In May we visited Nick and Virginia (old friends of Rue's) at their lovely converted barn (with gîte to rent...) in Indre et Loire. The orchids and other chalk grassland flowers were superb. There were UK rarities growing by the dozen in their meadow and on every roadside, and after a while even lizard and monkey orchids seemed commonplace. Not far away is the Brenne, an area of marshes and etangs positively seething with birds--we had a super time.
Right: black-veined white Aporia crataegi--extinct in UK
Below: This huge French cart would be a bit of a challenge for Hazel...
