theonlyD800inthehameau
Photography by theonlydeadheadinthehameau
Cellpic Sunday: Behold the flowering tomatillo
Posted on November 2, 2025
You may be wondering what a tomatillo is. Well, it’s a staple of Mexican cuisine and our son-in-law is Mexican – and a very fine cook to boot.
They are not exactly easy to find in the middle of rural France, but we planted some seeds that we were given to us by said beau-fils. He lives in the UK and hasn’t had much success in growing his own: the climate is simply not conducive. Put bluntly, Yorkshire is too cold.
However, it’s warmer down here and although only a couple of our planted seeds have survived, this one seems to be thriving in our serre (greenhouse).
Monochrome Madness – Any Colour
Posted on July 24, 2025
There’s a very interesting twist on the idea of monochrome in this latest Monochrome Madness Challenge. The automatic assumption is that monochrome must mean black and white or, at most, sepia. However if something – or image thereof – has only one colour, whatever that may be, then it can fairly be described as monochrome.
This is, of course, a rose – and Madame’s favourite to boot, as it reminds her of her grandmother, who grew these in her own garden. I don’t recall us ever having so many blooms at the same time as this summer, and the scent is blissful: just what you imagine a rose should smell like: heady and almost sensual.
Cellpic Sunday: As seen from above..
Posted on June 22, 2025
This, I am reliably informed, is an Agapanthus – originally from southern Africa but – in this particular instance – now residing in one of our newly-created flowerbeds.
Cellpic Sunday: Pretty in pink
Posted on May 11, 2025
We were in the town of Beverley in Yorkshire last week and I came across this rather lovely flower in somebody’s front garden.
Lens-Artists Challenge – My Last Outing
Posted on April 7, 2025
It’s a particularly timely challenge for this week’s Lens-Artists, because as it happens my last outing was only yesterday (Sunday).
The first ‘big’ local event of the year round these parts is traditionally the annual ‘Fête des Fleurs‘ in the village of Magnac-Laval, about a half hour’s drive from here. It is held in the grounds of the local agricultural college, which is based in this rather grand-looking chateau. I’m always amused by the jaunty tilt of that windvane.
As you can see from the blameless blue sky, the weather was very kind, which is certainly not a given for this time of year.
Last Photo March 2025
Posted on April 1, 2025
These white pansies have just returned for another season in one of our flowerbeds (yes it does need weeding).
Last Photo: Their day is done
Posted on March 2, 2025
I spotted these past-their-sell-by-date roses in the main (i.e. only) square of our nearest village.
Lens-Artists Challenge: Shoot from above
Posted on January 23, 2025
Sometimes (or should that be ‘many times and oft’?) these old bones either can’t or – more likely – can’t be bothered to hunker down and take an eye-level photo of something at or near ground level. That at least is my excuse for just snapping this flower from above. Its bright colours made it really stand out from its surroundings.
Cellpic Sunday: Poinsettia
Posted on January 12, 2025
With the festive season over, our poinsettia was starting to shed its leaves all over the floor, so it had to be expelled from the house. Its temporary new home is the back step, where it got very wet from the almost constant rain that fell last week.
Last Photo November 2024
Posted on December 3, 2024
The last photo I took in November was this defiant geranium, gamely hanging on in one of our raised beds.
The blooms are low-hanging, but these creaking bones couldn’t face the prospect of having to kneel on the path to get the shot – I might not be able to get up again – so I used the front camera on my iPhone. I think it turned out okay.
(No editing of course, because them’s the rules.)
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