Seeing the lavender fields in Haute Provence was something I’d been dying to do for ages and I when I finally got the chance I wasn’t disappointed. That was a typically British understatement; I LOVED it! It was absolutely amazing. The views, the smells, the colours, the bees, everything was just sublime. It was so great that I want to go back and stay over night to be able to photograph the fields in the early morning and evening light. This time we were there during the middle of the day which is the worst light for photos though the scenery was so lovely that despite less than perfect light I think my photos give you some indication of just how gorgeous it was.
The flowers are out for roughly a month from mid-June to mid-July but when I went due to a late spring there was still plenty of purple around. Some fields had been harvested and others were being cut but the majority were still in full bloom and the bonus of it being a little later than the usual peak season was that there were also lots of sunflowers out too.
The contrast of cut lavender, ripe wheat, sunflowers and blooming lavender – green, gold, yellow and mauve – was beautiful and in my mind even better than pure purple. I hope you enjoy my photos, though I wish someone would invent a “scratch and sniff” application for the internet so you could smell them too!
I took all these photos on or near the Valensole Plateau. Have you been to Provence to see the lavender fields? Or have you seen lavender being grown somewhere else? Do tell!
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OH! There is an amazing lavender farm on San Juan Island that we used to visit, so I am imagining the smell in my head. I adore the sunflower fields of France and with the heady smell of lavender, sounds like heaven! Thanks for sharing with #FarawayFiles, Erin
Absolutely stunning! And I wish there was a scratch and sniff version of internet too ha ha! #farawayfiles
Beautiful pictures, mine came out all ‘bleached’ (back in the days when you sent your films away to be developed!). Provence lavender is one of THE sights and smells of the world #farawayfiles
Stunning & I’m determined to get up to the Valensole Plateau this summer – the lavender in the fields near us is growing at a rate of knots now, so hopefully it won’t be long until they start to turn purple again! #FarawayFiles
I need smell-o-vision on my laptop – I love the fragrance of lavender. Beautiful photos, the sunflowers and lavender make such a lovely combination. I have seen lavender growing at Snowshill in the UK but haven’t visited the fields of Provence. I love Provence so this is lovely to read. #FarawayFiles
Ooh, this is just lovely, Phoebe. I can almost smell them! Your photos are beautiful regardless of the time of day. Fabulous share for #FarawayFiles
Just beautiful. I would so love to see this one day. I went on a roadtrip with my aunt around France in late July 2008. We missed the lavendar but saw the poppies! #farawayfiles
I’ve ALWAYS wanted to find a lavender field or a sunflower flied to frolic through! I love sunflowers and even have one as a tattoo! I hope to see these fields whenever I make it to France again! #FarawayFiles
Thanks for your compliment and book recommendation Vanessa, I’m always happy to have books set in the area recommended to me.
You need to do a trip in your mini in early July Jacqui, then you’ll see full bloom!
So, so lovely! We saw the first blush early June last year, but never yet managed to see full bloom – one day!
Fabulous photos, as ever. I’ve never seen the Provence lavender fields, but you might like Deborah Lawrenson’s The Lantern and The Sea Garden, set in Provence and full of the perfume of the place. We actually have lavender farms over here in SW France (although not so many as in Provence), which produce lavender essence for various purposes. There used to be a lot more of them here, apparently.
Beautiful, there’s nothing more lovely than spending time in a lavender field. You’re right, the colours, smells – it’s amazing and we’re so lucky to have one near our home. Although it’s not as large and exotic as Haute Provence. Lovely photos. #MondayEscapes
Stunning! I had just missed lavender season when I had visited Provence. 🙁 But, there was still plenty of lavender products around at all the markets to experience the lovely smell.
Those photos are stunning.
So very beautiful
Wow, amazing, if have to visit one day!xx
What a stunning field! I adore everything about lavender, beautiful x
I have to say I always enjoy looking at the photos on your blog. I would love to see some
Of the sights you have. The lavender here looks beautiful and I can only imagine how amazing it must have smelt!
