I love the French tradition of the potager, or the kitchen garden. With the weather warming & spring in the air, I am thinking of these vegetable gardens so prevalent in the French countryside.
This is the time of year when the soil is tilled, seeds planted & watered & gardens awaken.
I love the smell of the earth & the neat new rows of tiny lettuces, carrots, beans & tomatoes.
I worry sometimes though because the tradition of the potager is for the most part kept alive by the older generation. Not many of the younger generation, with their busy lives & many conveniences, are interested in doing the work that a garden requires.
But for now, I am enjoying daydreaming of their beauty, of springtime & new beginnings. I look forward to the time when I will be back in France to see them dotting the landscape, as I know just what treasures they are.
It won't be long now either. I have made my flight reservations & will be traveling to France at the end of May.
With these thoughts of France, the countryside & the potager, I am linking up with Paulita at An Accidental Blog & her Dreaming of France meme.
I think things are changing. There are more and more young people who make small vegetable gardens. But it's typical of cities and suburbs...maybe it's different in the countryside.
ReplyDeleteSally, Terrific photos. They do seem quintessentially French these little potagers. Although, they look pretty big if you are actually taking care of them. I'm sure that the young people in some families continue the gardens. There's always a segment of the population who wants to continue the traditions.
ReplyDeleteThanks for playing along today. The link you left takes us back to an older post about Najac rather than this one, but I still found it.
So happy you are off to France in another month or so and hoping you have good internet this year so we can see your photos.
Here’s my Dreaming of France meme
It's always wonderful to have the next trip to France to look forward to, to keep us going. I think you're right about older folks and potagers. Young people, in the English speaking world at least, can't be bothered cooking, so I can't see that they'd be bothered with gardening so much.
ReplyDeleteAh yes the kitchen garden :) I've just tilled mine here- believe it or not the snow is really gone!
ReplyDeleteYour photos of France are so lovely Sally! and May is so close :)
I loved the potagers in France, too, and have been influenced by them for my garden. This year, it will have herbs and zinnias as well as vegetables.
ReplyDeleteThey are beautiful kitchen gardens. The same thing is happening in Japan too. But people are changing as they get older. Living in the nature is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteRick has a small potager -- the peas and spinach are in; the rest of the seeds started in pots in the kitchen. Soon, lovely tomatoes, basil, radishes and more! My garden is mostly herbs, mostly in pots due to bad soil. But I still love it!
ReplyDeleteWonderful views. A love that rustic designed gardening!
ReplyDeleteHooorah! It is so wounderful to hear that you are going to France. I looove to see the pictures from your place there and the art that you make when you are there.
ReplyDeleteSo wonderful you get to go to France. For how long will you stay? I love those kitchen gardens, too, and I'm very lucky that my landlords have one and I get to enjoy all the wonderful things they grow. I hope that I can learn how to grow all the vegetables and fruits as soon as I'm done with school.
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