Comment: Fantastic morning and evening light and crisp fresh air brightening up the cheeks.

Landscape: Vines pruned back. Vineyards and meadows covered in the deep yellow of Hawkweed (like Dandelion). Oaks not yet in leaf. Maples and False Acacias all springing forth brilliant green and deep red tinges. Fruit trees and hedges hung with white and pink blossom. Light morning mists in the valleys. The brilliant yellow of rape fields chequering the landscape.


Birds of note: Cuckoos and Hoopoes heralding Spring. Jingling of Cirl Buntings and Wood Larks on telegraph wires. Skeins of migrating cranes and storks can occasionally be seen.

Flowers of note: Early Spider and Yellow Bee orchids in early April. Different orchids appearing as the month goes by. Snakeshead Fritillaries. Cowslips and Violets in swarming clusters along the pathways.

Probably, with September, the most well balanced month of the year.

Perfect temperature.

Landscape: Young fresh and full. Vines sprouting leaf.

Birds of note: Golden Orioles Hoopoes and Nightingales and warblers and larks in general.

Flowers of note: Abundant orchids - maybe twenty six different species in May. The peculiarities of the Causses (chalk hill plateaux): Catananche and Globularia. Carpets of Milkwort, Meadow Clary, Ox-Eye Daisies and Poppies (the latter coming more towards the end of the month) and all other pasture flowers in abundance.

Butterflies of note: Swallowtails, Black-Veined Whites and Green Hairstreaks and an abundance of Blues.

Warm. Swimming in the river opportunities - not compulsory!

Landscape: Full. Lavender fields in flower.

Birds of note: Whirring of Nightjars can be heard in the evenings and the cry of Stone Curlews, the Orioles, Hoopoes and Nightingales etc. still here.

Flowers of note: Lizard Orchids,and Cornflowers as well as the brilliant pink of Wild Sweet Peas and all those of May except a large proportion of the orchids.

Butterflies of note: Same as May plus an abundance of different types of the Fritillary family.

Warm. Swimming in rivers still an option!

Landscape: Straw coloured fields and haybales sometimes hay may be seen stacked in stooks. Sunflowers in flower. Action of the Vendange - grape harvest - in progress.

Flowers of note: Soapwort in plenty as well as the usual pasture flowers (Poppies have gone). Figs in plenty

Birds of note: More general at this time but many warblers, larks, woodpeckers etc.

Like April: Cooler. Fantastic sense of light again.

Landscape: The later one gets into October the more sensational the colours. The vines are ablaze with autumnal colour. turning to wonderful pinks and yellows. The small leafed Maples turning firey orange and yellow. The tracks are littered with curled up crunchy leaves. A roaring fire in many of the auberges. Vendange - grape harvest - of sweet white wines for noble rot. Chestnuts for roasting.

Mushrooms: Cepes, Chanterelles, Shaggy Ink Cap, Caesar's Mushroom, Lactaria Deliciosa.