This winter has brought its fair share of challenges at Château de la Boutinière, but one recent storm left us facing far more damage than I expected. We are used to strong winds here during the winter months, but this was a whole new level.
The first sign of trouble came when I went out to check on the greenhouse after being told it had moved. At first, I could hardly believe what I was seeing. The whole structure had shifted. Pots and tables were out of place. Clips had come loose, and some of our olive trees had been crushed. Strangely, I had not even heard the storm properly from inside the château. It was only when I stepped outside that I realised how much force the wind must have had.
At that stage, I hoped we could put things right once Zion was back and able to use the digger to lift the greenhouse into position again. But after the next round of wind and rain, things became much worse. The greenhouse had moved even further, and the damage was far more severe. Shelving, furniture, pots and tools were thrown everywhere. After all the work already put into it, it was deeply discouraging to see it like that.
As if that was not enough, the storm also brought down a large tree on the estate. In a place like this, bad weather is part of life, but there are moments when it really does feel like one step forward and two back. It is never easy to see progress undone so quickly, especially when there is already so much still to do.
What made it even more frustrating was the timing. I had been looking forward to spending more time in the greenhouse and focusing on growing vegetables and wildflower meadow plant plugs for the season ahead. Instead, the focus shifted to clearing up, rescuing what we could and dealing with jobs we had hoped were already behind us.
The fallen tree also brought one of those moments of kindness that stays with you. Coffee and croissants were served to those who came to help clear it from the château driveway. Moments like that are a reminder that even in the middle of setbacks, there is still generosity and warmth around us.
We were very touched by the kind messages, support and concern we received afterwards. It meant a great deal during a difficult few days. Thankfully, the weather now seems to have turned a corner, and spring is finally beginning to show itself. There is still plenty of work ahead, but little by little, life at Château de la Boutinière moves forward again.
This is the right direction.
