These are the final six images in the series of Winter in Provence -- the big snow storms of early 2012.
Some more pictures of Provence during the devastating winter storms of 2012. Provence hasn't had it this bad since 1956.
Rosemary is a spice and herb grown in Provence. It is a member of the mint family and is a woody perennial often grown as a hedge. Here a bee pollinates the rosemary flower.
The cherry trees blossom in the spring announcing the arrival of the vernal climes and the coming season of delicious fruit from the trees of Provence.
In the background you will see a quaint stone structure. It is called a borie. They were built to house both the sheep and the shepherd in inclement weather. In the tight quarters, there is usually a very small loft where the shepherd sleeps and the animals congregate in the shelter below.
These topiaries are along the roadside near the mountain-top village of Gordes in Provence. Further along the way, there are conical evergreen topiaries. The countryside around Gordes is perhaps the most beautiful in Provence.
A hameau is French for hamlet. The way that many hameaus came into existence, is that a wealthy farmer would build a dwelling for his grown son and his wife. Also there would be a dwelling for the hired help. Over the generations, a mini village would arise with many dwellings. Hameaus are sought after dwellings these days, because they are usually surrounded by pastoral farm land and vines, even though the houses are close together.
This turret wall is on the castle in the village of Gordes. What caught my eye, was the shooting port in the castle wall, where a defender could fire from.
I was in the country taking a late afternoon walk among the vineyards along a quiet road. I came upon these bushes growing wild, just ablaze with yellow flowers.
Almonds ripen in the Provencale sun while irises grow along the line of almond trees.
This is a borie. They are storm shelters for shepherds and their animals that are ancient. The borie is built such that the animals enter the borie, and the shepherd has a small loft up top where he sleeps.
Flowers, flowers everywhere in Provence. There are wild flowers, cultivated flowers, exotic flowers, and flowers of every description. Here a bee busily gathers nectar for honey.
