exile
Member
Massif Central
Posts: 2,695
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Post by exile on Apr 25, 2023 12:47:26 GMT 1
Well after a wet couple of days, water restrictions have now been announced. Looks like it is going to be a difficult year ahead.
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Post by cernunnos on Apr 25, 2023 12:49:09 GMT 1
Well after a wet couple of days, water restrictions have now been announced. Looks like it is going to be a difficult year ahead. Where? Not here , as far as I know .
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exile
Member
Massif Central
Posts: 2,695
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Post by exile on Apr 25, 2023 13:46:23 GMT 1
Ardeche
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Post by mangetout on Apr 25, 2023 17:42:28 GMT 1
I'm struggling to keep my garden in order. My late husband spent all day, almost everyday, gardening. It was immaculate and I feel an obligation to keep it up to the same standard. But I can't, it's exhausting me and I can't afford help. So a bit of a conundrum. Let it go, or move. I'll see it through for 12 months from his death, and then reflect.
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Post by cernunnos on Apr 26, 2023 7:56:24 GMT 1
Help in the garden is not expensive and you can get a " credit impot " for it. If I remember correctly , you are planning on selling your house , so it would be a good plan to keep the garden up , even if it costs s little money ?
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Post by mangetout on Apr 26, 2023 11:42:39 GMT 1
Expensive is a subjective term. All depends on whose paying. Around here no-one will get off of their chair for less than 40e an hour. I would need someone for at least one day a week in the growing season, which would represent a large proportion of my pension, so I'd have to spend my savings. Then it would be a year or more before the credit was paid. I've asked the local corner shop, the Mairie and amongst acquaintances to see if there's anyone interested in helping but no-one comes forward. You're right in that I will be selling, and I guess I'll just soldier on until then. Luckily I'm not a quitter.
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Post by houpla on Apr 26, 2023 14:14:24 GMT 1
I know the feeling of being overwhelmed by it all, mangetout, and you have my sympathy. It's a full-time job for most of the year and if I was nearer I'd willingly help. There is a bright side to it, though. In times of bereavement it's far, far better to be busy than not and as occupations go at least gardening falls into the 'therapeutic' category, don't you find? Are there any areas that you can let up on? E.g. veggie gardening is the most labour-intensive, so perhaps only grow the things you really like and invest in some geotextile and pegs to cover areas that can be left fallow, without allowing it to become a weed-patch
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Post by mangetout on Apr 26, 2023 15:51:52 GMT 1
You're quite right houpla, gardening is very good for forgetting your problems for a while. I've reduced the amount and variety of veg I'm growing this year, and I haven't touched the hedges. I find the weeding hard, strimming of ditches and lawn edges is very time consuming. And my lawns take at least 4 hrs, that's after I've kicked over the molehills, picked up pine cones and dead wood. I suppose I'm just not use to continuous hard work every day. My husband was such a hard worker, I always knew that, but now I really appreciate just what he did. Even in the days leading up to his death, he still tried. So I suppose I do it now to honour him.
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Post by mangetout on Apr 26, 2023 15:56:42 GMT 1
I forgot to say houpla, thank you for your kind offer of help. Very much appreciated.
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Post by limousinlady on Apr 26, 2023 16:49:43 GMT 1
It looks like it may be a good year for fruit , our plum and peach trees have set fruit for the first time in three years. Our plum too! Same region as you. Looking forward to making plum jam. Could a frost still affect them. Don't they say it is not safe until a date mid May?
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Post by limousinlady on Apr 26, 2023 16:54:09 GMT 1
I had a hornet in my car yesterday, I was driving at the time and it appeared by my shoulder, I was in the UK having travelled back from France on Tuesday, it must of stowed away then. I managed to pull over sharpish and opened all the windows ,I didn't see it leave, fingers crossed he/she has gone... Need a shocked emoji!
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Post by cernunnos on Apr 26, 2023 19:19:28 GMT 1
It looks like it may be a good year for fruit , our plum and peach trees have set fruit for the first time in three years. Our plum too! Same region as you. Looking forward to making plum jam. Could a frost still affect them. Don't they say it is not safe until a date mid May? Saints de glace , 11th,12th and 13th May, but there can still be frost later too.
Its the blossom that can't tolerate frost , the fruit can handle a bit of cold, but houpla knows more about it than me.
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Post by houpla on Apr 26, 2023 21:03:45 GMT 1
I wouldn't say that, but here's a tip for anyone growing tree fruit. If air frost is forecast and you have grass to cut and are able to collect it, then make piles of clippings at the base of vulnerable trees one or two days beforehand. The grass generates a lot of heat when piled up, which rises and provides just enough protection. It's a similar idea to the vignerons making little bonfires in the vineyards or producers spraying the trees with water overnight, but easier to do. Another tip for anyone wanting a good crop of plums (from a producer of Pruneaux d'Agen) Don't let the trees go short of water once the fruit has set. Plum trees have a survival mechanism whereby they retract the moisture from the young fruit during dry conditions. It will wither and drop if the tree is suffering drought.
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Post by houpla on Apr 26, 2023 21:24:34 GMT 1
You're quite right houpla, gardening is very good for forgetting your problems for a while. I've reduced the amount and variety of veg I'm growing this year, and I haven't touched the hedges. I find the weeding hard, strimming of ditches and lawn edges is very time consuming. And my lawns take at least 4 hrs, that's after I've kicked over the molehills, picked up pine cones and dead wood. I suppose I'm just not use to continuous hard work every day. My husband was such a hard worker, I always knew that, but now I really appreciate just what he did. Even in the days leading up to his death, he still tried. So I suppose I do it now to honour him. There are solutions for some of the hard labour, but sadly they all cost money. Quite a bit here. Would a metal edging strip knocked in round the lawn edges be worth the outlay? Are the ditches really your responsibility or should the Mairie be maintaining them? Didn't we have a discussion somewhere about moles? The Detaupeur does work when used according to instructions, and they don't come back for years if you leave the bodies in situ. I can post you one of mine with some petards. The return postage will be less than buying a kit new . PM me your name and address if you want to try it. As for hedges, the eco police have forbidden us all from trimming them during bird-nesting season, so you've got a good excuse for leaving them shaggy
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Post by mangetout on Apr 27, 2023 6:19:44 GMT 1
Thank you for your thoughts on how to reduce the gardening workload. Much appreciated. I don't think edging the lawns would be feasible, sadly. The area is too great, the cost would be enormous. But it would look nice. The ditches outside of the village are, I think, our responsibility. At least my neighbours do theirs and I doubt they would if they didn't have to. I'll ask at the Mairie. I successfully kill the moles with old fashioned traps and leave the bodies behind. It works for around a month before others move in. They're currently rampaging through the veg plot. My husband always cut the hedges in late autumn/the winter to avoid disturbing the birds. I shall attempt to do the same maybe.
On another subject, I've just seen your post about protecting plum trees during frost. Brilliant idea. I'll do that today as a precaution. We often get late frosts.
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