It’s cold out there!

Hello Everyone

It’s unseasonably cold here in SW France. How is it with you? We are back to log fires and thermal layers but hopefully not for too much longer as the forecast is promising a warm Easter!

My garden work has been delayed as it has been so cold or wet or blowing a gale. Seeds, apart from sweet peas, are not yet planted, beds not dug over and the grass has gone jungle-like! It now needs strimming rather than mowing – a long, laborious job but I guess the raking is good exercise! There are however signs of life everywhere in the garden: plum, quince and cherry blossom, the new tips of my peonies emerging from a very overgrown bed, new leaf shoots on finally pruned roses. My rhubarb is up and the first few sticks ready to harvest. One curious thing that I haven’t seen before was the appearance of a flower bud from one of the rhubarb plant’s crowns. Apparently this is a sign that it is feeling under pressure to reproduce as the main plant has had enough. I should have divided it! Anyway the flower has been removed and my fingers are crossed that the plant continues to push up rhubarb, assuming I did the cutting bit correctly.

We did manage to semi-prune the hedges. In France this has to be done before 15^th March. Given the weather and the waterlogged ground, a challenging task this year. I can’t say we finished the task but we did a fair bit. Our long hedge was a little overgrown with some spectacular brambles woven in between bushes. I am still finding tiny thorns on my fingers! We now have to leave the hedges in peace until the end of July to protect nesting birds. A great idea. March delivered a wonderful month of acid-green Euphorbia. It loves this garden and is now in huge clumps in various beds, bringing a wonderful colour to the garden – a firm favourite and very tolerant.

I’m sure I say this each time but another month has flown by. We are 3 months into 2026 already. The clocks have changed here, Spring has arrived with all its unpredictability, the evenings getting longer hinting at warmer times to come. Local markets too are beginning to show new produce after winter roots, squashes and greens, with asparagus being amongst the first.

I have been trying out some new recipes this month in part due to my new favourite shopping habit of buying anti-gaspi (anti-waste) boxes from the supermarket – a carton of mixed fruit and veg that is being sold off cheaply. I love them. You never quite know how much of each item will be in the box. Last week I got 2 boxes and ended up with masses of endive (chicory). I love chicory roasted, braised and raw but this time I made a tarte tatin with it. A tarte tatin if you don’t know is a tart, traditionally apple, cooked upside down and turned out right side up once ready the pastry soaking up the wonderful caramelised juices. Having made an aubergine tarte tatin last year for the first time, I have become quite a fan of the savoury versions of this much-loved dish. I forgot to take a photo, but it was great to look at and very tasty! I was also introduced to a squash I didn’t know. As is often the case the stallholders want you to enjoy their produce at its best so are very keen to suggest how to cook it. I will be sharing the recipe later this week. I love the passion for good simple food here, and as I have said so many times, the seasonality and excitement that each new arrival brings.

In other news March brought spring flowers, a couple of outings, a rather nice wine tasting at a vineyard we hadn’t visited before (more on that soon, along with a long held tradition they have) and of course cake!

Enjoy the week

A bientôt

Ali xx