At first blush, many visitors may not realize that the Alpes-Maritimes department expands from the beaches of the French Riviera to the ski resorts of the southern Alps to the Italian border. Surrounded by the Var and the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, the Alpes-Maritimes has densely populated urban areas, famous Côte d’Azur cities, …

Meringues are not hard to make but require patience and a low baking temperature. The recipe below for Lavender Meringues comes from the Okanagan Lavender & Herb Farm in British Columbia, Canada. The Okanagan Lavender & Herb Farm is a family-run operation requiring an entire team for planting, harvesting, drying, distilling, …

Alpes-de-Haute-Provence is nature’s patchwork quilt featuring mountains, gorges, rolling valleys, lavender fields and pockets of remote villages and busy towns. The Durance River plays an essential role in this department that features high mountain peaks of the Alps and the lower alpine foothills with remote villages. While there are other …

If you are a fan of desserts with citrus, this lavender lemon cake is calling your name. This recipe from our friends at the Okanagan Lavender & Herb Farm is easy to assemble and ready in about an hour. Serve the cake with a dollop of whipped cream as shown …

Some people, like my husband, crave ice cream all year. But, for others, summer is when the desire hits. This warm-weather recipe for lavender ice cream is fun and easy, making it a great activity to do with kids. And if lavender isn’t your flavour of choice, try substituting spearmint, …

Regardless of where you spend your summer, it should mean less time in the kitchen so that you can enjoy the weather. On a hot day, the last place you want to be is behind a stove, which is why a summer salad is an ideal light meal.  This recipe …

If there is a drink that defines the best of summer living, it has to be homemade lemonade. And Provencal rosé! So if you are looking for a recipe for a refreshing drink for hot weather, try this lavender lemonade from the Okanagan Lavender & Herb Farm. Dedicated to making …

As is the case in the rest of France, in Provence and along the Mediterranean coast, you don’t need to go far for the landscape to change dramatically. There are mountains, vineyards, orchards, gorges, lakes and sometimes crowds. So, if you feel like you need to get away without going …

I think that apricots are one fruit that signals the arrival of summer in Provence. Stonefruit apricot or the Latin name Prunus sect. Armeniaca, are related to plums. The fruit grows on a small tree, about the same size as an olive tree. While it’s not unusual to see apricot …

Those iconic images of rows of lavender, fields of sunflowers and bright red poppies, Roman ruins and cobblestone villages are beautiful landscapes of Provence but not likely to interest your children for long. Family Vacation in Provence Whenever friends visit the Alpilles with their families, it has been our experience …