Gillie and I were able to snatch a day away from La Chataigneraie yesterday, so we made the short drive to the Mediterranean and some beautiful gardens there. The pictures speak for themselves, I hope.
A relaxing day out.
Jim
Posts Tagged ‘Gardens’
A DAY AT THE COAST
Friday, May 21st, 2010APRIL, WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MONTH
Wednesday, April 28th, 2010We are enjoying some wonderful April weather, with temperatures in the mid 20’s and the pool warm enough to swim in; I had my first dip today.
Poolside Wisteria
Golden Orioles, which usually arrive in May, must also be aware of the warm weather as they have been around and about in the garden for a week already.
Our Swimming Pool
The poolside beds await your arrival
Gillie and I had supper on the terrace at 7.30pm and watched the sun go down behind Canigou, it is just so peaceful and beautiful here.
Ceret road bridge with the old railway bridge in the background
Claud with his flock of goats down by the river
We are looking forward to greeting guests of old this year as a number have decided to return, some for the third, fourth and fifth time, It must be the food and wine!
Jim
LOOKING FORWARD TO ANOTHER YEAR
Sunday, January 10th, 2010A Happy New Year to you and your families.
We have had a busy and enjoyable festive period, with more guests staying with us at this time of the year than ever before and what a lovely group they were. We had people from; Ireland, France, England, Russia, Spain, Romania and Belgium.
The weather hasn’t been too bad here, certainly no where near as dramatic as Northern Europe, but we did have our own little bit of snow.
Canigou
Les Albere
Canigou always has a covering of snow at this time of the year, whereas the Alberes rarely does. This shot was taken from the terrace on 9th January 2010.
More please
Someone is eating too well!
Every year there is a wonderful Nativity display in the Eglise St Pierre’ the main church in Ceret.
Nativity scene in St Peter's Church
With each year being different to the previous years.
Nativity Scene
I am sure you will agree , this really is a great display. Did you spot the “Pont du Diable” (Devil’s Bridge) and L’Hermitage at St Ferreol?
Nativity Scene
Not forgetting Gillie, about to wash the empties in the river?
Eglise St Pierre, Ceret
The recently refurbished St Peter’s in Ceret.
Gillie and I had a walk around the town this morning and whilst it was chilly in the shade it was beautiful in the sunshine, with the cafes doing a roaring business.
Until later
Jim
PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION
Thursday, November 12th, 2009And the winners are…………………………………………………………..
Bill and Maddy Edwards from Bedfordshire.
The answers are:
1. Tautavel
2. Collioure
3. Ceret – New library
4. Ceret – between the car parks
6. Prats de Mollo
7. Ceret – Picasso’s house
8. The Abbey Fontfroid
9. Molitg les Bains
11. Prats de Mollo
12. Renes le Chateau
13. Salses Fort
14. Collioure
We are looking forward to welcoming Bill and Maddy back to La Chataigneraie in the New Year.
Jim
A FEW WORDS FROM A RECENT GUEST
Monday, July 27th, 2009
Golden Oriole
Hi Jim
Remember us ?
We stayed with you at the end of June. You asked us to give you the start of a bird list for the place.
So it is with much pleasure that we list the most interesting/exciting as follows:
But please note, we haven’t recorded all the ‘bog standards’ and we didn’t take any notice of the sparrows, doves/pigeons etc.
Will have to return to do a proper job !
Around the house
Golden Oriole (starts singing at about 7 o/clock – or at least that’s when he woke me up – but what a sound to wake up to !)
Serin – (this is the little Canary type chap who sings from the top of the pine (?) tree in the evening – I noticed him mostly during my evening dip)
Town and roadside
Black Redstart – often roof tops
Swift (also thousands of them at the Cathedral/Cloisters in Elne – a fantastic sight)
Hoopoe
Crested Lark
Little Egret
Up the mountain
Rock Bunting
Raven
Stonechat
Crag Martin
Mas Carol
Bonelli’s Eagle (however a third reference suggests it might have been a pale form of Booted Eagle – needs more work !! )
Port de Llanca – Port Vendres
Pallid Swift
Cattle Egret
Yellow Legged Gull
bog standards that we did notice
House Sparrow
House Martin
Swallow
Blackbird
blue tit
great tit
long tailed tit
garden warbler
robin
Afraid that’s it for now – not a long list, but I hope it gets you started
One other pointer for guests if into art – Elne has an art museum and it is included in the entry fee to the Cloisters- very good and well worth a visit – could be combined with a trip to the beach.
Sorry not to have got back to you sooner – have been very busy since return. Hopefully this will translate into being able to afford another trip soon.
