I am not much of a gardener.
Where I live there is more rock than dirt and what does manage to poke its head above the sparse soil is fair game for the local wallabies and kangaroos, blasting winds or drought. It takes a mattock or a crowbar to make the slightest dent in the ground, and I can only dream of pushing a shovel into rich, loamy soil. I describe it as industrial strength gardening and it does tend to take all the fun out of gardening as a leisure activity.
Consequently, I love to admire other people’s gardens and the lush spaces they create. I don’t hang around long, just a quick peek over the fence, as that would just create a severe case of garden envy!
On our recent stroll along the Chemin de St Jacques/Camino via Podiensis from Le Puy en Velay to St Jean Pied de Port it was the perfect opportunity to admire blooms, snap a few photos and walk on.
Here is a small taste of just some of the brilliantly coloured flowers and sculptural blooms we spotted over 770km through France in May. Needless to say, I have no idea of their botanical names and some are obviously weeds.
It’s the pleasure they bring that is the most important thing.
I know it’s hard to pick (perhaps literally), but do have a favourite flower?
#travelinspo #France #springblooms #nativeflora #flora #beautifulblooms #flowersofFrance #vibrantcolours #exploreonfoot #gardens #greenthumbs #gardeninspiration #mustsee
Life...one big adventure 
Gorgeous, to say the least!
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I love a bit of colour and these ones were brilliant!
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Wonderful photos. Springtime used to be my favourite in France, so much colour everywhere. Glad you found a postful of them.
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If I was a better gardener/botanist, I would know all their names. Instead I just appreciate their beauty.
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Mel, we’re nearly there, spring that is. Lovely images of French blooms and remembering those quiet moments.
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Yes! It’s a gorgeous day here today – going to 20C and the Manchurian Pears are blooming. An absolutely glorious day outside. I hope you have one of those too. x
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Wet and very cold at the basketball court, though plenty of smiles to keep us warm 😉 x
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Ah, that’s the nicest kind of warmth! Go you!
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Fabulous! Impossible to look at these and not smile. Favourites? Hmmm… In the UK I used to love Rhodies and clematis, but they’re not happy here so it’s hibiscus and bougainvillea (you’d recognise them if you saw them, Mel). Mam always loved roses so I have a soft spot for them too, and they can do quite well here, but I don’t have one on my patio xx
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Ah, but a vibrant bougainvillea is just the best when it climbs up a wall. I would love to try to grow one here, but I think our frosts and winds would make that an exercise in frustration! 🙂 Wishing you a flower filled day. Melx
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You can only dream of pushing a shovel into rich, loamy soil, eh? Good to know. When you come visit someday, I’ll let the weeds grow ahead of your arrival and then put you to work when you get here. 😉 These French flowers are a feast for the eyes, especially this mid-late August day. True, some things are still in bloom, but lots of things that were blooming in May/June have gone all brown and wilty. As for a favorite flower, gosh, that’s hard. It’s almost impossible, to commit to one, in fact, but I do love the tall pink phlox that are growing right now. They’re beautiful, fragrant, and last so long for a perennial.
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There is something wonderful about getting a head full of perfume when you are outside in nature. The honeysuckle we walked past in France was just so heady and triggered yet another of my senses as I strolled along. And Yes, happy to jump on the shovel when we eventually get to your place! 🙂 One day…
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Aww how lovely. As a very keen gardener I think I can name most of the flowers in your photos, but petunias always do it for me – it’s such a shame they don’t survive cold winters and I have to re-plant my pots every year!! I hope one day you have a garden with beautiful soil – but honestly they are very rare; I probably spend at least 10hrs a week in my garden and the soil is still awful despite annual fertilising, and monthly topsoiling 🙂
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WOW! How do you have time to garden on top of everything else you do? You mustn’t sleep?? 🙂 Or maybe it is a kind of therapy? It certainly is a good way to work out frustrations and excess energy! 🙂 Petunias are a wonderful pop of colour, but they wouldn’t survive in my garden! The wallabies even eat my gazanias! 😦
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Its definitely my outlet. In the summer I will do an hour or so every day after work, as its light until 10pm 😊 I love you have wallabies in your garden, the best I have is slugs 🤣
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Not enough moisture in the ground here for slugs! And wallabies would be cuter if they didn’t eat everything!! 🙂
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I didn’t see any weeds unless you mean the buttercups, but I did see lots to love. Especially the roses. I do like roses though I can’t really grow them here, Too wet and they get blackspot. But they do remain a favourite of mine. Thanks for the floral bouquet from France.
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That’s my pleasure, Jude, although you are spoilt for choice and colour in your own gorgeous garden. And roses grow beautifully at my house, except the wallabies eat them to a stick, thorns and all! I hope you’ve had a good growing season. Melx
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I live in a dry climate too where not much grows, and even less that can withstand winter. One of the things I love about travelling is seeing the wide array of plants. Not sure if I have a favourite but the second last pink/yellow rose (?) is a top pick. Maggie
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Ah, Maggie, it sounds like we have the same sort of gardens at opposite ends of weather extremes. Oh well, we’ll just have to keep travelling and enjoy all that grows overseas. 🙂 Mel
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Such lovely pics Mel 🌸. I love flowers – especially those that grow wild in the field. There are already many wild spring flowers here around me (I just need to have a little chat with them about all that pollen 🤧🤧). My favourite flower has to be the protea – our country’s national flower and one of the most unique flowers I have ever seen in nature.
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Yes, proteas are spectacular. Almost like mini sculptures – each and every one. And ah, ah, ah, bless you!! 🙂
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🤧😂🤧
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Colorful and Beautiful!! Loved it!!
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Yep to both! We were spoiled for choice of blooms
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