and towns around to enjoy before all the events which are put on for tourists in the summer.</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tdo33AwQEJI/AAAAAAAAJB4/8dFfbsRJOb8/s1600-h/IMGP0183%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP0183" border="0" alt="IMGP0183" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tdo33321raI/AAAAAAAAJB8/0Lw2raaizj4/IMGP0183_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="389" height="265" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tdo34kV8apI/AAAAAAAAJCA/MNStHsyH1SE/s1600-h/IMGP0179%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP0179" border="0" alt="IMGP0179" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tdo35b8q0II/AAAAAAAAJCE/8y_qkLjeJHw/IMGP0179_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="268" /></a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tdo36C9G3cI/AAAAAAAAJCI/gafkkjd2f94/s1600-h/IMGP0140%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP0140" border="0" alt="IMGP0140" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tdo36iWZU2I/AAAAAAAAJCM/_TCqPeI6TL0/IMGP0140_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="402" height="274" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tdo37IrZpAI/AAAAAAAAJCQ/6JJyp_DRqfE/s1600-h/IMGP0152%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP0152" border="0" alt="IMGP0152" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tdo379lBqtI/AAAAAAAAJCU/nRSFDeTAQKw/IMGP0152_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="191" height="280" /></a> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>We ate kid meat (from the Mas Rolland goat farm) stuffed with herbs from the garrigue, followed by a selection of goats’ cheeses, of course, and some friends had brought some of their own peaches, the first of this year’s crop, for our group to eat for dessert. The tables in the narrow street (above, right) were full by lunch time.</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tdo38fKiYzI/AAAAAAAAJCY/G4ai8NKCkAM/s1600-h/IMGP0166%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP0166" border="0" alt="IMGP0166" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tdo39I-7ZMI/AAAAAAAAJCc/HsOiWoMT5kg/IMGP0166_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="459" height="316" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tdo39-eUtQI/AAAAAAAAJCg/-wUPrE8Wuc0/s1600-h/IMGP0173%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP0173" border="0" alt="IMGP0173" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tdo3-TLK8TI/AAAAAAAAJCk/cjlK409S5Es/IMGP0173_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="453" height="314" /></a> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p></p> <p>We bought cherries, goats’ cheeses and flour from a mill near Clérmont l’Hérault, and many other stallholders were offering their own produce for sale.</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tdo3_JbZ64I/AAAAAAAAJCo/KQI0OMv01e0/s1600-h/IMGP0130%5B9%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP0130" border="0" alt="IMGP0130" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tdo3_4kqNVI/AAAAAAAAJCs/5gDRBrwvnP4/IMGP0130_thumb%5B7%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="391" height="303" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tdo4AkBjQSI/AAAAAAAAJCw/wEROoNRUYVw/s1600-h/IMGP0129%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP0129" border="0" alt="IMGP0129" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tdo4BMMc9AI/AAAAAAAAJC0/osd5RFRhBYs/IMGP0129_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="365" height="300" /></a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tdo4BnzdGII/AAAAAAAAJC4/I7J14EKfgWo/s1600-h/IMGP0143%5B10%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP0143" border="0" alt="IMGP0143" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tdo4CQ9XqeI/AAAAAAAAJC8/38wnIvAllQo/IMGP0143_thumb%5B8%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="268" height="253" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tdo4C4ETugI/AAAAAAAAJDA/zEJ3Jn4tf_o/s1600-h/IMGP0157%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP0157" border="0" alt="IMGP0157" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tdo4DZrjR6I/AAAAAAAAJDE/xILGentPKf4/IMGP0157_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="373" height="254" /></a> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>The <em>confrerie</em> of local winemakers walked through the village dressed in their wine-purple robes accompanied by jazz musicians.</p> <p><strong>Our first few cherries</strong></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tdo4EO8sIFI/AAAAAAAAJDI/Y8hcBOSKoIM/s1600-h/IMGP0184%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP0184" border="0" alt="IMGP0184" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tdo4EtGYgYI/AAAAAAAAJDM/VQMJSx6vZLs/IMGP0184_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="310" height="211" /></a> </p> <p> </p> <p>As well as the delicious cherries we bought at the market, we also tasted our own wild cherries for the first time, picked yesterday morning – of the six cherries on our tiny tree, four were ripe, slightly tart but with a good flavour.</p>chaiselonguehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11372135992072231446noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-441141568118034925.post-47605427190211124142011-05-18T18:41:00.004+02:002011-05-18T19:05:02.327+02:00What a difference a year makes<p><br /></p><p>I’ve been reminded by reading this <a href="http://fromseedtotable.blogspot.com/2011/05/caper-update.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FjjGi+%28From+Seed+to+Table%29">post</a> by Michelle on From Seed to Table, that I’ve been meaning to post photos of my caper plants. It was Michelle who originally sent me the seeds in autumn 2009 from which my plants have grown.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TdP2m0SAA0I/AAAAAAAAJBY/cG-BgqgGOQs/s1600-h/IMGP0015%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP0015" border="0" alt="IMGP0015" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TdP2nsPbJ1I/AAAAAAAAJBc/Id5HqrJlFf4/IMGP0015_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="490" height="383" /></a> </p> <p> </p> <p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>These are the capers sown in December 2009, as they are today. The plants got mixed up while I was away last summer, but I think the one on the left here is an Italian caper and the one on the right is Croatian. They’ve grown a lot of extra leaves just in the last few weeks and now look like ‘proper’ plants, so I’m very pleased with them.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TdP2oQC7MjI/AAAAAAAAJBg/0iIbtAoLofA/s1600-h/IMGP3980%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP3980" border="0" alt="IMGP3980" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TdP2pLXhX4I/AAAAAAAAJBk/LoXLAWamucg/IMGP3980_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="455" height="353" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TdP2pw2MTeI/AAAAAAAAJBo/OaNsvwvvaGE/s1600-h/DSC03829%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC03829" border="0" alt="DSC03829" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TdP2qn-39sI/AAAAAAAAJBs/vSkws03CfMQ/DSC03829_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="301" height="282" /></a> <br />Last December (2010) they were like this (left) and a year ago they were seedlings in small pots (above). </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p></p> <p>And the next year’s plants….</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TdP2rThZuTI/AAAAAAAAJBw/giULABf5XEA/s1600-h/IMGP0018%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP0018" border="0" alt="IMGP0018" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TdP2sJUYImI/AAAAAAAAJB0/nzyHf73rYAs/IMGP0018_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="329" height="245" /></a> </p> <p> </p> <p>In November 2010 I sowed some of the seeds left over from last year and five of these have germinated. Soon I shall have to decide which of the two to remove in the pots where two have germinated, cutting them rather than re-potting them to prevent root disturbance to the other ones, because caper plants are very sensitive to this.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>It will be a long time until I can harvest the weight of capers that Michelle does, but I feel that these plants are on their way!</p>chaiselonguehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11372135992072231446noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-441141568118034925.post-34080697722775441002011-05-15T18:54:00.001+02:002011-05-15T18:54:15.090+02:00Olive flowers<p>Our Lucque olive tree is covered in tiny flowers, a promise of a good crop in the autumn.</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TdAFI0I2xMI/AAAAAAAAJA4/sgoxvI40d0g/s1600-h/IMGP9903%5B8%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP9903" border="0" alt="IMGP9903" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TdAFJ_SAjJI/AAAAAAAAJA8/9MFAUYwhFzU/IMGP9903_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="381" height="316" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TdAFKszu6WI/AAAAAAAAJBA/XEcwQqO4CxQ/s1600-h/IMGP9905%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP9905" border="0" alt="IMGP9905" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TdAFLDDoLRI/AAAAAAAAJBE/Vw7LdvdmOWA/IMGP9905_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="315" /></a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TdAFLjDxHqI/AAAAAAAAJBI/usXLQVTYp4s/s1600-h/IMGP9916%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP9916" border="0" alt="IMGP9916" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TdAFMD5NcjI/AAAAAAAAJBM/4zFIevkbUdk/IMGP9916_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="391" height="279" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TdAFMoinTcI/AAAAAAAAJBQ/jUhkJmaNsQU/s1600-h/IMGP9926%5B8%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP9926" border="0" alt="IMGP9926" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TdAFNebRVeI/AAAAAAAAJBU/xxDstjjHwwk/IMGP9926_thumb%5B15%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="380" height="280" /></a> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> chaiselonguehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11372135992072231446noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-441141568118034925.post-36389867482858321122011-05-13T21:58:00.001+02:002011-05-13T21:58:29.254+02:00Mid-May in the garden<p>With 70 tomato plants, 30 peppers, 4 cucumbers and 16 aubergines put out in their beds in the garden, we’re getting through the summer planting.  There are still courgettes, pumpkins (several varieties) and butternut squash plants waiting, and growing bigger every day, on the balconies.</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="396"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tc2NNOAF0HI/AAAAAAAAI_4/vg3yF0mf6Nw/s1600-h/IMGP97807.