I will never forget driving from Nice to Toulon in January 2002 when Jim took up his first winter teaching gig in France. All the way down there were these amazing yellow trees in the forests. We had never been to France in the winter so didn't know about Mimosa. The markets sell bunches of them as well. We have Acacia trees in Palm Springs which bloom a little later than January. They aren't quite like the magnificent bushy blooms of the Mimosa in France but they do bring up a memory of the South of France.
I began blogging in April 2002 when we returned home and my early blogs are of that time in France Here's a bit of it when I write about Mimosas and I painted a Mimosa branch in a Pastis pitcher. It was during this trip that I first started painting.
I began blogging in April 2002 when we returned home and my early blogs are of that time in France Here's a bit of it when I write about Mimosas and I painted a Mimosa branch in a Pastis pitcher. It was during this trip that I first started painting.
SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2002
One of the really neat things when travelling out of the summer season is seeing things in nature that you hadn't seen before. When we arrived in January the Mimosa (or Acacia) trees were in full bloom and were just fabulous. The downside is that these trees are so prolific in the area they cause eye infections for a lot of people. And when you add all the burning of slash related to farming and the fact that the French are still smoking like fiends....it's a triple whammy. The Mimosa branch is in one of the many pastis water bottles we collected at flea markets when we were there. We had a lot of fun finding these and pastis is so typical of the area. It also never seems to taste any good outside of the south of France. The flea markets were also great for book browsing and people watching.
From The Good Life France magazine:
"Mimosa is a vibrant symbol of winter in the south of France and a sure sign that spring is on its way.
The bright yellow flower of this scented plant grows prolifically in southern France in the Var region where the Cote d’Azur and Provence meet. The route du Mimosa is 130km long and runs from Bormes les mimosa to the perfume capital Grasse and you’ll see it at its best from January to March.
British visitors introduced Mimosa to the French Riviera in the late 19th century. The area was popular with those craving the sunshine of the Med and Victorians flocked to this area including Queen Victoria who spent several months at a time here. The plant loved the climate and the soil and mimosa growers proliferated. Used in the perfume industry (Givenchy, Yves Saint Laurent and Guerlain are all fans) for its scent and in bouquets for its exquisite beauty and gorgeous colour.
Its other main use is in the fabulous Mimosa festivals that take place in the Riviera, heralding the arrival of spring. And, you’ll also find it in syrups and some locally produced specialities."
