What is going on?
Our Changing Climate
CLIMATE CHANGE SEASONS
2/10/20262 min read
Gloom has set in. This winter is unlike any winter we have had here before, as rainy day follows rainy day. Within the past eight weeks or so, we have had little respite. Add to that the winter infections that prevail at this time of year, and you can see that our winter has not been too great. But I mustn't grumble, for we are not alone . Serious floods have occurred in other parts of Europe, most recently in Portugal, and in the UK they are reporting 40 days of non-stop rain. It is almost biblical. But I prefer to blog about the joys of this part of the world so let me tell you about the early wild flowers that are peeping through the hedgerows, and our mimosa trees that now are in full bloom. It may be early days yet , but I have spotted buds forming on our daffodils, and our small winter garden hellebore is in flower.
But some of the residents of Domaine des Rochers remain completely oblivious of the rain. Our goldfish seem to multiply every time I gaze into the pond, and range in size from one to twelve centimetres. They swim around like one big happy family. We started with six, and lost two to the heron. Now there are well over twenty. Although the water lilies are beginning to push their way towards the surface, there is still little cover, so take care little fish if the heron comes your way again. They have been joined recently by one small toad, most probably a male. It is nearly three years now since we last had toads breeding in our pond, and weaving their long strands of spawn between the water irises. My fingers are tightly crossed that our little visitor will soon be joined by his friends.
So, until the sun returns again and we can venture further afield, let us take our pleasures where we may. Today we walked our visiting dog Gucci in the rain, and I stopped to look at a rock . Without all this rain, the moss would not have seemed half as beautiful.