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMGP9780" border="0" alt="IMGP9780" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tc2NOHOeIUI/AAAAAAAAI_8/FtJkhuSoesk/IMGP9780_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" width="421" height="290" /></a> <br />The Kolaska pepper plants, planted out between the cucumbers (out of shot) and the chard and haricot beans. </td> <td valign="top" width="194"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tc2NO584gsI/AAAAAAAAJAA/YqIn1tms2Nw/s1600-h/IMGP97914.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMGP9791" border="0" alt="IMGP9791" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tc2NPh4cjaI/AAAAAAAAJAE/4lfOXodF0MY/IMGP9791_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="423" height="288" /></a> <br />A row of Turkish pink tomato plants, grown from seeds sent to me by <a href="http://bestebonnard.blogspot.com/">beste</a> in Normandy, next to a row of ungrafted aubergine plants. <br /> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tc2NQlZwJOI/AAAAAAAAJAI/F7KVT9WKN5k/s1600-h/IMGP97874.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMGP9787" border="0" alt="IMGP9787" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieapiUw3eYYQHocQqrQn-NdM2DIZuVQq8gQHFQ3pTsjcM7K7IBcKjBlawuV6yGEY5rx-VJo4OQzYgw1lcsA8ArwjewqGfZsL1F7aj_y-ZjHrRkw_eqnBXoV4GckwMpgMtVQuRelkBKjog/?imgmax=800" width="411" height="280" /></a> Marseillais pepper plants (some of the few plants we’ve bought this year), then a row of ungrafted aubergines, then a row of grafted aubergines.</td> <td valign="top" width="194"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tc2NSZIpDUI/AAAAAAAAJAQ/BW6a6oD57nI/s1600-h/IMGP97894.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMGP9789" border="0" alt="IMGP9789" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tc2NTKs_2qI/AAAAAAAAJAU/CzbujsC1Vrw/IMGP9789_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="429" height="292" /></a> <br />Roma tomatoes (left), Languedocian plants, growing very vigorously and starting to flower (centre), on on the right of the picture a mixed row of Coeur de Boeuf, Andes and Ananas.</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tc2NTwEuNII/AAAAAAAAJAY/sPOid3pZHcQ/s1600-h/IMGP97824.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMGP9782" border="0" alt="IMGP9782" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tc2NUk5dsiI/AAAAAAAAJAc/A-9gdBD0FQ8/IMGP9782_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="412" height="389" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tc2NVayOZyI/AAAAAAAAJAg/PR2PZBA3Wd4/s1600-h/IMGP97845.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMGP9784" border="0" alt="IMGP9784" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tc2NWLTY8jI/AAAAAAAAJAk/NWaus4fQwPY/IMGP9784_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="270" height="393" /></a> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p></p> <p>At last the first sowing of haricot beans (sowed at the end of March) are flowering.  The second sowing are almost catching up,</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tc2NW5FwN8I/AAAAAAAAJAo/htZJxeBl-ks/s1600-h/IMGP97816.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMGP9781" border="0" alt="IMGP9781" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tc2NX1NLlGI/AAAAAAAAJAs/uUMBPyCnVcc/IMGP9781_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" width="456" height="316" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tc2NYRscI8I/AAAAAAAAJAw/TP3JZjpQBB4/s1600-h/IMGP97785.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="IMGP9778" border="0" alt="IMGP9778" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tc2NZMh8G7I/AAAAAAAAJA0/V5wnup-x07U/IMGP9778_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="351" height="316" /></a> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p></p> <p>The Greek sweetcorn, grown from seeds sent to me by <a href="http://www.gaiashope.com/">gaiashope</a> are doing well and I’m hoping they’ll be well established by the time the free water from the stream runs out.  Last year, gaiashope says, she watered them only 10 times in the whole summer, so they’re very drought resistant.  On the right are 4 small artichokes I picked this morning, and put straight into a bowl of water to get out the earwigs which seem to like them (although they don’t eat them).</p> chaiselonguehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11372135992072231446noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-441141568118034925.post-73724861190553837432011-05-08T23:04:00.001+02:002011-05-08T23:04:40.649+02:00Spring fair<p>Today<em> la rue de l’Eglise</em>, the widest street in the old part of the village, and the <em>place</em> where the Wednesday market is usually held were lined with stalls selling goats’ cheese, sheep’s cheese, honey, wine, olive oil, flowering plants, vegetable garden plants, asparagus, strawberries, and handmade crafts.  The weather was dull in the morning but it cleared up later, and the day seemed to be a success.</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TccFO_q0d6I/AAAAAAAAI-Q/cWUF-q0f9Ws/s1600-h/IMGP9577%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP9577" border="0" alt="IMGP9577" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TccFPg0gzVI/AAAAAAAAI-U/0QclcvrYZQY/IMGP9577_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="412" height="284" /></a> lemon trees, tomato plants, flowers……</td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TccFQiZmLrI/AAAAAAAAI-Y/uJNYYFBxSU8/s1600-h/IMGP9575%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP9575" border="0" alt="IMGP9575" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TccFRBaxE_I/AAAAAAAAI-c/gIV-d10o21c/IMGP9575_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="411" height="283" /></a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TccFSO3I4qI/AAAAAAAAI-g/Sc3fqDYoH2c/s1600-h/IMGP9578%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP9578" border="0" alt="IMGP9578" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TccFSqdyhfI/AAAAAAAAI-k/3wWpSgp_xKo/IMGP9578_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="415" height="285" /></a> goats’ cheeses from Mas Rolland……</td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TccFTXK7NxI/AAAAAAAAI-o/Yg0Lxc3RVrQ/s1600-h/IMGP9583%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP9583" border="0" alt="IMGP9583" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TccFUEKQJJI/AAAAAAAAI-s/HO_Rl8AFowA/IMGP9583_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="419" height="290" /></a> <br />asparagus, churros and children’s rides….. </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TccFUz29F3I/AAAAAAAAI-w/iMzEf26E4EE/s1600-h/IMGP9573%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP9573" border="0" alt="IMGP9573" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TccFWKF49BI/AAAAAAAAI-0/rClI_kweY5Y/IMGP9573_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="408" height="309" /></a> <br />our friends from le Moulin de Casso, which I wrote about <a href="http://olives-and-artichokes.blogspot.com/2009/11/olive-mill.html">when it first opened</a>, selling their olive oil.</td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TccFW6H2VoI/AAAAAAAAI-4/3hJsUzVFBWs/s1600-h/IMGP9580%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP9580" border="0" alt="IMGP9580" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TccFXfEvU5I/AAAAAAAAI-8/fi3PXMHEUAA/IMGP9580_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="438" height="298" /></a> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>We bought some <em>Bouteillan</em> and some <em>Picholine</em> olive oil, each with its own distinctive and delicious flavour.  The <em>Picholine</em> oil went very well first on its own with bread and then with some Mas Rolland goats’ cheeses at lunchtime, accompanied by a salad made with leaves from the garden and grated carrot and apple.</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TccFYCOOZrI/AAAAAAAAI_A/lgk0vG-PrXU/s1600-h/IMGP9588%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP9588" border="0" alt="IMGP9588" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TccFYlz7NgI/AAAAAAAAI_E/TfAsDhKzfbk/IMGP9588_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="387" height="263" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TccFZTjRFvI/AAAAAAAAI_I/E-9q2q3EtaQ/s1600-h/IMGP9593%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP9593" border="0" alt="IMGP9593" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TccFZ87CDvI/AAAAAAAAI_M/Pbg6pZRS5m0/IMGP9593_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="394" height="268" /></a> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> chaiselonguehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11372135992072231446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-441141568118034925.post-1251290344705324002011-05-07T19:49:00.001+02:002011-05-07T19:49:23.369+02:00Apples and cherries<p>We’ve never before had so many apples as there are on our tree this year.  It almost makes up for the poor apricot crop (I can see two fruits on that tree), but I’d much prefer to have apricots instead.  It’s exciting that our small wild cherry tree, planted as a sucker given to us by our neighbour about two and a half years ago, is bearing its first fruit (below, right).</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="133"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TcWGD_vdTqI/AAAAAAAAI9w/lOZJkVGk_LI/s1600-h/IMGP9538%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP9538" border="0" alt="IMGP9538" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TcWGEhsmcuI/AAAAAAAAI90/z1J_0qk_n4c/IMGP9538_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="276" height="258" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TcWGFPKosJI/AAAAAAAAI94/djwX5sIBVrM/s1600-h/IMGP9531%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP9531" border="0" alt="IMGP9531" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TcWGFjebiWI/AAAAAAAAI98/3HMW3fCbSAY/IMGP9531_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="283" height="256" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TcWGGau5BQI/AAAAAAAAI-A/CJ0HUS9sKi8/s1600-h/IMGP9503%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP9503" border="0" alt="IMGP9503" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TcWGG0euD7I/AAAAAAAAI-E/Sjw1xgkIrf0/IMGP9503_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="283" height="259" /></a> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p></p> <p></p> <p>And those irises again, framing some orange poppies:</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TcWGHoY_zgI/AAAAAAAAI-I/ufUvNQ50_wc/s1600-h/IMGP9509%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP9509" border="0" alt="IMGP9509" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TcWGItZDAQI/AAAAAAAAI-M/dRjE5DEi9E4/IMGP9509_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="575" height="398" /></a></p> chaiselonguehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11372135992072231446noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-441141568118034925.post-73408393900991672772011-05-04T14:13:00.001+02:002011-05-04T14:13:04.522+02:00Artichokes and a lot of spring flowers<p>I picked three more artichokes this morning, making 9 in all this year, so the plants are doing much better than they did last year and there are plenty more still growing.