Vines Against and Ocher Cliff

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Two symbols of Provence are vineyards and ocher.  This pic combines them both.  A vineyard in the foreground is profiled against an ocher cliff in the background.

Vines And Forsythia Through The Window

Yesterday, I showed forsythia blossoms in detail close up.  When you are in the farm building looking out of a rustic window, you will see the thick grape vines and the forsythia bush growing near the rock wall.  A beautiful view through the window.

The Essence of Provence

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The essence of Provence is orchards, vines, wines and a beautiful countryside with historic architecture.  This picture says it all.

Incredibly Old Grape Vine

The older that a grape vine is, the thicker it is. This old specimen has been pruned many many seasons and still is producing in a Provencale vineyard.

Vine on a Rock Wall

A wild grape vine grows against an old rock wall.

Large Vineyard

A large vineyard spreads out in the sun beside neatly manicured topiary trees, while the majestic mas (manor house) reposes in the trees behind the fields of vines.

The Banana Leaf

I was on the balcony of a cafe in a hilltop village, overlooking this lordly mas (Provence manor house) framed by greenery and a vineyard in its back yard. Then it struck me how far south we were. The big green leaf showing in the right of the picture, is the leaf from a huge banana plant.

Living in the tropics as I do, I see banana plants all over. They are planted as huge ornamentals. However, it was startling to see it overlooking the vines in Provence.

A mas (or Provence farm manor) stands majestically amid vines and orchards in the Luberon valley.

Rows and Rows of Vines

Rows and rows of vines stretch across the valley, framed by cherry trees.

The Mas

The large building is a mas, or a farm manor house in Provence. It is surrounded by vineyards.

Loft Window

A little window on the corner of the building is a loft window that will be surrounded by grape vines growing up the building. It is the attic portion of the building that has been converted to a little sleeping loft overlooking the room below.

Peugeot and Backyard Vineyard

I took this shot of the Peugeot. The Lovely One dislikes the size of this car because it is difficult to maneuver in the narrow streets. The passenger door is open, because I spilled a liter and a half of water all over my diary and notebook that organises my life, and the carpet had to dry out.

As I looked at the pic, I was tickled to see that the vineyard in the backyard was in the picture (highlighted area).

Poppies and Old Vines

Poppies grow wild in the margins of an old vine vineyard. The grape branches are cut back every year since grapes only grow on new wood. So the bottoms of the vines grow thicker and thicker with age.

Vineyards and Orchards

Vineyards and orchards line the Provencal hills in neat rows, tracing the contours of the land as far as the eye can see.

Grape Buds

Bunches of grapes are starting to form that will end up being this year's vintage of Provencal wines. This is the promise spring in Provence.