On November 2, 2023, Storm Ciaran hit the Channel Islands and Western Europe with terrifying force, with torrential rain and wind speeds in excess of 100 mph. Thousands of trees were blown down, power lines severed, roads and houses flooded, and main water pipes burst. We were not in France at the time, but followedContinue reading “Le Hot and Storm Ciaran”
Author Archives: efgausden
Summer 2023
It’s been an eventful summer, no doubt about that, and what a wet one! Though it all started calmly and sunnily enough. We arrived on June 12, and the roses were already wonderfully in bloom, and continued to be so through the whole hot and dry month and into the start of July. The gardenContinue reading “Summer 2023”
A quick trip in May 2023
We were thrilled to nip back to Le Hot for a very short visit right in the middle of May this year. It meant that we saw all sorts of plants in flower that we usually miss! For instance the Iris pseudocorus alongside the entrance pond: The wisteria on the side of the house smeltContinue reading “A quick trip in May 2023”
How 2022 ended at Le Hot
After the long hot summer of 2022, the garden at Le Hot was happy to relax into mellower days. During September the razzmatazz colours were mostly over, but there was a tranquil beauty to the fading foliage and developing seedheads. The stork family had all left and the big nest was full of twittering little birds untilContinue reading “How 2022 ended at Le Hot”
Very happy to be back for the summer!
We arrived back at Le Hot five weeks ago, to find everything looking very lush from all the rain of the last few weeks. Some of the roses were heavy with sodden petals, but most had been relishing the weather and were in glorious full bloom. As were all the clematis who were clearly enjoyingContinue reading “Very happy to be back for the summer!”
Working in the spring sunshine
We have been back at Le Hot for a week now and have been revelling in all the hard labour of preparing a large garden for the summer ahead. Not to mention all the indoor jobs. We have lucky enough to have some good sunny weather for all the work, though that East wind hasContinue reading “Working in the spring sunshine”
Spring beauty!
Wonderful to be back here at Le Hot with spring in full swing! The banks are full of primroses, the gardens are full of daffodils, and our lovely Amelanchier is veritably glistening with blossom! The rust-coloured calyces just enhance their beauty: Plenty to do to get the house and garden ready for summer – listsContinue reading “Spring beauty!”
We made it back! 2021 at Le Hot
After ten long months of COVID restrictions, closed borders and lockdowns, we were overwhelmed to get back to Le Hot on May 31, 2021, having been away since September 2020. It was an emotional reunion with the house, the garden, and with the stork family, who had two youngsters again this year. The garden wasContinue reading “We made it back! 2021 at Le Hot”
Jardin Le Hot in a time of Covid
A year like no other, of course, and a severe challenge for the whole world…. Having had two holiday homes in the same area of Normandy before buying Le Hot in 2006, 2020 was the first Easter period for almost 30 years when we weren’t able to get to France. Friends who live near usContinue reading “Jardin Le Hot in a time of Covid”
The Interior Renovation of Manoir Le Hot
Manoir Le Hot forms the main part of the ancient set of buildings around the largest medieval courtyard in Manche, the area of Western Normandy that runs down the Atlantic coast from Cherbourg, and faces the Channel Islands.
Manoir Le Hot 