Yesterday late afternoon we had a Föhn storm. The Föhn is a wind we get sometimes in Switzerland. It comes from the Alps in the South and in Wikipedia it says “The wind can cause heavy storms with winds of hurricane strength and top speeds of up to 150 km/h (93 mph)” although we did not quite get 150 km, but it was very windy. Some also tend to have headaches when the Föhn is blowing, although I am not affected. So we got this strong wind yesterday and it was a cold unfriendly wind. It blew over my potted rose which survived. I repotted it in a larger pot afterwards. There were a few objects flying around in the air. My metal garden frog gave up and was laying on the ground, so I rescued him to safety until this morning.
Our friendly sky also turned to this and I heard a roll of thunder in the distance. We got some rain, but not very much. The spook was over in about ten minutes and our blue skies returned as if nothing had happened. I read that Zürich had very strong winds. This morning we have the usual “nice” sky again, and you could even see the moon reflecting in the sun, However the Föhn is only waiting in the Jura, and will return again this afternoon as an overture to the rainy days that will begin afterwards. In the meanwhile I will enjoy the pleasant weather as long as it lasts.
My herbs in my raised bed are growing regardless and I have never had such a successful harvest. The chives are sprouting like mad, and I even cut off a flower yesterday. They have lovely flowers, but I prefer the stalks for my salad sauce. It seems if they produce too many flowers it does not have the strength for the stalks.
Next to it is my parsley. I was taking a chance with the parsley as it is a favourite slug dinner, but up to now no slugs. Perhaps that do not climb the raised beds. The gardener said that chives and parsley do not like each other as neighbours but mine seem to have reached an agreement to leave each other to their own thing.
Looking on at the back is my thyme. Before I begin to cook you often see me in the garden with the scissors snipping my herbs for the pot and their flavours. Yesterday I filled up a can with fertiliser mixed with the water to keep them strong.
I also have this flowering in the garden at the moment. I have a few of them here and there from the gardener who planted them. The lady said they are a good ground cover. I discovered they are called barrenwort according to my app. There are all sorts of surprises at the moment.
This morning I performed my usual routine for my blog. I always enter through the reader to write and yes, WordPress have again decided to change the programme and my accustomed path was no longer there. After a search I found the way again. Another case of mending when it is not broken.
I was intending to go for a wheelie yesterday, but I was not feeling so good and when the weather began to change I decided home was the best place. Today I have a short visit to the store to get set up until tomorrow. It is a strange week after Easter, no routine.
Enjoy the day and hope that Spring is springing in your world as well as mine. The river banks are now quite green. I am off to my daily chores.
Chronicles of an Anglo Swiss 
So much to comment to….
I was in Zurich yesterday AND on a Limmat-Boat for a one hour cruise of the Limmat and a tiny bit of the Lake Zurich. AND we had that storm! I‘ve never seen anything like that being on a boat. It was FABULOUS. The roof window had to be closed after my friend and I were thoroughly doused with the waves sending spray all over…. It was so ‚wild‘ that the boat couldn‘t land at any of the lake-based stops and people were sent away via megaphone; and nobody could get off either! BUT THE FUN WE HAD…. It was like being in Torquay UK on a ferry in bad weather – only with a blue sky. I took some ‚water-logged‘ photos of my home town – hilarious.
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That must have been an adventure Zürich. I just read in the online news that it was fairly heavy in that part of the country with the Föhnsturm.
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Yes, it was – I thought it was hilarious but some people were really scared. And the ‚co-pilote‘ (there was a VERY competent woman captain, young, pony tail, shiny eyes and a very steady hand – at one stop we came back twice and she attempted a ‚backing in backwards‘ parking – astonishing! But people couldn‘t enter the boat, it was too agitated and dangerous….) said to them: Oh this is all included in the price. It‘s a fun trip you booked 🙂
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At least you survived
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I‘m also intensely impressed by your herbs garden. It‘s a brilliant advantage to have raised beds, not only for the back but effectively, slugs can‘t get to your stuff (unless you Import their eggs with the plants)…
I used to suffer intensely from the Föhn, but either I‘ve grown out of it or I was so entertained by it yesterday, that I didn‘t feel a headache coming on. I used to suffer so badly from migraine that I had to stay in a dark room, but after my divorce it got already much better 😉
The pollen, cut grass, hay & perfumes however still get to me and now I‘m off to the shower. It‘s a ‚Saumode‘ to start reading before I‘ve taken my shower and done my beauty (ha ha) regime… 😉 😉
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I have always had herbs, but never so promising as this year. I am keeping an eye open for slugs, but up to now no sighting made.
I have never had a problem with the Föhn, but Mr. Swiss, although he has problems with all weathers it seems to me.
I just have a milk allergy, but if I keep away from ice cream and drinking coffee, it is OK. I am OK with a Rahmsauce.
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The herbs are coming along, I try basil and mint but cannot get it to come back the next year
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I avoid mint in the garden and keep it in pots as it can become very invasive. Basil only lasts in Summer here. It goes kaput in the Winter months
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We had some strong winds too yesterday. I heard it howling and later found that some gusts had reached 100kph. When I got up this morning my wooden garden chairs had blown over, something that has not happened in the two years or so I’ve had them.
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Good Morning! You got another one that is different from ours, and prettier too. We just know it by the Latin name of Epimedium. Again, ours are very different. They are a sickly white, and not very visible. I do not understand the allure of the natives. They are quite diminutive, but invasive once established. I can think of better things to grow. Those from up north are native to California, but not native to the region. (I sort of think it is cheating when someone classifies plants from the Siskiyous (near Oregon) or the Mojave Desert as a ‘native’.) Anyway, they are at least prettier.
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