</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TcFCqpnFvFI/AAAAAAAAI8Y/LgM_-trLzZg/s1600-h/IMGP9416%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP9416" border="0" alt="IMGP9416" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TcFCrFRxbgI/AAAAAAAAI8c/0NS8r2ngfNk/IMGP9416_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="430" height="332" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TcFCr2XBGGI/AAAAAAAAI8g/rtFW8cDh9Ic/s1600-h/IMGP9418%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP9418" border="0" alt="IMGP9418" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TcFCsaDd4wI/AAAAAAAAI8k/yhU0df_goFg/IMGP9418_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="343" height="330" /></a> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p></p> <p>It’s the most colourful time of the year in the garden and in the garrigue because all the plants flower now before dying down again when the weather gets too hot and dry for them from June onwards.</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="580"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="133"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TcFCs-mmD7I/AAAAAAAAI8o/ohcAYRxtfJo/s1600-h/IMGP9374%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP9374" border="0" alt="IMGP9374" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TcFCtbNEg3I/AAAAAAAAI8s/-mKe4USFMi0/IMGP9374_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="359" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TcFCt1uCA7I/AAAAAAAAI8w/W8YKxiP41DE/s1600-h/IMGP9404%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP9404" border="0" alt="IMGP9404" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TcFCuRayUKI/AAAAAAAAI80/oLBDn31Vycc/IMGP9404_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="329" height="235" /></a> Cistus (left), poppies (above) and irises (right).</td> <td valign="top" width="312"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TcFCu1FV2GI/AAAAAAAAI84/C-XF2DAPz1c/s1600-h/IMGP9388%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP9388" border="0" alt="IMGP9388" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TcFCvsS9ncI/AAAAAAAAI88/oMeP-Q2pnsA/IMGP9388_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="255" height="375" /></a> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p></p> <p></p> <p>And because the irises look so lovely now and won’t last for long I took a lot of photos of them this morning:</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TcFCwDyoj6I/AAAAAAAAI9A/ew3wi4McKto/s1600-h/IMGP9386%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP9386" border="0" alt="IMGP9386" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TcFCwttnzFI/AAAAAAAAI9E/Byk2gcki5zs/IMGP9386_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="276" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TcFCxDnr8gI/AAAAAAAAI9I/QAvs-r7YlnM/s1600-h/IMGP9394%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP9394" border="0" alt="IMGP9394" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TcFCxrLhAEI/AAAAAAAAI9M/t8i2n8xIZdY/IMGP9394_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="405" height="276" /></a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TcFCyKBdAnI/AAAAAAAAI9Q/WJImYXIDMF0/s1600-h/IMGP9387%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP9387" border="0" alt="IMGP9387" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TcFCyssrHZI/AAAAAAAAI9U/6p2vG1MGi-0/IMGP9387_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="411" height="280" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TcFCzaBXUDI/AAAAAAAAI9Y/ZUUmC_Gj8F4/s1600-h/IMGP9397%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP9397" border="0" alt="IMGP9397" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TcFCz12XihI/AAAAAAAAI9c/wj40-aDEg2U/IMGP9397_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="419" height="285" /></a> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> chaiselonguehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11372135992072231446noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-441141568118034925.post-66480562544256717842011-05-02T23:53:00.001+02:002011-05-02T23:53:18.607+02:00Planting out aubergines and finding a green lizard<p>We’ve planted out about a dozen aubergine plants our neighbour gave us – six of them next to a row of peppers on the left below.  We usually grow the grafted plants, bought from a garden centre, because they produce so many more aubergines than the ordinary plants, but this year we’ll try these, as well as a few grafted ones.  The Greek maize I planted out a couple of weeks ago is doing well (on the right below).</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tb8nnfgqtbI/AAAAAAAAI7Q/sh5elgUwUDE/s1600-h/IMGP9309%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP9309" border="0" alt="IMGP9309" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tb8noGPVduI/AAAAAAAAI7U/EZ_V3Ui0VNY/IMGP9309_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="276" height="400" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tb8npKbl4tI/AAAAAAAAI7Y/1aaVw23QnYs/s1600-h/IMGP9321%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP9321" border="0" alt="IMGP9321" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tb8np_Tl5BI/AAAAAAAAI7c/6BVwKNgl_MY/IMGP9321_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="507" height="350" /></a> <br /> Sweet corn (maize) and a row of lettuce.</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p></p> <p>We also planted a row of chard, also given to us by our neighbour, next to the two rows of haricot beans which are growing quite well.  I picked the rest of last year’s chard today as it was going to seed, and we ate it this evening with pasta and cured ham.</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="400"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tb8nqqE5mYI/AAAAAAAAI7g/WprAWo-CLPk/s1600-h/IMGP9320%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP9320" border="0" alt="IMGP9320" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tb8nrvbAjFI/AAAAAAAAI7k/h5CwwChhSRM/IMGP9320_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="797" height="355" /></a> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p>Our ‘big’ iris has started to flower (left below), later but more spectacularly than our white and mauve irises, and the red salvia was attracting a few bees (right).</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tb8nsE64zII/AAAAAAAAI7o/G3qAlGrab9o/s1600-h/IMGP9307%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP9307" border="0" alt="IMGP9307" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tb8nsvCKbJI/AAAAAAAAI7s/4mmGhCfRFM8/IMGP9307_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="320" height="467" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tb8ntLXrpcI/AAAAAAAAI7w/WLBwFYc_VgQ/s1600-h/IMGP9304%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP9304" border="0" alt="IMGP9304" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tb8ntxKEgbI/AAAAAAAAI70/1j02yqpYf9k/IMGP9304_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="462" height="448" /></a> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p> </p> <p></p> <p><strong>And the green lizard under the olive tree</strong></p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tb8nukP91gI/AAAAAAAAI74/TBFpaRfzJYg/s1600-h/IMGP9280%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP9280" border="0" alt="IMGP9280" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tb8nvBAjtEI/AAAAAAAAI78/idC7PKjnr9Q/IMGP9280_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="423" height="353" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tb8nwKKE3rI/AAAAAAAAI8A/Ve3_viDnOz4/s1600-h/IMGP9283%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP9283" border="0" alt="IMGP9283" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tb8nw8wEo7I/AAAAAAAAI8E/o70ZYIFcxVk/IMGP9283_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="434" height="356" /></a> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p></p> <p>They’re much more shy than the brown wall lizards, so I was lucky to catch this one on camera!</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="640"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tb8nxYsPJmI/AAAAAAAAI8I/TDKvhrhiT5Q/s1600-h/IMGP9247%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP9247" border="0" alt="IMGP9247" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tb8nx3WiF8I/AAAAAAAAI8M/brBxAZQujxI/IMGP9247_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="347" height="236" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="438">Our garlic is growing quite tall, but I don’t think it will ever be as good as the garlic I bought from this stall in Pézenas market on Saturday.  It’s very fresh and tastes wonderful chopped raw onto salads and other vegetable dishes.</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p><strong>And home to lunch….</strong></p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="731"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tb8nylq2T9I/AAAAAAAAI8Q/GtrfLMvomWA/s1600-h/IMGP9331%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP9331" border="0" alt="IMGP9331" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/Tb8nzXbhLZI/AAAAAAAAI8U/kA4H0khsa58/IMGP9331_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="413" height="320" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="529">After working in the garden this morning we came home to a lunch of aubergine puréed with olive oil, garlic and oregano, some broad beans straight from the garden cooked with cured ham, and goats’ cheese from Roujan with thyme from the garden and olive oil that was milled in the village from olives from Servian, only about 10 kilometres away – all local, fresh and delicious!</td> </tr> </tbody></table> chaiselonguehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11372135992072231446noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-441141568118034925.post-34655639850311040332011-04-29T08:31:00.001+02:002011-04-29T08:31:42.684+02:00April in the garden<p>It’s the greenest time of the year, after the spring rain and before the summer drought, so the weeds as well as the flowers and vegetables seem to grow visibly from day to day.  We’ve eaten our first artichokes – thinly sliced hearts sautéed in olive oil until the edges of the leaves were browned and the centres were soft.  All they need then is a little salt and pepper – it’s one of my favourite ways of eating artichokes.</p> <p>The cistus flowers are out now, each lasting only a day but being replaced by others the next day.  