Midsummer in the Lot

Midsummer here means lots of socialising. So we were out for a meal with Jean-Jacque and Nadine on Friday and BBQs with friends on Saturday and Sunday. The diary is similarly booked for this week and the weekend, great! Midsummer in the Lot also means Sunflowers.

John snapped these two pictures over the weekend.  I think the salvias in the foreground look wonderful. Who needs to plant wildflower meadows when you are surrounded by them. I fear that I may be engaging the wrath of our French friends and those on holiday but it has been a wonderful year for plants (and consequently that strange tribe known as gardeners). We have had lovely sunny days interspersed with spells of rain - sometimes a bit too heavy. Although I have now carefully selected plants suitable for the climate, dare I say it our garden almost looks English at present and my right arm has hardly had to be connected to the hose.

Beware a rant is coming up. Our Blog as you know is rather like a diary but I think a lot of people use theirs to express opinions, well I'm about to join them. I have avidly watched all the TV programmes from the RHS summer flower shows and I have got to say that I thoroughly dislike the current fashion for gardens planted to look "wild". I like grasses but planted so that you can appreciate their form. John is constantly asking "how on earth are they going to maintain that garden?". I am not inviting comments that is just our opinion and everyone is entitled to theirs.

Rant over, now other matters. You may recall that last year we were on the route of a running race, well it is obviously going to be an annual event as this summers race took place yesterday. However this year Mas de Bouye had its own feeding station. John and Lesley's family were out in force to clap each contestant and hand them water. The grandchildren had a wonderful time and no doubt Matthew understood the needs of the runners as he has run The London Marathon in the past.

Midsummer has just arrived in the form of loads of very ripe peaches which need urgent attention, so must dash.