This is Day 12 for the
Blogging from A to Z Challenge
for 2013.
The letter "L" takes us to another item on my Bucket List: Lavender.
Vendors at the Cours Saleya Market in Nice sell an assortment of lavender products, but I wanted to see fields of flowers in full bloom – the lavender fields of the Luberon. And thus began my pursuit of lavender on a return trip to France.
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| Lavender Products, Nice |
When we arrived in Paris, lavender was flowering at the Tuileries Gardens.
And there was a small planting of lavender beneath a tree on the grounds of Château de Pierreclos in Burgundy (and lots of bees).
But when we arrived in Provence, the fields of lavender – the very fields I had crossed the Atlantic to see – had been cut down due to heavy rains. After two years of planning there was no excursion to the Luberon. Disappointment was an understatement. I had to settle for lavender in the shops.
But there was a tiny glimmer of hope – lavender may be blooming in the town of St. Remy-de-Provence at St. Paul de Mausole Monastery.
I stood in a field of lavender under a blazing sun, inhaling the fragrance and watching the butterflies while cigales chirped all around me – it was the Provencal experience from my Bucket List at last!
Next: "M" is for Macaron
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| Tuileries Gardens, Paris |
And there was a small planting of lavender beneath a tree on the grounds of Château de Pierreclos in Burgundy (and lots of bees).
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| Château de Pierreclos, Burgundy |
But when we arrived in Provence, the fields of lavender – the very fields I had crossed the Atlantic to see – had been cut down due to heavy rains. After two years of planning there was no excursion to the Luberon. Disappointment was an understatement. I had to settle for lavender in the shops.
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| Lavender Shop, Avignon |
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| L'Occitane en Provence, Arles |
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| Lavender and Sunflowers, St. Remy-de-Provence |
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| Joel Durand Lavender Chocolates |
But there was a tiny glimmer of hope – lavender may be blooming in the town of St. Remy-de-Provence at St. Paul de Mausole Monastery.
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| St. Paul de Mausole Monastery, St. Remy-de-Provence |
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I stood in a field of lavender under a blazing sun, inhaling the fragrance and watching the butterflies while cigales chirped all around me – it was the Provencal experience from my Bucket List at last!
I love the smell of lavender! I've tried growing it a couple of times and I fail miserably. I think because it wants to be outdoors and I keep trying to make it an indoor plant.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine how wonderful those field of lavender in France must smell! Thanks for sharing the pictures.
The smell was amazing. I'm glad you enjoyed the photos.
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