Jean Pierre's roses

 

Snoop Sisters back in action

 

Shadows, Chez Christine

 

Back in Saignon!

 

Bottle brush tree, garden

The bottle brushes have dropped and the remaining branches make a nice latticework.
 

Gardenias, garden

 Janie's mother loved gardenias and got a small potted plant every Spring. Once we moved here, she would give us the plants after they bloomed. I had them in pots for a while and then planted them out in the garden near some large trees. They grew to over 7ft. tall. We just had one of those trees, a beautiful hickory, taken down as it was 90% dead and rotting. Unfortunately the tree guys had to drop big pieces of the trunk as they removed it, crushing a few of the gardenias. So I have cut them back and will trim them up over the coming year. A few branches were happy to bloom for us.

Magnolia leaves and Confederate jasmine flowers

 Magnolias are beautiful trees. Ancient and majestic. Sadly, they are also filthy. For most of the year they shed either leaves, bark or seed pods that fall like grenades. The leaves take a very long time to break down. But they are very graphic and when the jasmine starts to drop flowers it's sort of nice.

Monstera leaf, garden

Before we head off to sunny Provence, a look at one of my favorite subjects.