There was still a gap in the heart of the prairie where the bonfire had been, so unsurprising that, visiting St Emillion with John & Liz in September, my eye was caught by a splendid larger than life size bronze of a wild boar. Exploring the gallery I discovered that the price was splendid too! I left with a rather smaller sculpture of a frog, and the suggestion from the sculptor that he would be happy to take on a commission.
Back in the UK, between trips to Broadstairs and then South Africa, I explored websites, not wanting to commit without considering the options, and came across Hamish Mackie and his roe deer. His incomplete set of a doe and 2 fawns seemed right for the space, and he generously offered to sort the delivery, allaying my anxieties about grumpy French lorry drivers and crumpled mailboxes. It took a few months, but they arrived safely in March, not yet sure what the incumbent buck and doe will make of them!
The frog, meanwhile, has also found a home in the pond.
The bowl he sits on is planted with zantedeschia, which I read will grow in such conditions.
Our resident frog came out to take a look. He doesn’t often show himself, just announces his presence by croaking as soon as the cascade goes on, whether in appreciation or protest it is hard to know, but he does seem to have grown well since last seen in the summer.
After 18 months, uncounted phone calls, and a couple of false starts, ETR finally showed up to re-lay the drive, which does look a lot better.
Phillipe repaired the crumbling steps by the pool and beyond, and cleared the rock faces above the lower cave and at the bottom of the drive, unfortunately removing our summer fruiting fig tree in the process.
After some discussion about the stretch of dry stone wall which the deer have successfully crumbled
he agreed to Peter’s suggestion that we should build them a staircase,
I can only hope they take to it!
Winter weather was kind, and by late February the winter chopping was complete, and in March I managed to weed the gravel garden, and tried to ignore the weeds in the prairie!
March was warm, by early April Tamarix, lilac and wisteria were all in full flower and the scent was fantastic.
