A winter Tramontane might make your eyes run and your nose stream, and even freeze the oranges and lemons on your trees – but what’s not to like about snow-capped Canigou… but can it last? Lesley McLaren investigates.
Coming from the French word terre for “soil,” the word terroir originally described the special characteristics of a region, or piece of land, which gave different varieties of wine, coffee and tea their individuality. (Soil, climate, position, regional traditions….)
At this time of year the P-O transforms into a kaleidoscope of wildflowers. Lesley McLaren takes us through a few of the more common ones to be found in the verges, hedgerows and rocky slopes of the Albères and Vallespir.
Argelès is a Mecca for outdoor sports fans, professional and amateur alike. Take a look at some of the sporting events scheduled in 2019
At this time of year, we read a lot about Pine Processionary Caterpillars, hairy and dangerous little fellows who can cause severe irritation and allergic reactions in both human and animals who touch them or who come across their hairs, which can also blow in the wind.
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.
Flamingos are wading birds and wading is what they do when they’re not otherwise flying, feeding, fighting or fornicating – their other main preoccupations.
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.
One of the greatest things about winter is that the life of the animals and birds of the mountains is much easier to see and understand thanks to the snow.
P-O Naturally – Test your Knowledge!