RETREATS + HERBALISM
WILD FLOWER WELLNESS
INGRID PAULA - WRITINGS
Weather 2025
After we moved into our current property here in south-west France, we experienced a very warm spring, then a hot summer, followed by a very mild winter, and waited for the ‘normal’ weather to arrive. Where were the usual Spring rains that replenished the ground water levels? Instead, the drought continued through the next three years, with each summer’s heatwave progressively hotter and longer. By November 2022, even this heat loving human had had enough of the parched ground, thirsty wildlife and dead or dying trees, so when the rain arrived, along with everyone else, I rejoiced, having hoped for a wet winter to balance things out.
Instead, the rain continued for the next two and a half years, with a maximum of two weeks in August of both years when there was no rain, and no more than a week in other months without any. It felt as relentless and unforgiving as the dry had been, and once again, food producers in our area were desperate for a break.
Just before the summer solstice the weather was suddenly much warmer and drier, when we were weirdly too hot, although there was still plenty of water. This eased off briefly when it was cool and damp, before in mid-July the real heatwave began. The following four weeks were extremely challenging for most locals; although personally I loved it, it saddened me to see plants and animals suffering.
The weather broke briefly with an evening of gentle drizzle, followed by a few days of light rain, then the heat returned and we were concerned again about the levels in our rainwater collection containers.
Since then, we have had days of rain, with rumbles of thunder all around, and storms in the mountains, with a temperature in which it is comfortable to work manually. Autumn arrived at the end of August, way before we were ready for it, and now in early November we are in a normal(ish) autumn/winter, with lots of rainy days interspersed with bright, sunny ones.
Those days I relish because all colours seem truly vibrant, birds are noisy and active, butterflies, bees, etc still buzz around, it is possible to spend most of the day barefoot and even eat outside if the wind is not too strong or cold. They are days when I am grateful to be here, and blessed to experience the joy of just being that all natural things bring to those awake to their vibrations.
It has become obvious that the new ‘normal’ for world weather patterns is total unpredictability, so all we can to do is be as flexible and open to new ways of doing things as possible, including planting crops 'out of season'.
©I P Lynn 2025
JANUARY 2026
The year started the same as the previous one ended, that is: cool and damp; most nights being below zero degrees C. They were followed by days that struggled to get beyond zero in the shade and lots of plants were effected by the unusually long spell of low temperatures – although wrapped up, our three little lemon trees have severe frost damage, needing careful pruning, and the Butterfly-Ginger (Gingembre-Papillon) has wilted right down to ground level. We can only hope and do our best to help these tender plants, for whom a ‘real’ winter is a rare event.
There are wild greens like nettles in places sheltered from frost, flowers including dandelions and speedwell or forget-me-not, popping up here and there, but the carpet of early violets has yet to show. We seem to have twice as many damp, dreary days as bright sunny ones, but that is probably mostly perception. The days when the sun shines off the snow and the clouds, giving a beautiful, clear, bright light are those worth waiting for; when the next one arrives, I hope to have my camera available, and be somewhere with a clear view.
Meanwhile I am starting to plan some events for the Spring months – Look out for the trees!
