The Great Flood

Because we are surrounded by rivers, including major ones like the Creuse, this area has been subject to some significant flooding over the centuries. One such was the flood of 23 June 1848, which prompted Charles Mourault to compose a poem and inscribe it on a stone in a wall overlooking the river at Baratière, a hamlet outside of Yzeures sur Creuse. Here's my rough translation.

 

The Creuse at Baratière.

 

"Here is where the dreaded scourge stopped that God made us go through in these deplorable days. The water rose without end and everyone left their refuge. Which in that moment look like islands. The fertile plain, the most precious treasure, offers us nothing more than the shadow of death. The people gather on this sad shore, lamenting their fate, saying what slavery. The river ressembled the foaming sea which in its expanse had become so threatening. Oh peoples who are the successors of this century may God protect you from such a great misfortune."

 

Flooding like this is relatively rare, but when it comes, causes significant damage. Nowadays the municipalities involved will declare a disaster (Fr. catastrophe) and everyone affected is guaranteed cover by their insurance.

Thanks to Bruno Guitton who showed me the inscription, and to Alain Chartier who sent me a transcription and details of the inscription's date and author.

Bogues and Borscht

The Galoches walk on Friday 17 October was a 5 km circuit, first along the river, then up onto the heights above Yeures sur Creuse, followed by Ukrainian food as part of the schools' Semaine de Goût ('Taste Week').

 

 Svitlana, her mum and Patricia the school canteen cook prepared about a dozen Ukrainian dishes for people to try as part of the annual food studies school week. Borscht and varenyky mushroom dumplings are always popular.

A replica of the Lourdes grotto, behind the church in Yzeures.

A wildlife 'highway', leading down from the heights into the village.

A rustic shed.

A horse chestnut conker above and a sweet chestnut below. Can you tell the difference? (Look for the way a sweet chestnut tapers to a fibrous point opposite the base pad. This base pad is also smaller, as is the nut itself in sweet chestnuts.) Don't eat conkers as they will give you gastro-intestinal pain.

The River Creuse.

Walking along the river path.

Sweet chestnuts which have fallen on the walking path from an overhanging tree. The extremely spiny outer protective sheaths are called bogues in French.

Japanese anemones.

Sun and Sleet

On Friday 21 November I joined les Galoches for a five and a half kilometre walk in 5°C temperatures. We had a bit of sun, a bit of sleet.

An abandoned vine hut (Fr. cabane de vigne). Once upon a time it was next to the Chemin du Cardinal, a track which led from a spring on the slope above, and down to the village below. Now you need some imagination to see the track. The heights of Yzeures sur Creuse, like Preuilly sur Claise, were once covered in vineyards.

The intersection of three départements ('counties'). I'm standing in Indre et Loire (Touraine), looking at Vienne (Poitou) in the distance on the right, and Indre (Berry) in the distance on the left.

A poplar by a dam, covered in mistletoe.

A barn in a hamlet.

A private garden, on a 'balcon' above the river Creuse.

Wisteria (Fr. glycine) pods hanging over a garden wall.

The weather over Yzeures sur Creuse.

Silures, Slugs and Silex

On Friday 7 November I went out with the Galoches Bruno, Alain and Martine to walk 5 or so kilometres around Yzeures sur Creuse. Once again it was remarkably warm, at about 18°C.

 

We always have a few roses flowering, even into December.

A garden wall made of flint (Fr. silex).

The Lombardy poplar we were walking towards was full of roosting starlings.

Spanish Slug Arion vulgaris (Fr. Loche méridionale).

One of the Cavalier mushroom species Melanoleuca sp. I think it's probably the Common Cavalier M. polioleuca, but it might be one of the rarer species. They are very difficult to accurately identify.

A new fitness station, near the swimming pool.

The remains of the public laundry (Fr. lavoir) on the River Creuse. The stones, shaped like an oversized kerb because of their washing slope, would have been at water level. The river has dropped because a weir downstream has been removed.

