For 23 days each July, I become captivated in front of the television by the Tour de France.  While the competition between the athletes is engaging, the 21 stages set in the French landscape are mesmerizing.  The cobblestones, the little towns, the countryside, the historic castles, the sunflower fields, and the Avenue des Champs-Élysées all hold a special place in my heart.  My absolute favourite images captured are when the riders cycle past the bold purple, blue and mauve lavender fields in the Luberon.  I look forward to the day that I can visit Provence during the summer months to experience the amazing colour and scent.

Ontario is home to a number of lavender farms, which are closer than an ocean away.  A visit mid-month in the afternoon after watching the Grand Tour was exactly what I was craving.  I was feeling a bit of a headache on the drive to the farm.  However, I thought heading to fields of lavender was probably the best place to be going in this condition as the scent of lavender is soothing and lavender is said to have healing properties.  The pooch tagged along for the adventure too.   Spending time with my dog is always good for the soul.

There were rows of both English lavendar (Lavandula Angustifolia) and French lavender (Lavandula Intermedia).  The English lavender pictured has both the light and darker coloured flowers and was shorter in height and width compared to the French lavender.  The French lavender measures about a foot taller in height and wider in width and tends to bloom a few days later, so these are the plants with fewer blooms at the time of my visit.  Along with the beautiful sights, in the quiet moments you could hear the bees buzzing about the fields.  I could almost imagine the whispers of the passing peloton.

I picked up some lavender goodies at the farm store.  A pretty fabric lavender eye pillow and some lavender dog spray were too hard to resist.  I also chose some culinary lavender to experiment with in the kitchen as well as a loose leaf lavender tea with lemongrass and ginger to savour in front of the rest of the Tour.

I always wonder what my life would be like in French.

Dabbling in living with a little translation :: TRADUIRE LA VIE