Le Printemps est bien installé en Provence, et comme chaque année, c’est un festival de couleurs qui s’offrent aux yeux de tous dans notre belle région.Le mois de Mai en Provence, comme ailleurs, permet de voir apparaitre de nombreuses fleurs des champs, à la floraison souvent éphémère.
C’est le cas d’une jolie fleur, très fragile, mais si jolie : le coquelicot.
The poppy
Poppies are plants in the Papaveraceae family.
They are a fragile-looking plant with pretty red petals and a long, hairy stem. A real star, the poppy cannot stand competition from other flowers and grows in groups on freshly ploughed land.
Poppies thrive in sunny, chalky soil. They fear too much water.
Poppies therefore like to grow in our Provençal fields.
Poppies are harmful to livestock. A medicinal plant, the first traces of poppy use date back to Neolithic times. A little brother of the poppy, the poppy has the same sedative properties, so a tea of poppy flowers will help you get back to sleep. It is also used in a number of cough medicines.
The poppy and the landscapes of Provence
The poppy in Provence is an integral part of the spring landscape. They come into bloom when the fine weather returns.
Thousands of these pretty, distinctive red flowers cover the Provençal countryside for a few weeks at a time.
The meadows, so green at this time of year, are then dotted with red and offer grandiose landscapes worthy of the most beautiful postcards.
During the short poppy flowering period, photography enthusiasts can take some superb shots.
There’s no need to climb to the top of a mountain to catch a glimpse of this pretty spring flower – you’ll easily come across it on the roadside, between the olive trees of the Alpilles, or at the foot of the Luberon vineyards.
Hikers will discover the landscapes of the Luberon and the Alpilles, with a pretty touch of scarlet to add even more charm to our pretty Provencal panoramas.
Did you know?
The poppy owes its name to its resemblance to the crest of a cockerel.
Plaisirs et Maisons de Provence invites you to stay in one of its holiday rentals and discover this aromatic plant.
We invite you to contact our agency Plaisirs & Maisons de Provence or to request a tailor-made quote.
