Friday 31 May 2013

Roll on June

Last day of May. Mostly the month has been a wash out. We've had what feels like monsoon quantities of rain dumped on our heads and for the most part it has been unpleasantly clammy and chilly. We've all moaned here in our corner of France and it hasn't been much different elsewhere in the country.

For our part we haven't bothered to pressure wash the terrace nor bring out the terrace furniture..... yet. There's been no point. We've had so little sun that grabbing a chair and sitting out front has been the most efficient way to take advantage of it. We admit it...we've had the heating on..in May!!

Just to prove that horrible though May has been, we did have the very occasional bit of good weather, are some photos.

Lighter blue bearded iris
The bearded iris' have flowered in two shifts. These lighter blue ones came first earlier in the month when we had a few warm-ish days. Right now the darker royal purple-y ones are just beginning to open up, albeit verrrry slowly! 

yellow 'beard'
You can clearly see the 'beard' and the runway-like stripes which are there to entice the insects in.
Sunlight on the Etang de la ribaloche
Throughout May our butterfly lavender has done well, almost in defiance of the weather. It is almost a bit odd in a way to see it doing well as, for us, it is such a 'summer' flower.
Butterfly lavender outside the front door
However, whisper it quietly ... it seems as if all is about to improve. The word on the météo is that the weather is set to get better from Sunday onwards. Hurrah!! So roll on June!


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PS Normal blogging may well bit a bit patchy in early June as I will be hospital for a few days to fix a hip problem. I won't be allowed to drive for about 4 weeks after the operation and while grounded will try very hard not to drive Niall completely round the bend.

15 comments:

chm said...

Antoinette,

Wish you the best for your hip operation and a speedy recovery.

Remember, you’re not supposed to drive the car ... nor Niall any place for four weeks!

Anonymous said...

Good luck with the surgery!

Niall & Antoinette said...

@chm - I know .... I shall try to be good. Niall's said he'll hide the keys as a precaution :-)

a lundi

Niall & Antoinette said...

@Justine - thanks :-)

ladybird said...

Antoinette, Veel geluk met de operatie en een spoedig herstel! Martine

Niall & Antoinette said...

@Martine - dank je! En tot maandag.

the fly in the web said...

Good luck with the op...bet you're looking forward to being able to ride again!

A friend tells me that there are preparations afoot for a 'canicule' manifesting itself in France this summer....the mind boggles.

Niall & Antoinette said...

@Fly - Thanks. Oh yes, it is on the list of things 'which shall again become possible'.

A canicule??? Indeed! Will this country still recognise one when it arrives??

Craig said...

Best of luck with the operation. Niall - take deep breaths.
The bearded irises are lovely, one of my favourites.
In fact just this week I noted that we didn't have any in our garden here and so have just planted a few with foliage already so hopefully we'll get blooms this year.

Niall & Antoinette said...

@Craig - Thanks! Niall says he's already practising ;-)

You might be lucky but you'll certainly get a show next year.

Jean said...

The irises are lovely.
It will be good to get the op out of the way so you can get on with the rest of your life. The worst bit will be being cooped up indoors for so long!

Perpetua said...

All the best for successful surgery and a rapid recovery. You really deserve some nice warm sun, so that you can sit on the terrace and convalesce in comfort. :-)

Lovely photos and yes, the flowers do arrive, even if very belatedly.

Niall & Antoinette said...

@Perpetua - thanks. We've got the sun - was at friends yesterday and we sat out in it all afternoon.
Trust the weather to perk up just now!

Vera said...

Hope your surgery goes well and that you are soon up and about, but do take all the rest you need, and try not to hurry the healing of your body. Sending blessings to you.

rusty duck said...

Hope it all goes well and that you have a speedy recovery.. relax in the sunshine!