Warm and cozy in winter

Snow day at La Petite Gardette

Here at La Petite Gardette, winter completely changes the landscape. The occasional snowfall covers the hills, lending a magical feel to the place. Paw prints of all sizes and shapes can be seen in the snow in the early morning, attesting to the presence of deer, wild boars, rabbits, badgers, and foxes in the nearby woods.

 

The frozen pond
 

Wisteria Cottage  ~ cozy open fire and a great book selection!

  

   One of the most enjoyable aspects of the climate of Provence is that the seasons are so well defined. The weather in summer is reliably sunny and hot, of course, making the area a desirable tourist destination while in the winter months, the provençal countryside loses its leaves, but not its charm. The days are shorter, true, and overnight temperatures often drop way below freezing (as in 17-18 below!), but clouds are rare and quickly blown away by the mistral, leaving clear skies and daytime temperatures mild enough to enjoy the outdoors.

 



Provençal nativity scene

   The leaf-covered walking trails are accessible year-round, either on foot or on mountain bike, offering a rare glimpse of a quieter, more subdued Provence.With the busyness of summer gone, the perched medieval villages show themselves in a different light too. Duly festooned for the holidays and with breathtaking (often life-sized) nativity scenes in their churches, they enchant children and grown-ups alike as the fragrant smell of roasting chestnuts floats around the squares. 

 

   As the days and weeks pass, spring will begin to make its cheerful appearance but for now, winter is still just settling in, a chance for nature to slow down its pace in a reflexive, contemplative and restful serenity.

 

 

 

Spring - finally!

La Petite Gardette is finally emerging from a long, cold winter! 

Sub-zero temperatures aren't anything new around here, but this year was unusual in that the weather stayed cold even during the day - we had one entire week with temperatures below zero, day and night!

Needless to say the garden took a hit, especially our potted plants.  The oleanders by the pool didn't come back and had to be replaced, and our big fig trees still haven't woken up (it may be time to call them dead!).

The big escapees were the rose bushes, thankfully!  They have bloomed beautifully, all shades and colors everywhere you look!

Even the garden fell victim to the cold, inspite of Gaia's best efforts!  She delayed planting her tomato plants (all thirty-five of them), until after the Saints de Glace, the famous three-day period after which the old time farmers declare it safe to plant.  A cold wind descended on the garden on May 17th, taking tomatoes, cucumbers, and green beans in its wake.  Some may come back, but it's not looking good!

September, simply beautiful.

Summer may be coming to an end, but nature's abundance and wonderful weather are still very much felt in our part of Provence.

We are still open of course - September is a very popular month among retirees and those wishing to experience Provence after the summer crowds have gone - but the transition to milder temperatures and a somewhat slower pace is welcome after a rewarding but busy summer.

Walking around the property you get the feeling that, much like the grand finale of a fireworks display, nature is giving its all before retiring for winter. Our orchard is brimming with apples, pears, figs, and plums while our vineyard delights us once again with a supply of various table grapes.

Even Hugo the cat, who rarely makes an appearance when lots of people are around, decided to come out of hiding to inspect the state of the cushions! Who says cats just eat and sleep?

Our lovely swimming pool, the perfect place to be!

Over the years, we've noticed that people expectations of their holiday in Provence vary widely.  Many come for the beautiful weather and guaranteed sunshine, others eagerly unfold their road maps upon arrival and start plotting their route through lavender fields and medieval villages.

Others still discover that drifting on a paddle boat at one of the nearby lakes is the perfect way to spend the afternoon.  While all these activities are very worthwile (and highly recommended!), the consensus among our guests is that our wonderful swimming pool remains one of the highlights of their stay at La Petite Gardette.

View from the rocks

Whether it's soaking up the sun on one of our comfortable chaise-lounges, enjoying a good book in the shade of one of our mature trees, or watching the children jump from the landscape rocks, life doesn't get much better!  Over the past twenty-five years, we've had the pleasure of welcoming many of the same families year after year.  It's been such a pleasure to form new frienships and renew old ones, and to generally look forward to the wonderful array of guests that each summer season brings.

We've particularly enjoyed watching babies grow into children then teenagers, each year diving a little deeper, jumping a little further, and holding their breath under water a little longer!  With our pool as the ideal backdrop, families relax, children play, andprecious memories are made. 

~ The pool is open from late May to late September, weather permitting ~