You know when you are in the Corbieres when planting a simple Rosemary involved a pick axe, a wreaking bar and rock the size of foot balls. Still progress is moving along its merry way with the new rock garden for the garrigue mother plants- winter savory, thymes of various types, sage, with a few sedums thrown in for ground cover. Going to see if the Verbena will survive a winter out doors, so planted the first mother plant in one of the half barrels. Now got to find some good spots for the two new mints, Moroccan and Longifolia. Always on the look out for an organic pineapple mint and English mint.

Though we are having a mini heat wave for the moment the light is changing fast, low level sun, rich autumn colours and weeds growing at super speeds- so the throttle of the strimmer got repaired today- now held together with a large screw and electric wiring- very posh, also swept the chimney- looking forward to fire, though not a winter like 2011- no minus 15 for 10 days please.

Caroline conducted an experiment with pansy seeds, she looked up the experts advice on how best to germinate them, one said in a poly tunnel in full sun, the other said in a warm dark space- result, the ones in the poly tunnel took time and about 50% germinated, the ones under the bed all germinated but are lanky and weak, if we had caught them when they had just sprouted thinks may have been better . Lesson, never listen to an expert they know their own micro-climate and what works there but bugger all about where you live, and look under the bed occasionally.

Finally replanted the trumpet vine beneath the terrace, the idea is to grow it over the structure that will cover the terrace to provide shade during summer- well if it survives the replanting process, and of course it would help if I had built the structure for it to climb over.