Trust everyone is well and please thank Simon for the photos.
All the best
Stuart and Karin
12th September 2009
A few words in the form of an update since Stuart and Karin wrote the above article.
Kim saw a White-breasted Kingfisher yesterday and had it confirmed by a fellow bird watcher; a bird, that according to our books on the subject, should not be here at all. She has a also seen a large number of Storks and 3 Kites. She doesn’t want to see anymore Storks though!!!!!!
Jim
Castelnou
Thursday, July 16th, 2009I do believe the beautiful small town of Castelnou has been mentioned in earlier Blogs. It is such a charming place that it warrants a further mention along with some photographs.
A typical road in Castelnou
Gillie took these photographs to give guests an idea of just how beautiful and quaint the town is.
Exploring the colourful streets
Lunch with a view at l'Hostal
A Tempting Table
The area of Castelnou produces its own wines, ranging from a sweet white of about 16% through to a light Rose of 11%. The local honey is equally popular.
Hands Off, they are mine!!
Gillie fancied a salad
Another hard day!
No Cars is this town!
Various Artisans can be found in the little cobbled streets of the mediaeval town. One small shop that we never pass by is a Wood Turners.
Eric Salles has been producing wonderful pieces from local timber for quite some time now. Some of the wood he uses retains its smell for years and years, Juniper is one example.
Wonderful Views
What a location!
Well, what do you think?
Gillie and I are rarely able to visit our favourite places in the Summer months, so it was a much more colourful and vibrant Castelnou than the one we normally see in December and January and it is only about 45 minutes from La Chataigneraie. It features high on our list of recommended places to visit.
Jim
What, another day off??
Thursday, May 28th, 2009Yes, Gillie and I managed to grab another day off; we do occasionally get a chance to get away.
We had to go to the Girona region of Spain today and after we had concluded our business there, I took Gillie to a tiny village where Darli and Gala spent the final few years of their lives and we visited the 11 cent castle in which they lived.
We then had a lovely light lunch before heading to the coast for coffee before heading home.
Gillie at the gateway to Publo
The Castle gardens
Looking North to the Pyrenees from Publo
A favourite little bay
Yes, we had a most enjoyable day out with temperatures between 27 and 30 degrees. You should have been with us!!
Until later
Jim
The Search for Nectar
Thursday, April 16th, 2009Today I would like to give you and idea of what is in bloom in and around the hills and gardens of this area until the end of May.
I asked Jim (a non gardener!) to suggest a name for this blog and he came up with “The Search for Nectar” so I have stuck with it as it is briefly relevant!
If any of you have other ideas feel free to send them, or on another subject you would like me to mention in the future using your suggestion.
Time rushes by , I blinked and the cherry blossom season has come and gone and we are fast heading into my favourite time of year when the Mediterranean Pyrenees look and smell their loveliest with the slopes covered in wild lavender, pink and white cistus and honeysuckle.
Along the roadsides the wild thyme and rosemary are in full bloom, the fennel is coming up and the hazelnuts and figs are starting to form on the trees giving us a hint of tasty things to come.
It is a relief to see that there are plenty of bees going about their business, in this corner of the world, at least there seems to be no shortage of them to pollenate the flowers.
As for our garden, I have designed it to fill the senses with colour and scents for as many months of the year as possible.
This month (April) the sweet scented Wisteria is cascading down the front of the house and along the poolside.
Pool Side Terrace
May will soon be upon us and the guests will continue to enjoy breakfast on the main terrace overlooking the Roussillon Plains and the Albere Mountains to the Med but with the added pleasure of the scent of jasmine filling the air.
Sweet scented honeyseuckle grows at the entrance to La Chataigneraie and some years ago I discovered that deep blue petunias give out a heavenly scent in the warm evening sunshine so I always plant them around the front gate to welcome guests home from a busy day of enjoying themselves.
Many guests come back from their day of exploring the Roussillon or Spanish vineyards laden with bottles of wine (or even crates!). There is then a subtle race of guests to reach the Aslan Table Terrace first, armed with their bottles of wine, opener and wine glasses to watch the sun setting behind Mt Canigou. There are other corners with the same view but the Aslan Table is the favourite. Sunset is a magical time of the day when even the birds fall silent.
As the May evenings descend in night, we are serenaded by the first nightingales in the valley below giving us all feeling that we live in paradise.
Do come and join us if you are feeling worn down by a winter of gloom and global recession and let us take care of you while you enjoy the peace and beauty of our surroundings.
We guarrante your batteries will be recharged by the end of your stay.
Until then, take care
Gillie