Are You Mad, Woman? The Dawn Mission to Reclaim Our French Garden

Are you mad, woman?

That is not an unreasonable question to ask yourself when you find yourself sneaking around your own garden at dawn armed with secateurs and a wheelbarrow, on a covert mission that has absolutely nothing to do with the official wine harvest (Vendange).

Because it is not time for the harvest yet. Except... it is. Just not by choice!

If you follow our adventures over on the My Life in Languedoc Facebook Page, you will know that living in the South of France comes with plenty of sunshine, incredible wine, and the occasional battle with local wildlife.

This week, the opposition came in the form of a relentless swarm of Asian Hornets (Vespa velutina).

The Enemy: Asian Hornets vs. European Hornets

It is not that we are out in the garden holding elaborate dinner parties every night. It is just that I object, purely on principle, to being told by an insect that there are now 'no go zones' in my own back yard!

If it were the native European Hornet, I could almost respect it. European hornets are generally passive unless their nest is directly threatened.

No, this is the Asian Hornet—an invasive species in France that is notoriously aggressive, highly territorial, and possessed of a long memory for anyone who dares cross them.

Imagine a vindictive, bad tempered, fruit obsessed individual permanently chasing their next sugar fix, and multiply it by a gazillion. That is an Asian hornet near a ripe grapevine!

Tactical Retreat: The Early Morning Harvest

Because the hornets had built an imaginary boundary wall around what used to be our favourite entertaining area, the grapes simply had to go. Until they got what they wanted, we were not getting our patio back.

My initial haul was just a fraction of what needs to come off those vines. The plan was to clear the rest early the following morning, timed precisely for while the little hotheads were still sleeping off their sugar highs.

By mid afternoon, though, I had to call a halt to operations. They were actively trying to colonise the wheelbarrow!

My grand dreams of becoming a sophisticated garden Vigneron were chucked unceremoniously into that same wheelbarrow, right alongside the half ripe grapes.

Dealing with Asian Hornets in France: Quick Tips

If you are living in France and find your fruit trees or vines under siege by Asian hornets, here is what you need to know:

1. Never Disturb a Nest: Asian hornets defend their nests aggressively. If you spot a papery nest high in a tree or under an eave, contact your local Mairie (town hall) or a professional pest controller (désinsectisation).

2. Remove Sugar Sources: Pick ripe or fallen fruit, grapes, and figs immediately to prevent drawing swarms toward your seating areas.

3. Work around Temperatures: Hornets are sluggish in the cool early hours of the morning, making dawn the safest time for garden maintenance near fruit plants.

Jen x