This cricket was resting on one of them:</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TbpbSgaNd9I/AAAAAAAAI7I/QjJz589yy7U/s1600-h/IMGP9193%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP9193" border="0" alt="IMGP9193" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TbpbTXCymgI/AAAAAAAAI7M/7xwpluMeVRI/IMGP9193_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="601" height="524" /></a></p> chaiselonguehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11372135992072231446noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-441141568118034925.post-45622064594460214952011-04-22T18:44:00.001+02:002011-04-22T18:44:11.915+02:00Planting out the first tomatoes<table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="133"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TbGwOO86uhI/AAAAAAAAI6E/FONkMx6zJRg/s1600-h/IMGP8963%5B8%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP8963" border="0" alt="IMGP8963" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TbGwPX5c0sI/AAAAAAAAI6I/AWQbb8rmAJ0/IMGP8963_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="238" height="349" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TbGwQfGLEYI/AAAAAAAAI6M/Vmo5v1OrBuk/s1600-h/IMGP8965%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP8965" border="0" alt="IMGP8965" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TbGwRLkc5iI/AAAAAAAAI6Q/7MwTXtQdhGQ/IMGP8965_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="376" height="256" /></a> <br />We’ve planted out 12 Roma plants (left) and 18 Languedocian plants so far….many more still waiting. </td> <td valign="top" width="133"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TbGwSO0MLPI/AAAAAAAAI6U/dG2hz8LTgbg/s1600-h/IMGP8962%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP8962" border="0" alt="IMGP8962" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TbGwS6exGuI/AAAAAAAAI6Y/xIVJAz85rk4/IMGP8962_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="251" height="369" /></a> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p></p> <p></p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="133"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TbGwTq5wwiI/AAAAAAAAI6c/U1yivSI0dcY/s1600-h/IMGP8958%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP8958" border="0" alt="IMGP8958" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TbGwUA20CrI/AAAAAAAAI6g/R3IBLeGzoaw/IMGP8958_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="310" height="280" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TbGwU_Szz6I/AAAAAAAAI6k/bCb3H5EfNw8/s1600-h/IMGP8971%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP8971" border="0" alt="IMGP8971" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TbGwVc2No6I/AAAAAAAAI6o/1GQahb9UQAg/IMGP8971_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="287" height="275" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TbGwWBWn0DI/AAAAAAAAI6s/NuaV4FxCuk8/s1600-h/IMGP8975%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP8975" border="0" alt="IMGP8975" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TbGwWuuqi9I/AAAAAAAAI6w/Vi3CJFgKdnU/IMGP8975_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="282" /></a> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p></p> <p></p> <p>The cistus flowers (left) each last only a day before the petals fall, but there are plenty of buds in the garden and in the wild in the garrigue.  The irises last a bit longer – these (centre) are in our garden, but they’re often planted along the edges of vineyards too.  The orange poppy (right) is in the garden too, and all the rough patches of ground between the vineyards are covered with the flowers of the red, wild ones.</p> chaiselonguehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11372135992072231446noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-441141568118034925.post-46580034560895215662011-04-17T23:19:00.001+02:002011-04-17T23:19:52.692+02:00First sight of an artichoke<p>Several of the artichoke plants have small artichokes developing among their leaves, so it looks as though it may be a better crop than last year when the plants took too long to recover from the cold winter.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TatZVjxL5lI/AAAAAAAAI4U/FeEglAIdT9M/s1600-h/IMGP8843%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP8843" border="0" alt="IMGP8843" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TatZWOFAINI/AAAAAAAAI4Y/89Tj9ZDU9Kc/IMGP8843_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="344" height="330" /></a> </p> <p align="center">We should be eating our own artichokes within a week or so!</p> <p align="left"><strong>Roses and olives</strong></p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="508"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="259"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TatZWvUcdNI/AAAAAAAAI4c/8bS3Mp8O928/s1600-h/IMGP8848%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP8848" border="0" alt="IMGP8848" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TatZXBpg6qI/AAAAAAAAI4g/s0Tdx6UPV-M/IMGP8848_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="347" height="318" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="247"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TatZXtWWMaI/AAAAAAAAI4k/nbiEa1OkVxA/s1600-h/IMGP8851%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP8851" border="0" alt="IMGP8851" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TatZYQhEs5I/AAAAAAAAI4o/CccyK9BH2-0/IMGP8851_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="312" height="327" /></a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="263"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TatZZO2CSKI/AAAAAAAAI4s/PIaEq_oge8M/s1600-h/IMGP8876%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP8876" border="0" alt="IMGP8876" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TatZZR2tqHI/AAAAAAAAI4w/UC_-zuNcdaQ/IMGP8876_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="350" height="312" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="251"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TatZaKYezwI/AAAAAAAAI40/FhiU-CZ8Cgw/s1600-h/IMGP8872%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP8872" border="0" alt="IMGP8872" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TatZaW0b75I/AAAAAAAAI44/X5nfCts6aNM/IMGP8872_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="311" height="263" /></a> <br />olive flower buds look so insignificant but the fruit will make a good harvest in the autumn, we hope.</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>…about to flower, while the broom and Banksiae Rose are almost over….</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="362"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="199"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TatZbDrRJfI/AAAAAAAAI48/FEnSn46NEf0/s1600-h/IMGP8888%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP8888" border="0" alt="IMGP8888" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TatZcYOjgLI/AAAAAAAAI5A/qdpdU-HCkHk/IMGP8888_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="325" height="290" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="161"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TatZdWTO2AI/AAAAAAAAI5E/_GjaJXCb4Us/s1600-h/IMGP8890%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP8890" border="0" alt="IMGP8890" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TatZd3D3wdI/AAAAAAAAI5I/ReWmcD0dxoI/IMGP8890_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="436" height="297" /></a> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> chaiselonguehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11372135992072231446noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-441141568118034925.post-79992191021837337022011-04-12T23:30:00.001+02:002011-04-12T23:30:35.051+02:00Planting out the maize and lettuce<p>I was sent 10 Greek maize (sweetcorn) seeds by <a href="http://www.gaiashope.com/">Gaia’s Hope</a> and they all germinated.  They’re a variety that are very drought resistant, so I hope they’ll do well here.  Today we planted them out, as well as some lettuce plants that our neighbour gave us.</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TaTEWX3dwdI/AAAAAAAAI3Q/BVb99tpZC_8/s1600-h/IMGP8685%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP8685" border="0" alt="IMGP8685" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TaTEWzpAc3I/AAAAAAAAI3U/5_2AhTxd-Yw/IMGP8685_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="313" height="256" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TaTEYAYBLuI/AAAAAAAAI3Y/rM7hMOLP34o/s1600-h/IMGP8687%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP8687" border="0" alt="IMGP8687" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TaTEZD9oH4I/AAAAAAAAI3c/OsM1yWvO3dk/IMGP8687_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="374" height="255" /></a> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p></p> <p>I sowed the seeds in compost in toilet rolls (left above) and soon after they germinated they had huge roots and were outgrowing the tubes.  I took the cardboard tubes off before putting the plants in the ground in case they dried out too much and stopped the roots growing through properly.  </p> <p><strong>Spring flowers and an alien appearance</strong></p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="133"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TaTEZq-cKaI/AAAAAAAAI3g/s9rdXl6BjRc/s1600-h/IMGP8693%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP8693" border="0" alt="IMGP8693" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TaTEaFjQfvI/AAAAAAAAI3k/ciH56vN5AvA/IMGP8693_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="293" height="274" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TaTEaqs27pI/AAAAAAAAI3o/SsqktIffNm0/s1600-h/IMGP8695%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP8695" border="0" alt="IMGP8695" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TaTEbJPYQ0I/AAAAAAAAI3s/5238UHI0jWE/IMGP8695_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="308" height="248" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TaTEbl8zUbI/AAAAAAAAI3w/5yWOwd4kvn0/s1600-h/IMGP8697%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP8697" border="0" alt="IMGP8697" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TaTEcE3KITI/AAAAAAAAI30/Ck_aLqQedOs/IMGP8697_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="319" height="257" /></a> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p>The first cistus flowers are starting to appear – this one (above, left) is by the path to our garden on a neighbour’s plot.  The Muscat d’Hambourg table grape vine has tiny flower buds on it (centre).  And work continues on the housing development next to the garden, with the incongruous appearance of a theodolite above an ancient dry stone wall (right).</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TaTEc1ooHjI/AAAAAAAAI34/7Nyo1n7FtZI/s1600-h/IMGP8682%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP8682" border="0" alt="IMGP8682" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TaTEdZMXRcI/AAAAAAAAI38/UaKphMBVmzk/IMGP8682_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="349" height="238" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TaTEd4IsDiI/AAAAAAAAI4A/OvtZteqKbgI/s1600-h/IMGP8700%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP8700" border="0" alt="IMGP8700" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TaTEevbiFVI/AAAAAAAAI4E/qd9HmIejT3U/IMGP8700_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="323" height="239" /></a> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p></p> <p>A green salad (left) made from leaves from the garden – lettuce, spinach, broad bean, rocket, celery – with slices of <em>cou farci</em> we made with one of the duck necks we brought back from the Gers.  