Les Limornieres - Winter projects

We have a list of jobs that need doing every year in Winter at les Limornieres to keep the garden resembling one rather than a jungle.

We have another list of things we dream up each year which we would like to do if time & money allows to improve the place for us & for our guests staying in the gites - more places to sit, more places to play, more shade..

And then there are those projects which somehow sneak to the top of the list because you stumble on a great find & motivation for constructing it is greater than more of the annual weeding & chopping back :-)

This week, we acquired a rusty metal tunnel frame...we saw it, we liked it, and thought we would worry about when and where it would go another day....perhaps it would even suit a clients garden..

We got it home and decided immediately it was going to live on our potager/veg garden.

So this morning found us digging a trench either side of our 'big veg beds' and adding a wooden edge, then the arch was bolted together by Alex et voila!

Whilst prior planning and design is what we are all advised to do with our gardens, it is much more fun making it up as we go along :D I think the expression is that is has 'evolved'...

The path between the two beds makes much more sense now, it will provide a much more stable growing frame for our beans and some annual flowers too and will make the path to the chicken run all the more grand too!

We acquired a pair of enthusiastic helpers this morning too..holes were dug and shrubs were planted - will help enclose the play area a bit more...keeping them in or out... :D

Rose pruning - le Grand Pressigny

Before

During

After

This garden has many different areas. This week we have been working on getting rid of all the old wood, the plant which has grown beyond its pergola, currently onto and into neighbouring building!

The job was long & fiddly as the established rose shares the pergola with equally established wisteria and honeysuckle...

It doesn't look much at the moment...but by the summer the re-growth should re-cover the pergola providing shade and the flowers should be in view without binoculars! Photo in bloom as always will follow!

We cleared the base of the climbing plants, added bulbs and shade tolerant plants to brighten up this poolside summer evening BBQ and apero spot :D