One of the adjustments when we moved here was having to completely re-educate myself as a gardener. Charleston is semi-tropical and who knew there was such thing as a growing season? That would be year-round. Here, the main season is short and intense, and there's nearly no overlap in plants with Charleston, though I have mangaged to coax a confederate jasmine to hang on and even to bloom, by tucking it in a sunny southern corner.
So I can't resist bringing you along, as I have in the past, for a peek at high season. Photo above: one of our "napping chairs" in the garden.
Wisteria does well here, but usually it's purple. Here is a rare white one in Cluny.
The dahlias are just coming out. Surely this variety is called 'Sunrise'?
A pot by a freshly painted gate. Alstroemeria I think.
An exuberant back-yard garden in Cluny.
In Burgundy, even the cars are blooming!
In the Comments: I loved hearing about the nostalia that the clothing truck evoked. Jenny, thanks so much for the movie recommendation, perfect for last week's post! (see below). Debbie, I had forgotten about the Fuller Brush man. That dates us, I fear. Caterina, I now have got to make a butterscotch sundae toute de suite. Julie, I'm with you, I love to support the small bricolage places, so full of character and so French.
Favorite Reads/Movies: Two articles on French language learning came my way this week. You must read them immediately, they are both just too funny. French language learners, you are going to relate! Go to Brush Up on Your French with This Bastille Day Flow Chart (a spoof on vous-ing and tu-ing), from the LA Times, and The Benefits of Failing at French, in the New York Times, both by William Alexander. I see that he has a new book coming out too, Flirting with French: How a Language Charmed Me, Seduced Me, and Nearly Broke My Heart
Reader Jenny recommends a good French movie, Le Fils de l'épicier, about a young man who is forced to return to Provence and take over the family business. It's been released with English subtitiles, under the name The Grocer's Son .
9 thoughts on “The Annual Burgundy Flower Show”
One day I’ll go there for no reason other than to tour gardens (preferably informal and personal). What’s the best month to see all this blooming?
The first thing I did when I arrived in June was run to a Jardin Botanique to buy geraniums for my flower boxes. I know they will probably die in the time between my husband returning home and me returning in the fall, but at least my balconies look French when I’m in residence. When I return in the fall, I’m going to find some heather because that is pretty hardy for the winter.
Great photos – I’m struggling with my small rock garden since I don’t have a “main verte”!
What beautiful images. I especially love the dahlia.
Gorgeous! Takes me right back over there. Since I don’t have a garden at this time, I can revel in looking at the beautiful fleures d’France.
Ditto the thanks to Jenny for recommending the film “The Grocer’s Son”. I just watched it last night (courtesy of Netflix)and it is delightful.
Love the flower shots. As I type this my nails are still rimed with garden soil after a session in my California garden.
Lovely pictures, Lynn! And who would’ve thought that even the cars bloom in this season :).
Thanks for sharing!
Beautiful! Wish I could be there now!
Lynn, THANK YOU for this absolutely gorgeous post!
You have transported all of us away to nirvana,and made us (once again) aware that these are all creations from God’s hand.
How blessed we are to have eyes to see!
What could be a better way to start the weekend?
WOW!!
Those photos are beautiful, Lynn! Here in Kansas, we have had more rain than usual, and we are enjoying some lovely blooms, not to mention more grass to mow! We have also been enjoying a visit from our daughter and her husband. Mathieu had to return to France today, but Darci will be staying for a couple of weeks longer.