I mixed sausage meat (100 % pork) with raisins soaked in white wine, salt, and pepper, and used it to stuff the skin of the duck neck.  The stuffed necks were then added to the pan with all the duck fat and the legs to make <em>confit</em>, and simmered gently for two and a half hours.  They can then be stored in a cool place covered with fat for weeks, or even months, although I don’t think ours will last very long.  The leeks (in the right) are some remaining from our very poor crop this year.  They were very tasty, though, cooked in white wine, left to cool and eaten as a first course with salt, pepper and a vinaigrette dressing.</p> chaiselonguehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11372135992072231446noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-441141568118034925.post-71840333764604787822011-04-07T15:05:00.003+02:002011-04-07T19:10:07.121+02:00More spring flowers and a tiny apricot<table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZ22XrzSk5I/AAAAAAAAI2U/HQBQS8wl2Jk/s1600-h/IMGP8445%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP8445" border="0" alt="IMGP8445" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZ22YOqIY3I/AAAAAAAAI2Y/M9-h8LqPlbI/IMGP8445_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="332" height="315" /></a> <br />Apple blossom – there’s much more than last year. </td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZ22Y5FXZUI/AAAAAAAAI2c/cGR6_nexsxc/s1600-h/IMGP8464%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP8464" border="0" alt="IMGP8464" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZ22ZWqgU8I/AAAAAAAAI2g/hKBthmgUdX4/IMGP8464_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="309" height="303" /></a> <br />Cherry blossom – our first year. </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZ22Z-vUA9I/AAAAAAAAI2k/0J2q5paj5lE/s1600-h/IMGP8451%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP8451" border="0" alt="IMGP8451" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZ22aZbg98I/AAAAAAAAI2o/VrEPz-irTlM/IMGP8451_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="308" height="286" /></a><br />A rather raggedy iris.</td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZ22bDqtrsI/AAAAAAAAI2s/bvlT5rmEUWc/s1600-h/IMGP8456%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP8456" border="0" alt="IMGP8456" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZ22b7WZQiI/AAAAAAAAI2w/D4G3_bYwL00/IMGP8456_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="305" height="255" /></a> <br />The bay trees are covered in flowers.</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZ22c1KPylI/AAAAAAAAI20/t9_QiTjzOTA/s1600-h/IMGP8449%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP8449" border="0" alt="IMGP8449" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZ22duKa33I/AAAAAAAAI24/0Euc6e__GwE/IMGP8449_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="302" height="280" /></a> <br />The broom is flowering here in the garden and all over the hills in the garrigue.</td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZ22eOVnz4I/AAAAAAAAI28/UJ2343UwHBU/s1600-h/IMGP8468%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP8468" border="0" alt="IMGP8468" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZ22erUAiZI/AAAAAAAAI3A/5fDEn5y0nVk/IMGP8468_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="295" height="297" /></a> <br />There aren’t many apricots on our tree, but it’s going to be a better year than last year.</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><strong>And the last of the red cabbages</strong></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZ22fZmzwiI/AAAAAAAAI3E/LNaVH6jc7Lw/s1600-h/IMGP8476%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP8476" border="0" alt="IMGP8476" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZ22fyeUoMI/AAAAAAAAI3I/-95Py5f_Uy8/IMGP8476_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="322" height="219" /></a> </p> <p>There were three small red cabbages left and threatening to go to seed, so we picked them all this morning, sliced them and cooked them with two sliced onions sautéed in olive oil, a tablespoonful of whole cumin seeds, two tablespoons of brown sugar, a cup of red wine vinegar and a cup of water, plus some salt and pepper, left it all to simmer for about 45 minutes until the cabbage was cooked. It can now be frozen in meal-sized bagfuls.</p>chaiselonguehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11372135992072231446noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-441141568118034925.post-61307924090793263002011-04-06T17:36:00.001+02:002011-04-06T17:36:09.665+02:00Vines and roses<p>In the vineyards, the vines are growing bright green new leaves:</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZyIPrxR3oI/AAAAAAAAI1c/iKteTTtlfn8/s1600-h/IMGP8257%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP8257" border="0" alt="IMGP8257" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZyIQWPOnzI/AAAAAAAAI1g/YOvH5C_NBLk/IMGP8257_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="395" height="304" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZyITGu2kFI/AAAAAAAAI1k/-T3SkhE9-II/s1600-h/IMGP8251%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP8251" border="0" alt="IMGP8251" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZyIT1OSsbI/AAAAAAAAI1o/c_7qMvKmc4Y/IMGP8251_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="423" height="303" /></a> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p></p> <p>The wild cherry trees, given to us by our neighbour a couple of years ago as very young side shoots, are flowering for the first time:</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZyIUV8xtzI/AAAAAAAAI1s/CkUUrI0VBx4/s1600-h/IMGP8316%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP8316" border="0" alt="IMGP8316" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZyIU_xQfwI/AAAAAAAAI1w/GFkOz9Jz670/IMGP8316_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="456" height="400" /></a> </p> <p align="left">At midday we have to shelter from the sun to eat our lunch, yesterday a tuna salad with leaves from the garden:</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZyIWAQ2hNI/AAAAAAAAI10/doS86ftHdmI/s1600-h/IMGP8302%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP8302" border="0" alt="IMGP8302" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZyIW3DQkCI/AAAAAAAAI14/TynWepOJezY/IMGP8302_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="492" height="338" /></a> </p> <p align="left">And the Banksiae rose has flowers and plenty more buds about to open:</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="133"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZyIXbDdIVI/AAAAAAAAI18/8cG6BTyGfs8/s1600-h/IMGP8397%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP8397" border="0" alt="IMGP8397" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZyIXytRdNI/AAAAAAAAI2A/VTZVXhjWmzU/IMGP8397_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="306" height="252" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZyIYmu3DII/AAAAAAAAI2E/vV_K953qLaY/s1600-h/IMGP8320%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP8320" border="0" alt="IMGP8320" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZyIZIPh1HI/AAAAAAAAI2I/Ppqdf3GOfKs/IMGP8320_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="276" height="259" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZyIZlDoYrI/AAAAAAAAI2M/FCSQYDoM9xg/s1600-h/IMGP8326%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP8326" border="0" alt="IMGP8326" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZyIaKvtIuI/AAAAAAAAI2Q/rxUZTM96Q54/IMGP8326_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="267" height="251" /></a> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> chaiselonguehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11372135992072231446noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-441141568118034925.post-37205005078310596562011-03-31T19:55:00.002+02:002011-04-06T17:49:53.791+02:00Foire au gras and the last day of March in the garden<p>At the weekend we went on a trip to the Gers in south-west France, guided by friends who used to live in that area and know it well. The highlight of the visit was the Monday morning <em>foire au gras</em> in Samatan, devoted to the sale of foie gras and fattened ducks for making <em>confit de canard</em> and other south-western delights. I know that some people find the production of foie gras distasteful – if you are one of these then you should fast forward to the spring flowers at the end of this post. I’ve written about this subject before on my blog a couple of years ago. I believe that properly raised ducks and foie gras represent sustainable local food in an area which is well-suited to raising them. The life of a duck on the farm of a small producer in the Gers is so much better than that of an industrially kept chicken or duck that they cannot really be compared, so I make no apology for being a supporter of the traditional foie gras farmers.</p> <p><strong>The marché au gras at Samatan</strong></p> <p>Every Monday morning throughout the winter and until the end of March this market has two sessions – the first from 9.30 to 10.30 a.m. when producers sell duck carcases and a huge hall is filled with tables where people display anything from 20 to a hundred or so of their ducks for sale at very reasonable prices (around 2 euros per kilo this week). This session of the market then closes and another opens to sell foie gras. Again small local producers bring small numbers of foies gras for around 30 euros per kilo (this week). During spring and summer, from next week onwards the two markets are combined and the market is usually smaller although, apparently, the Easter Monday market is very popular and busy.</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZS_npMgBEI/AAAAAAAAIzk/_656rKLbNoI/s1600-h/IMGP7812%5B8%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP7812" border="0" alt="IMGP7812" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZS_oWi2PGI/AAAAAAAAIzo/eG7_wxxUMMA/IMGP7812_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="424" height="221" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZS_pMybe0I/AAAAAAAAIzs/NzO-72HjET8/s1600-h/IMGP7836%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP7836" border="0" alt="IMGP7836" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZS_pZjY8DI/AAAAAAAAIzw/Gcp7RxKHMRA/IMGP7836_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="354" height="217" /></a> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p></p> <p>You choose your duck (above left) and then it is taken to be weighed at central scales before you pay for it. The foie gras is weighed by each stall holder. For 1 euro per bird you can take it to a cutting room where two men were working non-stop to joint the ducks. Some people had trolleys filled with twenty or so birds, for restaurants perhaps, others like us had just one.