All Hail to the Asphodel

When we first came to live in France, there was so much to learn. New birds to see; different flowers and shrubs to become acquainted with; new landscapes; and a completely different culture. Even now, it feels exciting. We were very busy turning a part of our property into gîtes , and one of the tasks that fell to me was decoration. I chose pictures for the walls: mainly posters from our local art exhibitions , and one or two French artists besides. One of the prints I chose was a painting by Matisse entitled 'Nature morte aux asphodèles( Still life with asphodels.) It now hangs in our guest bedroom , and I still love it.

Coming from more northern climes, I had never even seen an asphodel, as they belong to the Mediterranean. It was a number of years before I spotted one here, but now I see them everywhere .

Asphodels may seem delicate with their pinkish white flowers, but in fact they are very hardy. Here they are, growing in the rockiest, most stony part of our garden.

High above us stretches the Causse de Larzac , a wide , largely barren limestone plateau. At this time of year it is graced with a carpet of asphodels.