The P-O is on red alert for pollen allergy. According to the RNSA (National Aerobiological Surveillance Network), responsible for the analysis of the content of the air, cypress pollen is at a particularly high level in our region as well as the Hérault, Aude, Lozère, Aveyron and Tarn.
These are in fact caterpillar nests, constructed by the pine processionary caterpillar (chenille processionnaire) larva, who live in large ‘tents’ and march out at night in single file (hence the name) to feed on the pine needles.
The ‘Linky’ communicates directly with the electricity provider, transmitted via a technology called Power-line communication (PLC), giving more accurate information and more precise billing. But how safe is it?
Winterising your swimming pool properly is likely to make it easier to open, protect from frost damage and prevent green water.
Since January most of my articles have dealt with the how and when of gardening, but now I want to look at why we have a garden and what we hope to achieve with it.
There are still some harvests to gather in the garden – the last few marrows and gourds need to be picked before the frosts, and the rows of parsnips are now demanding to be harvested to provide winter delights such as parsnip chips and curried parsnip soup, which are practically unknown to the French.
News of a government scheme going round offering roof insulation for the symbolic sum of 1€ (Isolation à 1 euro) IS genuine, put in place to encourage homeowners to improve the energy consumption!
There is an old Provencal saying: “Plantez avant la Sainte Catherine et vous auriez de bonnes racines” – plant before 25 November to have good roots.
In June you should be planting seeds for the coming year in both the potager and the flower garden
Evaporation or a leaky pool? It can come as quite a surprise just how much water is lost from a swimming pool via evaporation, due to heat, humidity and wind.