Gorgeous. I love that there are sunflowers there too. There is a lavender field in Surrey that we went to last year and we plan to go back this summer.Just so lovely and smells amazing.
I wouldn’t worry about the scratch and sniff, I genuinely feel like I can smell it from your photos! Were you all sleepy afterwards?! xxx
You photos are stunning, they would make great canvas’ and placed in hotel bedrooms… amazing
Oh wow amazing photos. This looks like an incredible place to visit.
Such beautiful scenes – you don’t get shies like that in England! My Mum has some oil paintings of lavender fields and your photos remind me so much of them.
These photos are stunning, love the yellow sunflowers against the lavender.
Wow! That is stunning. I love how sunflowers all face the sun in unison. Beautiful beautiful beautiful!
So beautiful. I’ve not been but I really want to now!
Yay – I guessed this was your post from How Does Your garden Grow!! We have a lavender farm just down the road from us right up here in Normandy and I went once when they were distilling the oil – however in that volume I actually found the smell quite repulsive.
Having seen your beautiful photos, I really want to visit a lavender field now! Bet the smell is fantastic 🙂
Great photo story-do love Provence. The smells from the lavender must be amazing.
Oh my it’s like we are in sync ! I write that I crave lavender on the day you post some!
This looks awesome – the sunflowers are lovely too, a double whammy of greatness. I can only imagine how good it smelt. Just dreamy – thanks very much for sharing x
Those are pretty fields! I wonder if you feel sleepy when you walk between the rows! They look so nice it is my dream to visit one of those =) #hdygg
It is truly spectacular Charmaine, my photos don’t really do it justice.
It’s a dream worth making come true Claudia, I hope you get here one day. 🙂
wow, how beautiful! that is something I would love to see!
oh, this is so beautiful and such a dream of mine. one day. hopefully….
What a beautiful place to visit. I love lavender and wish I could smell it through the computer!
I’ve been hearing and seeing so many of this type of photos online and on TV, Phoebe! They are awesome. Great to know they are real, LOL!
The fields were all around, wherever you looked, in every direction by the roadside.
Great photographs Phoebe. We’re these fields by the roadside or were you on a farm?
🙂 thanks!
Hi Gigi
Thanks for your comment. These fields are about 2.5 hours from my apartment. It makes a good ful day out, but you’re right in 6 weeks it’ll be too late
That last comment was from moi! Gigi. Was very happy to share these gorgeous shots 🙂
These photos are fabulous , Phoebe 🙂 . To visit these fields is absolutely on my bucket list. You have given me a Birds eye view, now I just need to scratch the………return button ?? 😉 When I am lucky enough to head to France, I tend to choose cooler months, as I live in a warm climate. This means I am never there when lavender is in bloom…In fact will be in the Avignon area in 6 weeks, too late for a purple haze .. but one day…one day…..how far is it to this area from your lovely appartment?
The scratch and sniff would be such a great invention! Thanks for commenting Missy. 😀
As an aromatherapist you’d absolutely love this place Dot. The smells were just gorgeous, almost overwhelming at times. 🙂
Around here where I live lavender is used a lot in patisserie (cake making) but I haven’t tried it in tea, that’s a new one for me. It’s certainly a very useful plant as well as looking and smelling lovely.
I’m glad you enjoyed the photos Kajal. The sunflowers were a completely unexpected bonus.
I think the pictures came out beautifully. I also would have enjoyed a scratch and sniff option.
I loved the mix of the yellow and purples together.
Thank you for posting.
Beautiful! I particularly like the one of the lavender and sunflowers together. This is something I would like to do also, (being an aromatherapist I am rather fond of lavender)
Dropping in from UBC! I absolutely love lavender. It has many therapeutic uses and it tastes good in teas. Great photos!
Thanks Stephanie 🙂
These are some lovely pictures and the flowers looks beautiful…I bet I’d vote for a sniff and smell app for the internet…. I have been in love(more like fascinated) with sunflowers since childhood!
Thanks for this post!
Dropping by from UBC
Breathtaking photos! I love the rows of lavender 🙂