In France, you don’t just set a table for a meal. You create a “stage” for food and conversation, and it’s called l’Art de la Table. It’s no secret that France is a leader in fashion design (names such as Christian Dior, Coco Channel, Pierre Cardin, and Yves Saint Laurent), …

It’s hard to compete with a long list of magnificent, historically significant gardens in a country that includes gardens built for French royalty. The Palace of Versailles and its immaculate grounds are on your list of must-sees in Paris. Then there are the Jardins du Château de Fontainebleau south of …

Lavender blooms for a relatively short time in Provence. Like any plant, the exact peak flowering time depends on several factors, including weather and altitude. Generally, the lavender fields in the South of France peak in early July and are harvested by mid-August. Many people plan their trips specifically to …

My photo is of tulips in the Vaucluse putting on a dazzling display near Jonquieres last spring. One of the highlights of our sojourns in Provence is the different flowers through the seasons. In the spring, you can see cherry orchards in bloom in April and early May around the …

The relaxed atmosphere of the French Provencal lifestyle impacts the design of rooms and outdoor spaces. Provence style is distinguished by its natural harmony. Furniture Furniture in the Provence style should not go beyond classic shapes and pastel colours. Upholstered furniture with modern ergonomic solutions is allowed but in moderation. …

Provence is known for its exceptional wines and breathtaking landscapes. But did you know our region is also home to a beautiful, fragrant plant? The mimosa, a plant native to Australia, grows on our vineyard and brings a touch of lively colour and subtle fragrance. The mimosa grows mainly in …

When we first arrived in Provence, it was early October. That year delivered a relatively mild start to the month, and I honestly wasn’t focused on the flowers that came later. Cycling under sunny skies in the Camargue, we passed by rice fields that were being harvested and visited the …

Provence’s Roseraie de Gérenton has 300 Rose Varieties! Cultivating any garden takes time, patience, and lots of challenging work. In early 2015, Sylvie and John Brun bought a property near Bédoin in the Vaucluse. Although the property was previously an agricultural plot about 50 years ago, the old grapevines and …

One of the more challenging aspects of moving to France for my wife was losing her garden. In Nashville, where we lived for almost twenty years, we had an acre of property with lots of room for her to plant multiple gardens. Here in Vence, we live in an apartment …

Close to Forcalquier, the artistic centre of the Alpes de Haute Provence is a truly remarkable historic site in the village of Mane. The Salagon priory and its gardens with over 1,700 plants. The day we visited was a blinding, hot July day when not as much as an ant …