A February face …..

"Why, what's the matter,
That you have such a February face,
So full of frost, of storm and cloudiness?"
(Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing ….. in case you're wondering, which of course you weren't …..)

- well, in fact February here has seen some really warm, sunny weather - although it is now ending cold and wet. We have seen the temperature bounce between - 1C and 24C …. quite a variation. It feels as if this Winter period overall has been noticeably milder than average. We have no real basis for this (because we're not organised enough to make recordings), but what we have noticed is the 'behaviour' of animals and plants. They are making appearances and are 'in action' three or four weeks earlier than 'normal'. Remember, we are at quite a high altitude here at 'Nichoir', at just on 500 metres, and so at lower levels, places like Albi, there will always be plants and trees that are ahead of us when it come to signs of flowering, blossoms and general "we've arrived!" behaviour. But during this month we have spotted in the garden a number of creatures we would expect to see in March/April, but not in February - bumble-bees, hummingbird moths, green frogs and woodpeckers:

- and in the pond, now completely re-filled by the heavy rain in November, we think the water temperature must be higher than usual for this time of year as the frogs are already very active, and the carp are fully visible near the surface, with babies. The water is very clear, helped perhaps by so much oxygenated water (we have cleared the pipework that runs underground from the house's drainpipes to the pond). And pairs of ducks are visiting, although not staying for long as the trees surrounding the pond are not providing cover: 

In the garden the daffodils have been in bloom for some days and in the hedgerows the japonica is blooming and there are scatterings of violets and crocus:

Some serious work has started in the garden - in particular some hedging, taking back the outward growth along the hedges, cutting back to the original growth line, removing frighteningly ferocious brambles, cutting away ivy, and making sure that the rambling roses, honeysuckle, and wild pear have breathing space and the healthy trees are generally 'encouraged'. It is a long job (as I think I have said before, there is about 1.2 kilometres of hedgerow) but the results are really good - difficult to photograph the work 'before and after', but this is a section that has been done … and it is the brown area along the hedge that has been cleared back, so at least 1.5 metres depth and sometime a couple of metres - of course the downside is the very large amount of cuttings that then have to be dealt with!

And our 'wildflower area' had to be cleared of last year's growth and cut back as far as possible:

A bit of a 'low season' regarding the vegetable garden, but the picking cabbage just continues to give and give, and our little area of mache provides salad leaves … and there are still some herbs, like chives, rosemary and sage. It is always tempting to plant the new year's vegetables when one has the surprisingly warm and sunny days in February and early March, but unwise - again, our 500 metre height requires one to hold off a bit until later in April and early May … and then they really take off at a great pace:

It is also the time to cut back ornamental grasses, of which we now have quite a large number - from three metre tall pampas to small, delicate ponytail grass. We have found ornamental grasses such a positive addition to the garden - adaptable to the clay soil, usually OK in drought conditions, and tough in windy and cold conditions … and they sway and whisper in the breezes, and at night they can be luminous and mysterious: 

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There has been some time in January and February to take some trips around our region and to appreciate how varied it is and how in Winter it is a different place  from the sun-soaked summer. One area we particularly like is the Monts de Lacaune in the Haut Languedoc National Park. It is south of where we live, an hour and a half's drive away, towards the Black Mountains and Pyrenees Orientale. It is not spectacularly high, with high areas of around 1400 metres, but has a beauty of its own, with rocky, sparse areas alternating with meadowland and softer, undulating hills. And there are some beautiful lakes, cold and serene in Winter. It is well worth a trip and perhaps a stay (there are wonderful walks) - perhaps in the town of Lacaune itself (well-known for its charcuterie products), where there is a truly delightful hotel, Le Relais de Fusies  -  we do not usually mention or recommend hotels or restaurants, but this one is well worth a visit:​

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We have been continuing with our 'community events' in this 'saison basse': so, as mentioned in last month's Post, the WinterFest, with a heady melange of Scottish and Chinese themed catering, went well and we had some very innovative hats for the Chapeaux Compétition ... and we are devastated not to be able to include photographs in this Post - but the photographer was overcome with admiration of the art créatif and swooned away! And the Film Club continues to attract a 'near capacity audience' .... and is a positive example of frontières ouvertes, as we continue to have French, Dutch, American, Spanish and English guests - admittedly within an audience of around eighteen people, but that's quite a melange! February's screening was of short animation films from around the world and it proved very popular, with even the French guests not fully realising the strength, creativity and diversity of French animation schools and companies. It is good fun and very sociable and we will endeavour to continue beyond this 'season' (which end in April) and maybe have a couple of Summer evening events, with a barbecue and a late-night film outdoors. 

We have some bookings for the Chambres d'Hotes, from Canada, the USA, Belgium and the UK  -  including guests who have become friends, as this is now their third and even fourth visit. But there is uncertainty with regarding to the COVID-19 virus and other worries, so we expect that this year will be unpredictable. On a very positive note, we are continuing our link with the Children's Hospice in the UK, and have a family linked with that visiting in the Autumn - we are very happy that this is continuing.

So, in this world of post-BREXIT trade negotiations, COVID-19, American elections, and Middle Eastern atrocities we feel privileged to be where we are. But, with our new 'generation' of grandchildren, (we now have six, and two great grandchildren), we are aware that it will be the environment that will be at the centre of their future and we must support in any small way we can their ability to deal with that.

We wish anyone reading this the most peaceful and joyful of Springtime's!