Selfsufficientish.com

Hi, I have put some photos taken around the garden on a Picasa web album that you can view as a slideshow - they show up better like that. It's basically photos of bugs, buds and blossom, plus a few views of my lake. They were taken about 10 days ago.

https://picasaweb.google.com/1146627453 ... directlink

Really lovely photos, very professional looking. What a fabulous lake, makes our little puddle look rather pathetic

It was only a few months back we were in Brittany and it was so so cold there yet here we are beginning of April and the blossom is out, insects are busy, a completely different landscape. Before we know it will be summer.

Sue

Stunning photos, Mandy.

Thank you so much for sharing. Those Gendarmes are amazing, I've never seen them before.

Zoe

Where were you in Brittany, Sue? Mind you I was probably in England at that time! Zoe they have apparently started to appear in England, in a few spots in the south. They are really fascinating creatures and do no harm to the garden. Thanks for the compliments, I am enjoying playing with my new camera so spending too much time taking photos when I should be working in the garden BUT, there is just so much happening out there I can't help but want to record it as everything springs to life.

Hi MMM we were staying with my sister, she has a place near Guer which is not far from La Gacilly, Malestroit, Redon way. From there we drove on to Spain where it was decidedly warmer!! Then on our way back we stayed with a cousin who lives in Monteneuf which is in the same area.

Funnily enough we were in Weymouth last week too and went to the Smugglers Pub at Ringstead, I think you made mention of it in a previous posting.

Sue

Ah that's my department but I'm the other side, to the north of Rennes. You probably passed by not too far from me if you came in to St Malo. And yes we did go to the Smugglers Inn which was a lovely discovery so will definitely go there again next time we get a chance to go and do some birdwatching in Weymouth.

I wonder if I know any of your family on the Brittany forums or are they not into that sort of thing?

Hi MMM

We use Eurotunnel as we don't like the thought of leaving Troy down on the car decks. I know it adds to our journey but as we are usually in the camper it's no problem for us.

I think my sister does use one of the Brittany Forums but not sure what name she goes under.

Sue

Beautiful pics..........

Do you know what the proper name is for those "gendarmes"?

I think they´re the same as I get in my garden ( but no lime tree!)

Here you go! I had them at my last house and no limes or mallows either which seem to be their preferred food choice.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firebug

Lovely garden - and bugs!

Lovely pics!!!!
ta

Thank you. Everything has changed so much since I took those photos, took more of pear blossom in the orchard the other day and even that has already changed and now the apple blossom is out - can't keep up - this very mild/warm spring weather is great but it's all happening too fast. I keep wanting to take more photos but I should be gardening (and not rabbiting about it on the internet either ).

Then I see photos of people in Russia and Canada with snow still on the ground and I think I am very lucky indeed.

You are one blessed individual indeed.
...This is the kind of living I dream about.
But I'll settle for some of your climate

You should have a similar climate there in the Netherlands - maybe a bit colder in winter (nasty Dutch damp cold!) but surely it's spring there now?

The horse chestnut sticky buds opened up into leaves days ago; it's quite amazing how these things seem to happen literally overnight.

Your photos are lovely MMM, how very lucky you are.xxx