Easter Monday 2021, the 11th anniversary of our taking possession of Les Terrasses, and the start of the third French Covid lockdown. As on that previous Easter, the weather, after a week of hot and sunny days, has turned cold again, and frost is threatened. Although the vaccination programme is finally getting going here, Covid rates remain high, and our return to the UK remains uncertain.

The warm weather has brought the garden on, and the trees across the valley are turning greener day by day. There are leaf buds now on the oak and the acacias, the Wisteria, hard pruned last year, is in full flower,

as is the Judas tree

and the beautiful white flowering shrub in the Gravel garden, the name of which I do not know.

Several of the shrubs by the gate are flowering as well

including the Mahonia which Dominique gave us. I admit to being less than fond of mahonia, disliking the somewhat scrappy foliage, but here it is far enough from the house not to bother me too much.

This year, at least, I have succeeded with the Pagoda erythroniums which I planted in the new bed opposite Philippe’s steps.

as with the other plants here, primulas, aquilegias and dicentra, I am far from confident that they will survive the summer drought, but always worth a try!

The liliputt iris in the bank by the pond have started to flower too, with many of the divisions which Gilles made in late summer surviving, a much better show than I would have expected

So far we have

The Iris on the cliff face are looking better this year as well, probably because between us Gilles and I have managed to keep the area relatively weed free, and one may even flower. One survivor, too at the end of Wisteria Terrace, the other two unfortunately have fallen victim to digging, badgers suspected!

Tempted as ever by an offer from Cayeux Iris, I have planted more Lilliputs this past week, both in the bank by the pond and on the bank beside the deer steps, although I fear for the latter as there is little depth of soil and it is very dry, some rain forecast for the end of the week, but not a lot. I have added to the dwarf Iris on the cliff face as well, but again the dry conditions will not help.