Everything, as we know, is late this year. Including my little record of 'what happened when'. Today, when I was outside digging, I remembered that I hadn't actually recorded something that made a big impression on me back on 2 April (the day after Easter Monday). We sat on our little vine terrace - the vine was not showing the tiniest intention of leafing out - and we were seriously dripped on! It is the first time in my gardening life that I've actually, literally, experienced the sap rising. I was reminded today because the vine is now showing hopeful little sprouts of green.
The swallows were (a little bit) late as well. In 2012 I saw them for the first time on 31 March, this year it was 2 April (must have been something to do with the sap!). Chatillon is a giant swallow hotel during the summer, because we have so many decaying barns and buildings. They even dance low across the main road at dusk. Pleasures to come that can lift the heart on a very cold April Sunday...
The swallows were (a little bit) late as well. In 2012 I saw them for the first time on 31 March, this year it was 2 April (must have been something to do with the sap!). Chatillon is a giant swallow hotel during the summer, because we have so many decaying barns and buildings. They even dance low across the main road at dusk. Pleasures to come that can lift the heart on a very cold April Sunday...