</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZS_qEXz8iI/AAAAAAAAIz0/mUmzcm1uicg/s1600-h/IMGP7851%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP7851" border="0" alt="IMGP7851" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZS_qp-9w9I/AAAAAAAAIz4/iEZjik-3tR8/IMGP7851_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="297" height="273" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZS_rQqMKlI/AAAAAAAAIz8/HoXis6t77gw/s1600-h/IMGP7852%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP7852" border="0" alt="IMGP7852" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZS_sOa1jqI/AAAAAAAAI0A/czaDpHNWzeQ/IMGP7852_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="402" height="274" /></a> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p></p> <p>These ducks are specially reared to have plenty of fat for preserving them and are not meant for roasting. Our duck was cut into: 2 legs and 2 wings for making <em>confit de canard</em>, 2 <em>magrets</em> or breasts which can be grilled, the neck to be used to make <em>cou farci</em> – the skin stuffed with pork meat to make a kind of sausage, the giblets for preserving in fat, and the carcass which was delicious grilled so that we could eat the tender slivers of meat that were left on it. I’ll write another post in the next day or so about how we have made <em>confit</em>, <em>cou farci</em> and preserved the foie gras.</p> <p>In another market hall next door there was a live poultry and vegetable market, with farmers selling baskets of fresh eggs by the door.</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="133"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZS_tMgt-qI/AAAAAAAAI0E/LCQtYEYedH4/s1600-h/IMGP7815%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP7815" border="0" alt="IMGP7815" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZS_tqsGZJI/AAAAAAAAI0I/U5s8kpILfTU/IMGP7815_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="173" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZS_utwSpKI/AAAAAAAAI0M/iHkkzA9Bjho/s1600-h/IMGP7822%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP7822" border="0" alt="IMGP7822" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZS_vfq8QBI/AAAAAAAAI0Q/lm0u2nGHKJA/IMGP7822_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="336" height="269" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZS_wL3SkeI/AAAAAAAAI0U/1InJhyQuEvU/s1600-h/IMGP7825%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP7825" border="0" alt="IMGP7825" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZS_wzHQSvI/AAAAAAAAI0Y/RLZV_W3oU60/IMGP7825_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="255" height="270" /></a> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p></p> <p></p> <p>The chickens in cages looked a bit cramped, but were heading for a life in the open air as free range layers – nothing like the life of a battery hen!</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZS_xV7YAwI/AAAAAAAAI0c/3puL-yDY27Q/s1600-h/IMGP7879%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP7879" border="0" alt="IMGP7879" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZS_yItptfI/AAAAAAAAI0g/7D_CcCp_dHI/IMGP7879_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="360" height="245" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZS_y9Ur_LI/AAAAAAAAI0k/ZGDO3OeS2F4/s1600-h/IMGP7883%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP7883" border="0" alt="IMGP7883" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZS_zTGITqI/AAAAAAAAI0o/TdOHpUukmU4/IMGP7883_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="365" height="249" /></a> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p></p> <p>Above left, the part of the market hall which is unused at this time of year, but would be used in winter when the market would be bigger, showing the size of this south-western phenomenon. On the right, one of the streets of the town where the usual market was taking place.</p> <p><strong>And the garden….</strong></p> <p>We came home with some <em>oignons de Trébons</em>, similar to our local Lézignan onions but with smaller bulbs. There’s some more about them in French <a href="http://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2010/06/12/853704-L-oignon-de-Trebons.html">here</a>. Natives of the south-west, they may not do so well in our dry climate, but it’s worth a try.</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZS_0Sh0COI/AAAAAAAAI0s/vSQSp3jT7PE/s1600-h/IMGP8045%5B10%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP8045" border="0" alt="IMGP8045" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZS_1BRiAiI/AAAAAAAAI0w/IddIK3EsW0w/IMGP8045_thumb%5B8%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="339" height="231" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZS_1zV_b-I/AAAAAAAAI00/QMfDx2K6X8A/s1600-h/IMGP8027%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP8027" border="0" alt="IMGP8027" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZS_24_jhGI/AAAAAAAAI04/jtSpTdVZ6v8/IMGP8027_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="336" height="229" /></a> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p></p> <p>Above left, some of the new onions next to the second sowing of broad beans; right, the artichoke plants are doing well and we’re hoping for artichokes next month.</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZS_3iSzp2I/AAAAAAAAI08/twyTeQYs2hM/s1600-h/IMGP8017%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP8017" border="0" alt="IMGP8017" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZS_4LkDolI/AAAAAAAAI1A/PSE57tUKNWw/IMGP8017_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="343" height="306" /></a> <br />The tulips are out. </td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZS_4zWRBSI/AAAAAAAAI1E/oIO1mj2uoRU/s1600-h/IMGP8039%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP8039" border="0" alt="IMGP8039" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZS_5ZjlygI/AAAAAAAAI1I/4HV0iGhTK50/IMGP8039_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="278" height="253" /></a> <br />One of the cherry trees given to us by our neighbour a couple of years ago is flowering for the first time. </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZS_657i-SI/AAAAAAAAI1M/x-zY7jpGjMw/s1600-h/IMGP8055%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP8055" border="0" alt="IMGP8055" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZS_7eqK4gI/AAAAAAAAI1Q/OIKmt_susVw/IMGP8055_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="335" height="295" /></a> Borage</td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZS_79M6O3I/AAAAAAAAI1U/xeVFD4vLLkk/s1600-h/IMGP8010%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP8010" border="0" alt="IMGP8010" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TZS_9a3BiBI/AAAAAAAAI1Y/cbegz8d54X8/IMGP8010_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="287" height="196" /></a> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> and bay. </td> </tr> </tbody></table>chaiselonguehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11372135992072231446noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-441141568118034925.post-62862036696662972232011-03-26T18:19:00.001+01:002011-03-26T18:19:31.413+01:00Re-potting<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TY4f9v9rrEI/AAAAAAAAIx8/9FQp2ghBEQc/s1600-h/IMGP7697%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP7697" border="0" alt="IMGP7697" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TY4f-WTBlBI/AAAAAAAAIyA/BF0xYZAwSOU/IMGP7697_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="702" height="322" /></a> </p> <p>Tomatoes….</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TY4f_MPCwBI/AAAAAAAAIyE/rs25piLm9ko/s1600-h/IMGP7680%5B9%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP7680" border="0" alt="IMGP7680" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TY4f_2F-TxI/AAAAAAAAIyI/oCv7zF8QfMA/IMGP7680_thumb%5B7%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="418" height="289" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TY4gAwAe5cI/AAAAAAAAIyM/QjPNGAXqwJw/s1600-h/IMGP7742%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP7742" border="0" alt="IMGP7742" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TY4gBmHSZCI/AAAAAAAAIyQ/G_KnKYPWnvM/IMGP7742_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="373" height="288" /></a> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p></p> <p></p> <p>We’ve potted about 50 plants, with the Marmande and St Pierre still to do when they’re ready.</p> <p>And small two lemon trees we’ve grown from seed we found sprouting inside a lemon a year or so ago were ready to go into bigger pots.</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TY4gCE4i-QI/AAAAAAAAIyU/KotZIfd5DHQ/s1600-h/IMGP7720%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP7720" border="0" alt="IMGP7720" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TY4gCiOQrrI/AAAAAAAAIyY/z0pn3zWUfY4/IMGP7720_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="294" height="266" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TY4gDA4zKHI/AAAAAAAAIyc/nkYLzDXD7WY/s1600-h/IMGP7729%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP7729" border="0" alt="IMGP7729" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TY4gD-iyebI/AAAAAAAAIyg/cM-lbC9zkJs/IMGP7729_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="476" height="265" /></a> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p>The pepper seedlings aren’t quite ready to go into pots yet:</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TY4gEppPZXI/AAAAAAAAIyk/ZTk2ZUs7yE8/s1600-h/IMGP7743%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP7743" border="0" alt="IMGP7743" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TY4gFFxsHCI/AAAAAAAAIyo/G8DtQW-bRhk/IMGP7743_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="467" height="318" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><strong>And paella for lunch…</strong></p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TY4gF5ylr3I/AAAAAAAAIys/8CAL4xx08ZU/s1600-h/IMGP7735%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP7735" border="0" alt="IMGP7735" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TY4gGrmUHtI/AAAAAAAAIyw/FFRqXWtDhRg/IMGP7735_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="357" height="243" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TY4gHZsNEII/AAAAAAAAIy0/hAwBP6Qf1Yg/s1600-h/IMGP7736%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP7736" border="0" alt="IMGP7736" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TY4gIGC00XI/AAAAAAAAIy4/KZP3tbDM4Xo/IMGP7736_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="357" height="243" /></a> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> chaiselonguehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11372135992072231446noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-441141568118034925.post-29966344504009143172011-03-24T14:34:00.002+01:002011-03-24T14:59:50.148+01:00Onions from Lézignan<p>‘La Cébe des Lézignan es douça coumo lou pan’ (Occitan for ‘Lézignan onions are sweet as bread’. (from Monsieur Lucas’s <a href="http://plantsdoignons.free.fr/">website</a>)</p> <p>This morning we went on our annual trip to Lézignan la Cèbe near Pézenas to buy seedlings of the famous onions that grow there. I wrote about this village and its onions <a href="http://olives-and-artichokes.blogspot.com/2010/03/spring-flowers-lezignan-onions-and-wild.html">last year</a> so I won’t describe them in detail now, but I’ll just say that they are very sweet when we start to pull them in June to eat in salads or to grill on the barbecue. Later in the summer they become less sweet and we use them for cooking. This morning we planted 50 seedlings next to the 50 seedlings of slightly earlier but similar Spanish onions.