This week, Amelia has returned to England and has left me to look after her “French garden”. I’m the husband that makes the bee hotels and now has been entrusted to keep her posted with the happenings in the garden while she is in the U.K.
There is a lot to do this time of the year in our garden: there are weeds to pull out after the rainy start to the year; there are new vegetables to be transplanted into their allotted rows in the vegetable garden; and she is hopeful of reports on bee activity and the flowers that she will miss seeing.
But today I have given myself a day off and visited the Fête du Printemps – the Spring fête at the beautiful little town of Saint-André-de-Lidon.
One views the old mill across the fields of rape as one approaches the town. Getting closer, I noticed that the mill and the parcel of land are for sale. There are a lot of windmills dotted around the area, some in ruin and some lovingly renovated.
The fete was held in a private garden which was worth a visit on its own merit. It is a beautifully designed garden with a winding stream running through it. This is unusual in our local area. The private gardens here are very different from the UK. The are usually much larger in the countryside but more attention seems to be paid to the vegetable garden than to ornamental flowers and plants.
The stalls offering all kinds of flowers, and vegetables were spread artistically across the garden.
Our friend Michel and his wife Josianne were proudly displaying their honey and other products from the hives, including soap and candles.
They even had a section of a working hive on display. 
The busy bees were really attracting the attention of the visitors, particularly the curious youngsters.
But I was fascinated by the use of old farming equipment that were used in the garden as decoration.
Even an old bedpost had been put to good use.
I found a living flower stand made from growing willow branches quite appropriate in that garden.
But I could not leave that beautiful garden without paying a special attention to the bumble bees.
Come back soon, Amelia, your bumble bees and I miss you!
a french garden 