I have been on an expedition and have found a proper garden centre - VillaVerde at Olonnes-sur-mer and there are branches elsewhere if anyone's interested.
Proper plants, proper pots and loads of other goodies. I may not have a purple dressing gown (2 lilac towelling robes for guests count?) but I do now have purple berries on the grounds that a callicarpa should cope here. Mine in Belgium curled up in winter. Also bought a pink and green variegated Japanese maple, some ericaceous compost for my azaleas and a camellia, some pansies for my new pots and some hardy cyclamen in deeper pinks and reds to add to the mix popping up in the grass between the gate and the house. None of the bulbs I was hunting but I did get some saffron and spring crocuses.
They even had some clematis but I resisted on the grounds that there may be more choice in spring (only a dozen at the mo) and I may have a bed for them by then.
Thence to the huge Leclerc where I treated myself to one each of red and white Oz cos I don't know which of OH's French lot are specials or quaffers and they have corks!!!
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Until my divorce we had a house in Brittany - I remember feeling frustrated at the lack of 'proper' garden centres. The one thing we could get anywhere over there, though, that is hard to find here, was rose-scented geraniums. I absolutely adore them but have only ever found two plants in nurseries here Enjoy the vino Obelixx!
I have a scented geranium - but not rose - whose leaves I infuse in cream to make a lovely ice cream to serve with fresh redcurrants. Had to hack it hard back for the move but it's recovering well. There must be some nurseries that do them online, surely.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
There are, but then there's postage to pay and we're a bit skint. What I should do is, next time I buy one, don't forget to bring in inside for the winter...
Evening all. Glad you're having a good break BL. Sorry to hear you're having a bit of a family issue. Hope the weather stays fair and you get a chance to recharge.
My text has suddenly changed...I must have pressed something... Quite like it though
T/the/cat - we have a seed swap here if you need some bits and bobs, and also, people will give you cuttings etc if you want a few freebies
Weekend at last - it's been an odd week at work. I may not walk this weekend as the weather is looking a bit pants apart from the far north east, but is to be not bad here, so I may just get on with some outdoor jobs.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Very out of character for me ......but I have just got home from work and baked a cake. Mr C is in shock We have FiL staying for the weekend, and a surfeit of home grown apples, so an apple tray bake is in the oven as we speak......and delicious cakey smells are filling the kitchen I must try this domestic goddess thing more often
Can I apply to join the purple dressing gown club.....even though mine is decidely pink......as the neighbours, the postman, and even the man from the local council who wanted my vote can testify
Seed swap? Cuttings? YES PLEASE!!! Is there a separate thread for it? And what on earth is this purple dressing gown club? And why, oh why, did I not find this forum years ago?!
BL glad you got your shopping done If you're this way again we can meet up at the GC - it's only five minutes up the road from here - they're having renovations/rebuilding work done at the moment and I'm not sure when the restaurant proper reopens, but they've got a little café functioning for the time being.
The pheasants are delivered to the farm shop on Thursday/Fridays - if you want one before next delivery I'll get OH to pop one in their freezer for you tomorrow as they're selling quickly - just say
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Chicky - baking cakes is really quick and easy and so delish. Only a faff if you get cerative with teh presentation and decorating which I never do. Stick to chocolate ganache, butter or cream icing or just sifted icing sugar and they'll be wolfed down.
FG - nothing wrong with a domestic gardening weekend now and then. You are so right about people going out only with mobiles. What happens when they can't get a signal? And why should people risk their lives and limbs to rescue them when they've been so stupid as to go out unprepared? They should get an invoice for time and materials at least.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Welcome Thankthecat, both fruits and nuts are welcome here! put on your dressing gown and pick up a cake!
Fidget, it rained ladybirds here on Wednesday too, I was on my gardening round and we were infested everywhere we went!
Clari, duck please....carpet picnic here....Taramasalata, tzatziki and pitta bread here...or can't be ar**ed as I had a couple of brandy coffees when I got home
I'm joining Chicky in the apple cake though, just been given a bag full of cookers and the sound of your cake is making me crave!
Dove, the team meeting went well for the new job thanks, lasted 3 hours though!
So happy its the weekend! off to slob in the spare room with Poirot whilst hubby celebrates Friday in the basement with his decks and very large speakers!
Posts
I have been on an expedition and have found a proper garden centre - VillaVerde at Olonnes-sur-mer and there are branches elsewhere if anyone's interested.