</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TYtINOZjsCI/AAAAAAAAIxE/KkAL3vaeaMw/s1600-h/IMGP7655%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP7655" border="0" alt="IMGP7655" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TYtINxwzHPI/AAAAAAAAIxI/t2mNQDtiD7Q/IMGP7655_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="354" height="259" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TYtIO0NZpWI/AAAAAAAAIxM/gj48ZcJLPjI/s1600-h/IMGP7653%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP7653" border="0" alt="IMGP7653" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TYtIPh2ZQZI/AAAAAAAAIxQ/vsKJjm1apt8/IMGP7653_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="405" height="258" /></a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TYtIQSUa9kI/AAAAAAAAIxU/DPQx_WovjWw/s1600-h/IMGP7657%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP7657" border="0" alt="IMGP7657" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TYtIRLHyzrI/AAAAAAAAIxY/jELfeBZ_irc/IMGP7657_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="359" height="253" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TYtIRxO8M-I/AAAAAAAAIxc/IB8sAp1pvTQ/s1600-h/IMGP7672%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP7672" border="0" alt="IMGP7672" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TYtISsb1w2I/AAAAAAAAIxg/k-EWaz3m2o8/IMGP7672_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="383" height="261" /></a> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Looking back at last year’s post about Lézignan onions, I see that while Lo Jardinièr planted the onions I sowed haricot beans…and exactly the same happened this year. I sowed a row of Contender beans, a few days later than the tradition date here which is 19 March, St Joseph’s Day.</p> <p><strong>Hummingbird hawk moth</strong></p> <p>I’ve seen a couple of these during the past week or so, rather earlier than usual I think, and managed to get a couple of photos of this one on our aubretia flowers this morning:</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TYtITu-zYXI/AAAAAAAAIxk/Y-dzrL0GgDc/s1600-h/IMGP7665%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP7665" border="0" alt="IMGP7665" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TYtIUbLQyPI/AAAAAAAAIxo/ww05PUuIKI8/IMGP7665_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="441" height="348" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TYtIVGujGKI/AAAAAAAAIxs/h41Nhp231Lk/s1600-h/IMGP7670%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP7670" border="0" alt="IMGP7670" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TYtIV2H40wI/AAAAAAAAIxw/O0imcCygq4c/IMGP7670_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="385" height="350" /></a> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p></p> <p>They’re hard to photograph as they never settle on a flower, but just put down a long proboscis into the centre of the flower, which can be seen here beneath the blur of the beating wings.</p>chaiselonguehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11372135992072231446noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-441141568118034925.post-34388507664977225762011-03-21T10:47:00.001+01:002011-03-21T10:47:12.130+01:00Spring lunch<p>At last the rain stopped and we were able to have a long, lazy lunch in the garden with friends.</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="133"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TYcedIvYKpI/AAAAAAAAIvU/EMswWN21MoI/s1600-h/IMGP7537%5B8%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP7537" border="0" alt="IMGP7537" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TYceeuZqlqI/AAAAAAAAIvY/tn7oreI3hlU/IMGP7537_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="223" height="202" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TYcefT9CDHI/AAAAAAAAIvc/JNI5Z7QfwdM/s1600-h/IMGP7552%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP7552" border="0" alt="IMGP7552" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TYcegEWAA0I/AAAAAAAAIvg/uhjYCKrKISY/IMGP7552_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="294" height="200" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TYceg99epaI/AAAAAAAAIvk/u00YGWFyCTg/s1600-h/IMGP7554%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP7554" border="0" alt="IMGP7554" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TYceh9vzqlI/AAAAAAAAIvo/AWcBc300wNg/IMGP7554_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="255" height="205" /></a> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p></p> <p></p> <p>We started with onions straight from the ground and grilled on the barbecue…..</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TYceiimZ2UI/AAAAAAAAIvs/XAQW8ZDRNrc/s1600-h/IMGP7556%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP7556" border="0" alt="IMGP7556" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TYcejaJELoI/AAAAAAAAIvw/Bff9KEDKmIo/IMGP7556_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="396" height="250" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TYcekGxJ78I/AAAAAAAAIv0/Pe8bUKg9pFo/s1600-h/IMGP7546%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP7546" border="0" alt="IMGP7546" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TYcekUzcdLI/AAAAAAAAIv4/ZiPLN0HKZxQ/IMGP7546_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="331" height="251" /></a> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p></p> <p>served with romesco sauce (ground almonds, red pepper, paprika, garlic, tomato) and a bottle of excellent rosé brought from Navarra by our friends.</p> <p>And the jasmine flowers are out:</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="133"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TYcelOEiU-I/AAAAAAAAIv8/aycD0swC_Hc/s1600-h/IMGP7571%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP7571" border="0" alt="IMGP7571" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TYcelssqFRI/AAAAAAAAIwA/rjBxoF2Y8_0/IMGP7571_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="283" height="244" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TYcemRxzoqI/AAAAAAAAIwE/lDa4CzKHgWA/s1600-h/IMGP7582%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP7582" border="0" alt="IMGP7582" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TYcem0BNXgI/AAAAAAAAIwI/Bt2U3hdLI1A/IMGP7582_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="224" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TYcenZmkFQI/AAAAAAAAIwM/rWoKGZjr9jA/s1600-h/IMGP7585%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP7585" border="0" alt="IMGP7585" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TYcen-_CmaI/AAAAAAAAIwQ/3tM4adlilYg/IMGP7585_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> chaiselonguehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11372135992072231446noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-441141568118034925.post-39954530569893534792011-03-15T12:03:00.001+01:002011-03-15T12:03:24.229+01:00Rain….and more rain<p>It’s been raining almost constantly for four days now – very welcome for the water supply but not very good for the morale or for spring work in the garden.</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="400"> <p align="left"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TX9HcWsJIiI/AAAAAAAAIu4/dL5p-aZctD4/s1600-h/IMGP7455%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP7455" border="0" alt="IMGP7455" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TX9HdHcGDzI/AAAAAAAAIu8/a6XsWBPdnFc/IMGP7455_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="577" height="395" /></a> </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="400"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TX9Hd-gX7FI/AAAAAAAAIvA/wFlMp-3LhSY/s1600-h/IMGP7460%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP7460" border="0" alt="IMGP7460" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TX9Hey0youI/AAAAAAAAIvE/qknrh4xj3mE/IMGP7460_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="573" height="370" /></a> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> chaiselonguehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11372135992072231446noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-441141568118034925.post-86314743949905181382011-03-10T15:00:00.001+01:002011-03-10T15:00:24.330+01:00First lizard and a trip to the goat farm<p>It was a beautiful spring morning after a cold night, around freezing temperature at dawn but up to about 20 C by midday, perfect for our trip to Mas Rolland to fetch a trailer-load of goat manure.</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TXjZPX3ntLI/AAAAAAAAIto/hkdwRuZEFqA/s1600-h/IMGP7323%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP7323" border="0" alt="IMGP7323" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TXjZQIbnZMI/AAAAAAAAIts/ssVxiXtGmMg/IMGP7323_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="378" height="278" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TXjZRGjcswI/AAAAAAAAItw/t0xOFSg3Jkg/s1600-h/IMGP7338%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP7338" border="0" alt="IMGP7338" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TXjZR7LsSYI/AAAAAAAAIt0/HoDszf2m6c0/IMGP7338_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="282" /></a> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p></p> <p>The vineyards and the garrigue-covered hillsides looked beautiful in the sunlight and when we got to the garden there were lizards sunning themselves on the wall by the path.  Several of them scuttled under stones as I approached, but I managed to catch this one in time.</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TXjZS4y2wII/AAAAAAAAIt4/MKosVa6TUdM/s1600-h/IMGP7353%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP7353" border="0" alt="IMGP7353" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TXjZTmi_6TI/AAAAAAAAIt8/WWg0RkQkSro/IMGP7353_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="315" height="266" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TXjZUhUwP8I/AAAAAAAAIuA/fV7u_LIIrsM/s1600-h/IMGP7355%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP7355" border="0" alt="IMGP7355" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TXjZVckUzCI/AAAAAAAAIuE/vw4RVB31qmE/IMGP7355_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="329" height="261" /></a> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p></p> <p>There’s nothing quite like goat manure for the garden.  