The Bertins on mountain bike

Clear view of the village of Abriès and the top of the Guil valley.

Like all katydids, the Great Green Bush-Cricket has long and thin antennae. They can reach up to 3 times the size of the body. In contrast, short-horned grasshoppers have short and articulated antennae. The Great Green Bush-Cricket likes open areas, meadows, grasslands, bushes ... Sometimes eating plants, it feeds primarily on other insects, caterpillars and larvae, which makes it very useful for gardeners!

In spring, the chamois leave the forest which fed and protected them during the winter. Little by little, they go in search of the first tufts of grass. The males find their solitary life they will lead until the rutting (early November). As for the females, they isolate themselves in June to give birth. They prefer ridges and steep and difficult places of access where predators will have a hard time getting to. After a week, the female and the kid join the herd.

Commonly known as firebug, this inodorous bug mesures about 1cm. It lives in small groups often at the base of trees and feeds mainly on seeds. It can also eat the eggs of other insects and even dead insects. Mating occurs in spring, it is amazing due to the fact that it lasts many hours. We can easily observe the individual bugs move around backwards during coupling. The female lays between 50 to 60 eggs in a burrow it digs into a wetland. The larvae hatch in May and become adult at the beginning of winter.

Used for medicinal purposes, basketry, tool handle, willows have multiple uses. A common use for some 360 species of willows is "willow water". Excellent for cuttings, layering or strengthening weak trees, willow water is today replaced by auxin. 2 types of productions are possible: crush the branches and let them soak in water (24hrs). Or, leave the willow cuttings 5 to 6 weeks in water. ? After these 5 to 6 weeks, the cuttings are ready and the water has become a slippery gel ideal for cuttings.

By gravity, the water seeps. Sometimes it passes areas which are heated by volcanic activity. The water heats, dissolves minerals it carries and charges up in carbon dioxide. Lightened by the carbon dioxide, it goes back up and retrieves minerals. Once in the open area, the chemical reaction (high level of CO2, air, water movement) allows the limestone to deposit itself on everything it touches. Strategically place any object for several months in the water, it will be petrified.