[Is a pond a good idea or not ?]

We have a large/deep natural pond in our  field which does retain water all summer, although the water level does drop considerably. It is currently still very full though and am using it to water my veggie garden with the help of a petrol pump.. It is not too near the house and surrounded by brambles and trees so i haven't noticed if the mossies are any worse because of the pond. Although we do have lots of dragonflies (see below). I get eaten alive by mossies even when i am not near a pond!!

Some info regarding mossies in ponds!!

'Have moving water in your water garden. Mosquitoes

will not lay eggs in running water. The newly hatched mosquito must

rest on the water’s surface for a few minutes to let its wings

dry. If the water is moving, the female mosquito will not lay eggs

there.

Get some mosquito fish for your pond. Mosquito

fish, or gambusia affinis, are very aggressive predators of mosquito

larvae. They are also aggressive to other fish and will also eat

dragonfly larvae, or nymphs. If mosquito fish are too predatory

for your particular tastes, several other types of fish readily

consume mosquito larvae, such as guppies, killifish, and small goldfish.

Koi are too large and will not target the larvae.

Add Bti to your pond. Bti is a naturally occurring

type of bacillus that is eaten by the mosquito larvae, and rapidly

kills them. It is not harmful to fish, pets, wildlife or humans.

It is sold under such names as Mosquito Dunks, or Mosquito Bits.

Add dragonfly larvae, or nymphs, to your pond. They are voracious predators of mosquito larvae,

and while the mosquito larvae stay in that stage for only a few

days, the dragonfly nymphs stay in the larval stage for up to two

years, and can prey on many generations of mosquito larvae. And,

when they become adults, the dragonfly feeds on adult mosquitoes

too.

Invite toads into your yard. One toad can consume

up to 100 mosquitoes and slugs per night. They lay their eggs in

water, so the pond will attract them. If happy with its environment,

a toad can grace your garden for up to 20 years. And the tadpoles

will eat mosquito larvae also.'

Copied from http://www.whatprice.co.uk/gardening/mosquito.htm

Louise

[Charentais Melons]

I am interested in growing Charentais melons in containers. Has anyone tried this??

My idea was to use a rectangular planter with trellis attached on the back and to support the fruits in nets attached to the trellis.

...................or am i just being mad?!

Louise

[Prices of plants]

Bit more info here:

  http://www.ambafrance-uk.org/article.php3?id_article=105

Louise

[Prices of plants]

Sylvia,

I'm not sure but there may be certain plants which cannot be brought over due to diseases etc.

(this may just apply to commercial importers though or not apply between EU countries) I have heard of such things as plant passports though.

Have a look at,

 www.defra.gov.uk

Louise

[Prices of plants]

 http://www.graines-baumaux.fr/

This site is good for veggie seeds, and they have the catalogue online or they will send a copy. It may give you some idea of prices etc.

Other gardening websites i have found include:

 

http://www.jacques-briant.fr/

http://www.plantes-et-jardins.com/index.asp?bc=1

http://www.willemsefrance.fr/

http://www.jardinexpress.fr/

http://www.hortiflorbureau.com/

http://www.bakker.fr/

http://leclosdarmoise.com/

(sorry can't get links to work! Maybe because i am not using internet explorer????)

Thanks phil got them working now! (i didn't highlight them first!)

[Elderflower cordial]

Glad it isn't just me then!!!

Had an idea about freezing it in ice cube bags, so it is easy to just pop a few out at a time! Worth a try i think.

Louise

[Elderflower cordial]

Just finished it!!!

Delicious!!!

No i didn't say the 'pour faire da la limonade', will have to try again i think.

What is citric acid/ vinegar supposed to do?? Because it tastes lovely without! I was quite generous with the lemon though!

[Elderflower cordial]

 I have just been reading last years posts about Elderflower cordial. Which has motivated me to give it a try!

Just been to the pharmacy to ask for citric acid and got a very strange look and was told no! I attempted an explanation of what it was for (in my bad French) but got an even stranger look!! Couldn't work out if it was no i can't have any or no we don't sell it!

So instead undeterred i have tried the following:

1kg sugar, 1 lemon,1 litre water boiled together and poured over 18 flower heads.

Decided to only do a small batch, just in case. I am now awaiting the outcome!!

Has anyone else tried it without citric acid?? How long should this keep for??? I may try another pharmacy next week for citric acid!

Louise

[Urgent help with baby bird!]

At least the mum has spotted it so fingers crossed!

Good luck!!

[Urgent help with baby bird!]

    Could you put it in a large plant pot/ box or something suspended in the tree. I know my father did this once...with a baby blackbird and the mother did come and find it.

Louise

[Ryanair to Angouleme?]

More info here:

http://www.charente.com/extranet_en/index.php?action=current&id_edition=37&pos=0

[Open to the Public]

   Hi hope this helps!

Les « Rendez-vous aux jardins »

Depuis 2003, le Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication a lancé un nouveau rendez-vous culturel intitulé « Rendez-vous aux jardins »

prenant le relais de « Visitez un jardin en France », campagne de mise

en valeur se déroulant en juin (« Le mois des jardins ») initiée en

1988. Durant trois jours, du vendredi au dimanche, le premier week-end

de juin, des jardins qu’ils soient publics ou privés ouvrent leurs

portes, pour certains exceptionnellement. Autour d’un thème fédérateur

renouvelé chaque année les visiteurs, venus chercher idées, conseils et

informations, découvrent des animations, démonstrations, expositions,

conférences, concerts…

Ces rendez-vous

sont devenus un moment privilégié de rencontre entre passionnés du

patrimoine culturel vivant que constitue le jardin.

Prochaines dates : du vendredi 2 juin au lundi 5 juin (Pentecôte) 2006 sur le thème du parfum.

Pour en savoir davantage :www.rendezvousauxjardins.culture.fr

[Whether to bring a cooker from uk?]

    Hi

I would say buy from UK!

Mainly because the range over here seems pretty limited. You don't seem to be able to get ovens with a seperate grill or double ovens. Ovens are available in the UK which you can attach a gas bottle to if you prefer gas and don't have mains.