pumpkins and bio-fuel

A superb day - no rain at all and it was warm and balmy. The bees were so busy at the front of the house where the ceanothus is in full bloom the air was humming. We are lucky to have masses of bumblebees here. They are enormous and very beautiful. The road sides are full of buttercups and forget-me-nots at the moment. The rape crops are at their best - the air is thick with their sweet smell. The smell will soon not be so pleasant! We notice there are a lot more rape crops this year - far less wheat. It appears this is to serve the agricultural bio-fuel craze. I see the price of the daily baguette rising as wheat crops become more scarce...

One of my elderly friends who is a keen gardener told me as a child he remembers they always planted pumpkins on the fourth of May. I thought I would give it a try this year. Like many of these customs he could offer no good reason why this particular date was chosen but remembers clearly that it was what they did. At 89 his vegetable garden puts ours to shame as far as weed management and neatness is concerned. The vegetable gardens (potagers) are something of a work of art in this area.

Teresa is still on the eggs...

The valley of the monkeys (le valley des singes) in Romaine is one of our major tourist attractions and is celebrating 10 years. It is a wonderful place where several rare species of monkeys thrive in happy conditions and is a great favourite with our family and many of our friends. Recently a seventh gorilla baby was born through their captive breeding programme. It is well worth a visit and in celebration of their 10th anniversary this year will be full of activities and attractions.