"JennyC" wrote in message
...
Hello all,

Just come back from visiting English friends in the Dordogne. Of
course the
subject of gardening came up.........

Question 1:
The conditions there seem difficult. It's hot and dry in the summer
but can get
down to minus 15 on occasions ! The soil in my friends garden is on
a very
steep hillside with only very little poor quality topsoil over a
layer of rock
and clay. Water just runs of and it's hard to get things
established.

I was wondering whether any URGler's :
have experience of gardening in the Dordogne
or have friends there who might be able to help
or know of any specialist books on the subject

Question 2:
ATM she is looking for a plant to cover the top of a bank (cut away
to make room
for extending the house) The plant needs a good root system to hold
the earth in
place + hanging quality to drape over the raw edge (she does not
want a
retaining wall or whathaveyou) Evergreen would be good too..........

I smell trouble. How high is the edge? How steep is it? What kind
of soil is it? Has she spoken to anybody with knowledge of the
stability of banks in the vicinity?

Any thoughts gratefully received :~))

Franz