Proper plants, proper pots and loads of other goodies. I may not have a purple dressing gown (2 lilac towelling robes for guests count?) but I do now have purple berries on the grounds that a callicarpa should cope here. Mine in Belgium curled up in winter. Also bought a pink and green variegated Japanese maple, some ericaceous compost for my azaleas and a camellia, some pansies for my new pots and some hardy cyclamen in deeper pinks and reds to add to the mix popping up in the grass between the gate and the house. None of the bulbs I was hunting but I did get some saffron and spring crocuses.
They even had some clematis but I resisted on the grounds that there may be more choice in spring (only a dozen at the mo) and I may have a bed for them by then.
Thence to the huge Leclerc where I treated myself to one each of red and white Oz cos I don't know which of OH's French lot are specials or quaffers and they have corks!!!
Until my divorce we had a house in Brittany - I remember feeling frustrated at the lack of 'proper' garden centres. The one thing we could get anywhere over there, though, that is hard to find here, was rose-scented geraniums. I absolutely adore them but have only ever found two plants in nurseries here
Enjoy the vino Obelixx!
I have a scented geranium - but not rose - whose leaves I infuse in cream to make a lovely ice cream to serve with fresh redcurrants. Had to hack it hard back for the move but it's recovering well. There must be some nurseries that do them online, surely.
There are, but then there's postage to pay and we're a bit skint. What I should do is, next time I buy one, don't forget to bring in inside for the winter...
Evening all. Glad you're having a good break BL. Sorry to hear you're having a bit of a family issue. Hope the weather stays fair and you get a chance to recharge.
My text has suddenly changed...I must have pressed something...
Quite like it though 
T/the/cat - we have a seed swap here if you need some bits and bobs, and also, people will give you cuttings etc if you want a few freebies
Weekend at last - it's been an odd week at work. I may not walk this weekend as the weather is looking a bit pants apart from the far north east, but is to be not bad here, so I may just get on with some outdoor jobs.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Very out of character for me ......but I have just got home from work and baked a cake
. Mr C is in shock
We have FiL staying for the weekend, and a surfeit of home grown apples, so an apple tray bake is in the oven as we speak......and delicious cakey smells are filling the kitchen
I must try this domestic goddess thing more often
Can I apply to join the purple dressing gown club.....even though mine is decidely pink......as the neighbours, the postman, and even the man from the local council who wanted my vote can testify
Seed swap? Cuttings? YES PLEASE!!! Is there a separate thread for it? And what on earth is this purple dressing gown club? And why, oh why, did I not find this forum years ago?!
BL
glad you got your shopping done 
If you're this way again we can meet up at the GC - it's only five minutes up the road from here - they're having renovations/rebuilding work done at the moment and I'm not sure when the restaurant proper reopens, but they've got a little café functioning for the time being.
The pheasants are delivered to the farm shop on Thursday/Fridays - if you want one before next delivery I'll get OH to pop one in their freezer for you tomorrow as they're selling quickly - just say
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Glad you had a successful day Busy. That must help a lot.
That's a kind offer Dove. Not a pheasant in sight at the SM this pm but I have a guinea fowl. Just need OH to come home now so I can try your recipe.
Cat - you need this thread - http://www.gardenersworld.com/forum/the-potting-shed/seed-and-plant-swap-2016/895135.html or else start a thread with an appeal for something special you may be after if it's not on there. The purple dressing gown thing is a state of mind. Dove started it so she can explain best.
Chicky - baking cakes is really quick and easy and so delish. Only a faff if you get cerative with teh presentation and decorating which I never do. Stick to chocolate ganache, butter or cream icing or just sifted icing sugar and they'll be wolfed down.
FG - nothing wrong with a domestic gardening weekend now and then. You are so right about people going out only with mobiles. What happens when they can't get a signal? And why should people risk their lives and limbs to rescue them when they've been so stupid as to go out unprepared? They should get an invoice for time and materials at least.
Evening folks
, morning Pat 
Welcome Thankthecat,
both fruits and nuts are welcome here! 
put on your dressing gown and pick up a cake! 
Fidget, it rained ladybirds here on Wednesday too, I was on my gardening round and we were infested everywhere we went!
Clari,
duck please....carpet picnic here....Taramasalata, tzatziki and pitta bread here...or can't be ar**ed as I had a couple of brandy coffees when I got home 
I'm joining Chicky in the apple cake though, just been given a bag full of cookers
and the sound of your cake is making me crave! 
Dove, the team meeting went well for the new job thanks,
lasted 3 hours though! 
So happy its the weekend!
off to slob in the spare room with Poirot whilst hubby celebrates Friday in the basement with his decks and very large speakers! 
Night folks, first up makes the coffee!