Essential Lavender The lavender industry in Provence is a significant economic driver impacting agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, and retail. There are 2,000 producers and roughly 25,000 people employed in the industry. The main growing areas are the four (4) departments the Drôme, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Hautes-Alpes, Vaucluse, with some small production in the …

There are some ingredients that remind you of a place you’ve been or, in this case, a place you lived. The state of Maine is one of those places with its fabulous seafood – lobster, clams and Gulf-of-Maine shrimp. Summer eating in this coastal state is all about lobster roll …

Lavender Fields of Provence Rows of fragrant lavender plants stretching toward the horizon are an unforgettable sight. In fact, for many people, this is the first image that comes to mind when they think of Provence. You might imagine that the landscape has always been swathed in lines of lavender, …

Purple Lavender By Cheryl Shufflebotham: It’s the essence of Provence—intoxicating, calming, soothing, stunning—the purple elixir of Provence. Yet, it’s here for just a short time—at its peak in July but still stunning at the end of June. Provence is raw, rugged, and enchanting all year, but how can one resist …

Lavender Fields Forever Many of us would love to spend days in Provence, luxuriating amidst fields of this alluring purple flower. This article is all about ‘lavande rapide’ – how to see lavender in Provence when you don’t have much time or have a long list of things you want …

Magical Lavender Spotting a lavender field in flower for the first time is magical, but it’s the fragrance that is heavenly. The tiny plants stretch towards the horizon, like small purple streams. It’s little wonder why you see so many images of people posing against this stunning backdrop. Lavender fields, …

New Book by Patricia Sands “Families come in all shapes and sizes.” This phrase, spoken by one the women in Patricia Sands’ new novella, is a good summary of what this lovely book is about. And what families they are!—united by love, friendship, and sometimes even biology. Sands shows us …

Don’t shy away from making ice cream. This recipe takes advantage of ripe stonefruit (apricot, peach), and needs little sugar. The lavender flavouring gives it that hint of Provence.

Magical Lavender Spotting a lavender field in flower for the first time is magical, but it’s the fragrance that is heavenly. The tiny plants stretch towards the horizon, like small purple streams. It’s little wonder why you see so many images of people posing against this stunning backdrop. Lavender fields, …

By Ashley Tinker: A Guide to Lavender in Provence You either love lavender or you hate it. The essence is used for insomnia, headaches, to cleanse cuts or insect bites, deter mosquitoes and more. Despite its uses though, there’s no denying that it’s absolutely stunning in the plant form, and …