Bonjour mes amis! One reason we wanted to visit the Luberon with the Menningers was to smell and see its beautiful lavender. You must close your eyes and breathe deep and your senses will tell you that you are in Provence with its lavender fields. The scent of lavender is strongest in the heart of summer, from mid-June to early August, when the fine stalks wave in the wind and the lavender prairies stretch as far as the eye can see. Lavender fields cover areas at the base of Mont Ventoux. Lavender grows in the Luberon area. It is used in soap, perfume, honey, sachets, potpourri,etc. Did you know that for many years in history lavender was used for purification? In fact, the word lavender literally means "to be washed". During World War I lavender was used as an antiseptic. It was also used to treat wounds and burns. In June, magic happens to the fields in northern Provence. Rows of spiky green begin to change color. By the 3rd week of June, the valleys have changed from green to purple, as the mats of parallel rows become purple with the ripening lavender. These lavender fields provide an agricultural crop which was once as important to the Provence farmer as their olives and grapes. Lavender today is not the big business that it once was as synthetics have pushed it aside. However, lavender still continues to provide us with wonderful products partly out of tradition and a demand for excellence. !!! Très, très belle!
Mme. Wallace
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