While Dutch by birth , Vincent Van Gogh spent his most productive years in the South of France . escape the cold climate of Paris where he lived for several geezerhood , Van Gogh fled to Provence in 1888 , where the sun offer a extra quality that sort out his canvas and lead to the production of over 200 pieces of fine art . His paintingIrisesso connive the French population that the flower became the national flower of France and perhaps the country ’s most famous one .
But it was n’t just Van Gogh who take celebrity to the flowers of France . The poppy fields of Normandy , rows of fragrant lavender in Provence and the poppy ’s symbolization of the going of biography in World War I all lend a significance to theuse of flowersand how they are read by the French people .
sovereign of the VictorianThe Complete Language of Flowers , the French have their own definitions of which flowers are appropriate for which occasion , evidenced by street vender sell undivided stems or bouquets of arange of democratic bloom .
Iris, a Short Life but Long History
Spring is the season for the wide variety of iris diaphragm ( Iris germanica ) develop in Gallic garden . While not long - populate , their beauty lives on in the French internal insignia and as the national allegory of France .
You ’ll see them in the fleur - de - lithium representing Gallic royalty since the thirteenth century , depicted with three petals representing religious belief , Wisdom of Solomon and chivalry .
Lily of the Valley, a Contender
Another contender for the home blossom of France is the Lily of the Valley ( Convallaria majalis ) . Given the study of floral symbolization , this member of the Liliaceae family has long mean substance in France , back to the Celts and ancient regimes that ruled until the French Revolution .
Large , with a long stem pinch by a heyday of capture fragrance , the Lily of the Valley is often used in the manufacture of Gallic scent .
Rosemary, a Natural Pharmacy
Rosemary ( Salvia rosmarinus ) is a plant and flower that ascertain its use not only in the garden , but in the kitchen as well . Its bright blue , pallid pinkish or snowy flowers fade , leaving odoriferous spears of green behind that emit a strong redolence when scratch between fingers .
Steam distillation reveals medicinally worthful crucial oils .
French Poppy, in Remembrance
forsake fields , edges of roads and debris are often the home of the French wild flower known as the red poppy ( Papaver rhoeas ) . drive the roads of Normandy and more northern department of France , you ’ll often see field of poppies with their bobbing heads .
The symbolization of memorial and sacrifice is n’t lost on the French , as it is the poppy that sprouted in the state of war - torn fields of World War I and today symbolizes the struggle and result life of Gallic paladin .
Lavender Fields Stretching Forever
Southeastern France and Provence are known for their world - renowned lavender ( Lavandula angustifolia ) field of force . Many Gallic towns such as Lyon , Toulouse and Nice claim the lavender as their symbolization , and its various use twosome from perfumeries to the eradication of scorpions .
Chefs utilize its essence when prepare okay dishes , and the famous herbs de Provence , boast lavender , tarragon and dry rosemary among other herb , is a staple in most French pantries .
The Elegant French Tulip
If you ’ve ever received a gift of French tulips ( Tulipa spp . ) , you ’ll marvel at the distance of their 22 - column inch stems . Larger , longer and more marked than the Dutch tulip , the Gallic tulip , with its bob head , has a foresighted vase life story .
The tulip grows very lento in lifelike conditions and is harvest ahead of time in the year . The Gallic tulip is often just one part of a flowered arrangement because of its high cost .
