Thursday 13 March 2014

A Chateau Glimpsed Through the Trees

2 points to anyone who can correctly identify this chateau.
********************************************
Nature News: I spotted my first European Orchard Bee Osmia cornuta yesterday. Sadly, it was a mating couple, squashed on the road. Insect roadkill numbers used to be disregarded as unimportant in the wider scheme of things, but recently it has been recognised that for some species and for certain places, it is of increasing conservation concern (see this video featuring Tristan Lafranchis about butterflies and roadkill).

I saw more bumble bees yesterday than I have before so far this year, but they are all rather small. They must be queens at this time of year, so the small size is worrying. They need to be big, so they have lots of reserves should the weather change for the worse temporarily. Honey bee activity, on the other hand, has been high right from the start of the month.
*************************************************
Social News: We enjoyed apéros with our Alsatian neighbours yesterday evening. They are a father and son, and their dog Pif. They don't live here all the time and have bought the house as a holiday home which they will slowly do up. Apparently the house, which has a workshop attached, used to be a mattress maker's. They served a 2009 white burgundy made by friends of theirs, along with rillettes de sardines from a producer originally based near La Rochelle.
****************************************************
Quiz Results: The chateau in the picture above is Chenonceau. 2 points to Tim and chm for getting it right, with a bonus point to Tim for being first.

4 comments:

Tim said...

Looking at yesterday's post....
I'd say Chenonceau...
unless...
of course...
they were buying chateaux like a Barret Home!! Out of a catalogue...

Stately Homes have never been high on my priority of places to visit...
unless they have wonderful gardens...
and better still...
actively used Veg Gardens!
That is why I rate Valmer higher than Villandry!!
Especially as you have corrected me as to what we were told originally about the non-use of Villandry's veg...
scandalous in this day and age!!

Jean said...

Azay le Rideau?

Colin and Elizabeth said...

We agree with Jean. Azay le Rideau.

chm said...

I agree with Tim. It's a view of the front building at Chenonceau. I was tempted to say Azay as Jean and C & E, because of the trees, but the windows are different.

Post a Comment