BERN, SWITZERLAND – Swiss honey bees are under threat from a small beehive beetle that feeds on their larvae and honey, which is making its way north. The Swiss government Wednesday declared battle with the beetle, issuing a series of guidelines that make it illegal to import used material, hives or honey for hives from […]
Garden & nature
Pollution level rises, Geneva speeds drop
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – Allow more time to drive around Geneva on its ring road, where authorities have just put the speed limit down to 80 kph due to pollution levels. Monday the lower speed was recommending but Tuesday it was officially restricted, as fine particles in the air reached 50 micrograms per cubic metre. Geneva […]
Gardens in future
Making soup from nettles and other wild plants with chef Carlo Crisci (Michelin 2 stars, Auberge du Cerf in Cossonay) at the Alimentarium in Vevey was inspiring – one of my outings for Swiss Taste Week. Just outside the door, the museum’s vegetable and herb garden encourages you to reflect on gardens of the future, […]
A day off
The weather was glorious, perfect for just about any gardening chores, but sometimes you have to stop gardening and take a day or two off, hang out, travel the way non-gardeners do. Here are some of the things creatures of various sorts in Geneva, Vaud and Valais were doing on the first real warm-weather weekend […]
When last is best
The end of a season, then the end of a year and the end of all the fine things we’ve grown during the year: for me the holidays represent the last hurrah of my garden, but it’s no cause for sadness. Quite the opposite, with unexpected treats coming indoors just as I’m feeling too housebound, […]