Our first rose of the season...

 

The first rose has opened up on our 'Pierre Ronsard' climbing rose,with a lovely amount of buds we are looking forward to a great display.

Beautiful spring day yesterday...

Snapped this blue crop yesterday while heading out to pick up friends before going to a lovely surprise birthday party for another friend.

I understand this is 'Phacelia' which is widely grown in the Loire Valley as a cover crop, not for harvest. Farmers sow it between main crops because it improves the soil structure, suppresses weeds naturally and attracts pollinators.especially bees.🐝 

Monday's walk in pictures - under a blue sky behind Le Grand-Pressigny.

Happy Easter...Joyeuses Pâques.

 

End of an era!

 

My brother Richard contacted me the other day to let me know that the Honda Shuttle I sold him nearly 30 years ago has finally given up after he had added over 500,000km on to it! He had used it as a workhorse down in provence - I had experienced a few off-road trips with him up to his vines but it handled them well.  He was sad to see it go "An Angel will alight when she passes through the crusher and she goes to Honda heaven."

I felt similarly sad when I said goodbye to the Honda car I replaced it with when it failed its emissions test here in France.

Was it really that long ago? - driving the tram in Tours.

Did you know that the trams in Tours have now been running for over 12 years? When I visit the city I still somehow, see them as a new innovation! I recall being in the city just after the started and was so proud that as the first Scot to use them I was allowed to drive one for the short journey over the Pont Wilson bridge, a memorable experience! 

La Roche-Posay Spring Festival.

 

To celebrate the arrival of warmer weather, yesterday La Roche-Posay had a small Spring Festival with a flower / local produce market plus a small flea market. It did not take long to go around the few stalls that were there but we did extend our stay with a short walk around the town admiring the spring flowers.

Mon Banc Dominical — My Sunday Bench : this morning in La Roche-Posay.

 This morning in La Roche-Posay - wee bit cooler than it looks!

Behind the vats at Beaujardin.

As good customers, we were invited up to 'Beaujardin' in Bléré for an open day where a 10% discount was being offered as well as a look behind the vats, some wine tasting plus some arts & crafts stalls. It was good timing for us as we needed to top up our wine rack.  

https://vins-beaujardin.com/

More from Thursday's walk around Descartes public gardens.

 

Morning visit to public gardens in Descartes.

This morning in Descartes public gardens, more tomorrow.

Window spotting...

 Spotted this lovely little window on a recent local walk.

Monday's walk - around Bossay-sur-Claise in pictures.