Bastille Day 20019

The Mayor, Monsieur Romero, has delivered his welcome and celebratory speech. The first round of parades have begun with aged ex servicemen moving along the quay to the strains the brass band. Tonight stalls will be erected as the town swells for its annual fireworks celebration, attracting visitors and residents from all along the Cote Vermeille to Perpignan. Some things remain the same in Port Vendres, but in the garden we have had lots of change. There have been some tree losses, mainly due to age:  one fig, the cherry, the plum), blight (fern), mysterious (grapevine and yellow plums). In their place we have planted 1 more fig, two more olives, a hazelnut and a clementine. We had to decapitate the Mulberry, are gorgeous shade-giver, because its massive roots had upended our path. It is indomitable and continues to flourish, albeit on a smaller scale. One long terraced bed has been prepared for citrus trees in autumn- perhaps orange and pink grapefruit. My aim is to plant mainly trees on the land over the next few years. The spare land has been cleared of prickly pears, a painful process. I spent a week picking spines out of Dan's infected hands.  Our roses, pears and oleanders have never looked so good and the newly planted jade hedge really works. Also new to the Garden Apartment is our renovated  Casot, a 25 sq m studio with ensuite.- Photos and journal to come as work progresses...