Before the Fall
Stand by for Colour
FLORA AND FAUNA AND THE FOREST WORLDSEASONS
11/10/20262 min read
Petit à petit, little by little, the forest is transformed. Although some oak leaves were already turning golden yellow by the end of our long, hot summer, strangely, these trees will be the very last to turn and drop their leaves. Meanwhile the rest of the forest is putting on a show. Colours range from the yellows and oranges of Montpellier maples, to the bright reds of the virginia creeper that spreads across the walls of our house. Today was cloudy and grey as we set off on our daily walk. Thank goodness for the colours of autumn, which brazenly shout out amidst the gloom.
This garden acer is very slow growing, but well worth planting for its autumnal display.
The virginia creeper has red leaves too.
Along the way, we met Mme C. who lives in the nearby hamlet of Aubaygues. She always likes to stop for a chat Today Mme C was gathering some mushrooms that were growing along the roadside banks. She called them 'petit gris', and proudly showed them off, describing how they should be cooked." What about truffles?" B. enquired. "Have you found any of those?" " Ah," Mme C. replied. "My father was a hunter in this forest. He knew exactly where to find them. She went on to describe a classic French dish that her mother would make using chicken, veal and some of those rare truffles. It is called 'galantine de volaille.' "Ah, " she sighed . "It would take my mother all day to make. I wouldn't do that nowadays. We still remember both of her elderly parents, from the time when we first came to live here, twenty five years ago. They lived in Aubaygues too. Monsieur C. had the best potager in the village.
Before we parted, Mme C. reminded us that tomorrow is November 11th, Armistice Day. This is the time when villagers gather around le monument aux morts to commemorate the fallen from two world wars . Afterwards, they will gather around the adjacent mairie, to share a drink.