We’ll be using this to improve the soil in the beds where we’ll be growing peppers and tomatoes this summer.</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="520"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="259"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TXjZWDZAS3I/AAAAAAAAIuI/v5atrYjsRJE/s1600-h/IMGP7343%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP7343" border="0" alt="IMGP7343" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TXjZWtg2i3I/AAAAAAAAIuM/F7EODQySTu8/IMGP7343_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="357" height="331" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="259"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TXjZXsUpx6I/AAAAAAAAIuQ/4a6IcFxJ01o/s1600-h/IMGP7352%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP7352" border="0" alt="IMGP7352" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TXjZYbhijSI/AAAAAAAAIuU/E1NnNA5-sbw/IMGP7352_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="350" height="330" /></a> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p></p> <p>The apricot tree is still blossoming and the flowers were attracting a lot of bees – a good sign for this year’s fruit.</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="133"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TXjZZFMG4EI/AAAAAAAAIuY/_c_gunt1Uek/s1600-h/IMGP7340%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP7340" border="0" alt="IMGP7340" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TXjZZyCWK4I/AAAAAAAAIuc/HNLNISKOOz4/IMGP7340_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="304" height="223" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TXjZaaLBOmI/AAAAAAAAIug/jFPZ1ndIBek/s1600-h/IMGP7360%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP7360" border="0" alt="IMGP7360" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TXjZbKVjYzI/AAAAAAAAIuk/uAPH8Yu2798/IMGP7360_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="133"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TXjZbhzICKI/AAAAAAAAIuo/T_VooMYQJuk/s1600-h/IMGP7363%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP7363" border="0" alt="IMGP7363" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TXjZcZu6E9I/AAAAAAAAIus/rIjaH6Dv9vI/IMGP7363_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="241" height="244" /></a> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Daffodils, aubretia and jasmine are flowering, and there are a lot more jasmine buds still about to open.</p> <p><strong>Home to a good lunch….</strong></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TXjZdJkiaKI/AAAAAAAAIuw/SqOUBzw6vS0/s1600-h/IMGP7373%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP7373" border="0" alt="IMGP7373" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TXjZd5yLA3I/AAAAAAAAIu0/dF85wqxWFh0/IMGP7373_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="395" height="269" /></a>Lettuce and wild rocket from the garden, sobresada and peppered sausage brought for us</p> <p align="center">from the Spanish border by our neighbour, chorizo and <em>jambon cru</em> from Lacaune. </p> chaiselonguehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11372135992072231446noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-441141568118034925.post-48069672112734453062011-03-07T12:28:00.002+01:002011-03-08T18:24:32.556+01:00Tomatoes germinated<table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="638"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TXTBIdE3HXI/AAAAAAAAIs8/tOyUEo_ii-M/s1600-h/DSC05919%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC05919" border="0" alt="DSC05919" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TXTBJJUycAI/AAAAAAAAItA/1ERaxxJDT0c/DSC05919_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="334" height="286" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="436">The tomato seeds we sowed last weekend had all germinated by Friday (except for the Marmande) and were ready to go in one of the mini-greenhouses that Lo Jardinièr made <a href="http://olives-and-artichokes.blogspot.com/2010/02/surprise-snow-and-our-first-mini.html">last year.</a> In the mornings we keep them inside but next to a window that has sun, in the afternoons they go out on the balcony. The seedlings seem to be growing very quickly! Now that they no longer need seed-starter box we have sowed the pepper seeds.</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p>Varieties of peppers sown from seed we have saved or been given by friends:</p> <p><strong>Kandil dolma</strong> – a Turkish bell pepper with a very distinctive flavour. Only one germinated last year so we’re hoping for more this year.</p> <p><strong>Red marconi</strong></p> <p><strong>Corno di toro</strong></p> <p><strong>Spanish long pepper – </strong>seeds given to us by our neighbour.</p> <p><strong>Long pepper – </strong>seeds given to us by our garden neighbours.</p> <p><strong>Nardello</strong></p> <p><strong>Piment d’Espelette</strong> – seed from paprika peppers bought in the village of Espelette in the French Basque country. As there is an <em>appélation controlée </em>for peppers grown in the area of that village I’m not sure whether the ones we grow here can be called Espelette.</p> <p><strong>Chorizo</strong> – another paprika variety. Seeds saved from peppers we grew last year from seed given to us by a friend in Navarra.</p> <p><strong>In the garden</strong></p> <p>The broad beans we sowed in autumn are flowering now and the second row we sowed a few weeks ago are coming up well, along with a few of the mangetout peas which always seem to be slower to germinate.</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TXTBKCsHAlI/AAAAAAAAItE/tK2l9_fwq2k/s1600-h/DSC05918%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC05918" border="0" alt="DSC05918" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TXTBK_d9GtI/AAAAAAAAItI/7Ev2WmMvOoA/DSC05918_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="321" height="317" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TXTBL1g6W3I/AAAAAAAAItM/NuADOCEMOWA/s1600-h/DSC05916%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSC05916" border="0" alt="DSC05916" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TXTBM9OJQtI/AAAAAAAAItQ/lpaJ6ZZQ6t0/DSC05916_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="331" height="311" /></a> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p><strong>And two good meals from the weekend…</strong></p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TXTBNzEDOuI/AAAAAAAAItU/pTc9aTq3L4A/s1600-h/IMGP7159%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP7159" border="0" alt="IMGP7159" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TXTBOfkk9ZI/AAAAAAAAItY/qf8D3vvbvbo/IMGP7159_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="360" height="245" /></a> </td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TXTBPRbWuBI/AAAAAAAAItc/qP7dgQjnptw/s1600-h/IMGP7183%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP7183" border="0" alt="IMGP7183" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TXTBQH7itQI/AAAAAAAAItg/D0w0Lb0RVG4/IMGP7183_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="365" height="249" /></a> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p>Above left, the <em>cawl</em> (Welsh stew or soup made with lamb, leeks, potatoes and carrots) we served for our <em>soirée galloise</em> on Friday, when we invited 14 French/Occitan friends to celebrate St David’s Day with us, and right, the paella I made for Sunday lunch with pork, rabbit and chorizo.</p>chaiselonguehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11372135992072231446noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-441141568118034925.post-18531246399776276272011-03-02T14:13:00.002+01:002011-03-02T14:14:47.274+01:00Red cabbage<p>I saw bigger red cabbages for sale in the market this morning, but we’re quite proud of this one because it came from our garden. There are several more ready to eat.</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"> <br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TW5CW-aT3uI/AAAAAAAAIsc/UJUekuTmeBU/s1600-h/IMGP4356%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP4356" border="0" alt="IMGP4356" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TW5CXsWUKnI/AAAAAAAAIsg/U4gvEtjU9cY/IMGP4356_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="367" height="250" /></a> From the garden…. <br /></td> <td valign="top" width="200"> <br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TW5CYX_Gb0I/AAAAAAAAIsk/twSGTCmZS7o/s1600-h/IMGP7024%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP7024" border="0" alt="IMGP7024" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TW5CY6lnSMI/AAAAAAAAIso/kQAHq4YG19s/IMGP7024_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="357" height="254" /></a><br />to the kitchen….</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"> <br /><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TW5CZz3cWjI/AAAAAAAAIss/2Y3a9o-JnPA/s1600-h/IMGP7029%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP7029" border="0" alt="IMGP7029" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TW5CaketRvI/AAAAAAAAIsw/-2gGLBknY1M/IMGP7029_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="373" height="254" /></a> <br />to the cooking pot with onions, ground cumin and a little vinegar….</td> <td valign="top" width="200"> <br /><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TW5Cbq1OPhI/AAAAAAAAIs0/pBvbPZroWKc/s1600-h/IMGP7031%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP7031" border="0" alt="IMGP7031" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TW5CcAS7XNI/AAAAAAAAIs4/uhrLFzwfqQ4/IMGP7031_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="381" height="259" /></a> to the plate. It went very well with Lacaune sausage from the market. <br /></td> </tr> </tbody></table>chaiselonguehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11372135992072231446noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-441141568118034925.post-71073336244485052692011-03-01T18:20:00.001+01:002011-03-01T18:20:10.654+01:00Dydd Gŵyl Dewi / Saint David’s Day<p>And this year (unlike last year’s cold spring) there are a few daffodils out in the garden for the event…</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TW0qxTSGeVI/AAAAAAAAIsI/wC71WVPu210/s1600-h/IMGP7016%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="IMGP7016" border="0" alt="IMGP7016" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_NAhZ01w_pXw/TW0qyHQgFwI/AAAAAAAAIsM/wZE6olkx338/IMGP7016_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="332" height="364" /></a> </p> <p align="left">On Friday evening we’ll be holding our now traditional <em>soirée galloise </em>for our Occitan/French friends and we’re planning a meal of laverbread (seaweed) and bacon, <em>cawl</em> (a Welsh soup/stew of lamb, leeks, onions and potatoes), Caerphilly cheese and welsh cakes.  It’s the only day in the year when we depart from our usual Mediterranean diet!</p> <p align="center"><strong>Dydd Gŵyl Dewi hapus i bawb! / Happy St. David’s Day to all!</strong></p> chaiselonguehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11372135992072231446noreply@blogger.com3