The grey cygnet on the right is the only survivor from a brood of six this year. The Wels Catfish (Fr. Silure) has got all the rest.

Walking Around Yzeures sur Creuse

On Friday 31 October I joined les Galoches walking club for 6.5 kilometres around Yzeures sur Creuse. It was rather warm for the season, at 18°C.

 

I think this is Conical Brittlestem Parasola conopilea (Fr. Psathyrelle conique), growing in the leaf litter on the 'balcons' (terraces) of the River Creuse.

A rather fancy pantry I think.

Barns in a hamlet on the outskirts of the village.

A newly planted parcel of vines.

Spangle galls on an oak leaf, caused by the tiny wasp Neuroterus quercusbaccarum (Fr. Cynips galle-lentille).

Dozens of spangle galls that have slipped off their leaves once they've fallen. You could easily mistake them for spilled lentils on the track. There were several patches of galls on the ground like this, so it seems that mast years don't just apply to nuts and acorns.

House.

Sloe Bug Dorycoris baccarum (Fr. Punaise des baies).

Sloe Bug. You can see in this photo why their other name in English is Hairy Shield Bug.

The Scourge Sent by God and Other Local Sights Around Yzeures

The other day I walked 7 kilometres with les Galoches along the flood plain of the Creuse River from Yzeures. 

 

A quince tree in a garden.

The Creuse River.

An intriguing inscription which refers to a tremendous flood in the mid-19th century as 'a scourge sent by God'.

Wooden dividing wall in a barn.

Sorghum (Fr. sorgho) crop.

Big Sheath Mushroom Volvopluteus glioicephalus (Fr. Volvaire gluante) growing in the horse manure and straw left after a weekend event which included gypsy caravan rides.

The Creuse River.

Christ is Re-Risen

Back in April I was out with Les Galoches walking group from Yzeures sur Creuse and we passed a large stone cairn at an intersection. I asked what it was, which resulted in gales of laughter.

The plinth in April.

The cairn is a plinth for a crucifix. Yzeures sur Creuse hosts a very successful rock festival every year in the summer. I'm told that last year, during the festival, a somewhat inebriated young man seeking to impress his girlfriend climbed the plinth and hung off the cross, which promptly came crashing to the ground.

The newly repaired crucifix.

Local social media groups apparently had a good deal to say about it, of the 'young people today!' variety, but it seems that the young man was instantly mortified, and first thing the next morning, turned himself in. He went to the town hall to 'fess up, and they were completely sympathetic. They commented that the metal rod fixing the crucifix to the plinth was so badly rusted that they already had it on their list to deal with. In their view the young man was just unfortunate and they were glad no one was seriously hurt. The crucifix has now been repaired and is in tip top condition for further festival highjinks next month...

Green-winged Orchid

This year I was introduced to a large colony of Green-winged Orchids Anacamptis morio (Fr. Orchis bouffon) that I previously had no idea existed. As is often the case with this species, the colony is associated with old vineyards. Once upon a time the south facing slopes above Yzeures sur Creuse were planted with vines. Now the vines have gone, but the orchids which grew amongst them remain.

The inflorescences are made up of a maximum of about 20 flowers, which can range in colour from violet to purple to lilac pink or even white. The petals form a cap which is faintly striped with grey-green on the outside. The wide labellum has a pale centre, often spotted with purple. The nectar spur is short, thick, flattened and dimpled at the tip.

This is a species that flowers early in the season, which is April here in the Touraine.

It grows in full sun in natural grassland, woodland edges and clearings.

Its natural distribution is vast, from Iran to Norway, and all of the Mediterranean basin.

In the Touraine the species is not threatened although habitat destruction must be a concern. In Asia Minor colonies can be wiped out because the bulbs are used commercially to make salep, a flour made from the tubers that is used to make drinks and ice cream.