My major task for February was the spring clearing of the Gravel Garden, cutting back the grasses and perennials from the previous year to make way for the spring growth. It took me a while that first year, I have become slicker since. Still I needed to be out of the house as M Perez the painter, or more accurately his mate, was finally persuaded to start on the task of painting hallway, sitting room and kitchen, which he had contracted for in 2012. He seems to prefer outdoor jobs!

In March we went skiing in Aspen. In our absence the garage wall was rendered, and when we got back in early April Liz had started on the trompe l’oeil.

We watched it evolve over the next few weeks, sympathising with her efforts to work on a south facing wall, with no shade, in unusually sunny weather for the time of year.

Te result was a triumph, converting an ugly view to a thing of beauty. She even managed to include portraits of the hoopoes, who visit in the spring and perch on top of the pigeonnier (just above our bedroom) to sing for their mates.

Susan & Peter visited again, this time it was warm enough to sit by the pool. Susan escorted me to Jardiland and talked me into some purchases for the stone circle, although I resisted her enthusiasm for a monkey puzzle tree, doubtful that it would enjoy our soil. We did acquire a Punica, which has grown well and has beautiful orange and white blossom, although, like the olives, I do not expect it to fruit in the local climate. A pair of Teucriums were added, a passing stranger shook his head doubtfully as he watched us loading them into the car,  observing that they were enthusiastic growers, as they have proved to be, but the have attractive foliage and blue flowers and don’t seem to mind hard pruning.

I also began to acquire white galets to top off the beds on each side of the angellos. This took a few trips as the bags were heavy, but the result is attractive and they do discourage weeds. The display from the Iris continued to improve.

By May the trompe l’oeil was finished

I succeeded in sourcing some solar powered globular lighting to echo the rounded shape of the box, dubbed by Peter “prisoner balls” in honour of the 1960s TV series.

The Acacia were in flower in the meadow

My new Iris were doing well

and the Gravel Garden was flourishing

In June Neil & Brenda came to visit and managed some impressive sightseeing. Brenda and I also spent a productive morning exploring the clothes stalls at the Thursday market! In between visitors I began to clear various clumps of iris on the slope below the upper terrace and around the bottom of the steps to the lower cave. I also started on the bank above the lower cave, I had thought of planting alpines as it is a steep slope below a “cliff face” but it is south facing and dry so I decided to try salvias which I hoped would withstand the conditions.

Inspired by our visit to Sandra & Allan the previous autumn, we also started to plan a shaded sitting area on the terrace, shaded outdoor seating being something the garden lacked. My tentative ideas were sensibly refined by Trevor & Heidi, who also found us Arnaud the stonemason to create the supporting pillars and persuaded Thierry, the roofer to do the woodwork and tiling. Work was scheduled for July.