judyjayp

Hi,

I'd like to visit the south of France when the poppies are in bloom. Can someone tell me the best time to go and the best area to stay to see the most poppy fields?

amer_can

Saw an awesome area near Lambesc..2 huge fields ablaze!! Was told by the farmer who was mowing grass nearby that poppies are a plague. "Like what you have ,the yellow things". But they are beautiful!! You will find them anywhere. Saw them in Spring/early May ( just like "the yellow things"..)

judyjayp

LOL--the "yellow things".

Thank you amer-can

Carlux

Depends on the weather. Normally May in the Dordogne. Last year it was cooler in the spring, and from what I remember, they were later. However, it's not always easy to track down 'the poppy fields' Many farmers dig them up they are in fact weeds. We get hundreds in our garden every year, and it's my job to dig them up - they sprawl all over. But they always come back.

In fact I see they were blooming happily on 15 May last year.
http://cettesemaineacarlux.blogspot....ncore-des.html

Michael

These were taken in June in Normandy. http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...57624436592493

One does not generally see fields of it. The last field that I saw is the recreated field in Giverny to imitate the painting of Monet and Renoir; it is not part of the Monet garden.

From what I have heard, farmers use herbicides in the field to get rid of weeds, including poppies. But they are not allowed to spray within a certain distance of roadways, which is why one still sees banks of poppies along French roads.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...57622755059630

judyjayp

Ooooh, so the poppies aren't the big draw like the lavander? I went to see the lavander last summer and it was like heaven on earth. I was hoping the poppies would be like that. The pictures I have seen on line, although very few, are really pretty. Do you think it's worth the trip to see them? I know Provence is always worth a trip--but what I mean is it worth hunting down the flowers at that specific time?

StCirq

I can think of only one time - somewhere in the Loire Valley - years ago that I actually saw a "field" of poppies. They're just weeds. Occasionally the fields on the plateau above my house in St-Cirq have quite a few of them, usually in May, but that's just because the farmers haven't sprayed yet

No, I wouldn't make a special trip to see poppies. You can grow them from seed at home if you like. And depending on the weather, you might not see any at all. And you'd probably have to wander all over the entire country to actually find a "field" of them...if you even could.

hetismij2

We saw fields of poppies in Lot in late May a couple of years ago. But they are, as others have said, just weeds, and it is just luck whether or not you will find a field of them anywhere. There is no reason to cultivate them so it is pot luck whether you will find any.

kerouac

Poppies start blooming in April in the south of France and work their way north, so depending on where you are, poppy season runs from April to June. Frankly, I have often seen more impressive fields of poppies in northern France in late May.

Underhill

We saw marvelous fields of poppies while driving down the D13 from Cotignac to Le Thoronet, in Provence.

Langcraft

I recall driving along the N21 between Auch and Agen in mid May; between Gers and Lot et Garonne and saw poppies alongside the road; bright red flowers which was an interesting contrast to sunflowers which were also growing..

Nikki

Where some people see weeds, other people see wildflowers.

A guy taught me this in a backyard on the south side of Chicago many years ago, and I owe him a debt of gratitude.

mamcalice

We saw poppies in late May in the Loire Valley a few years ago - there were fields of them. We saw them in early June in Normandy a couple of years later but just on the roadside, growing like wild flowers.

Not nearly as impressive as the lavender.

FabulousFrance

We saw fields of Poppies near Isle sur La Sorgue/Avignon in early May 2006. Beautiful.

KathyWood

We are in the Luberon every May and always see fields of poppies, though the timing varies as well as which fields are planted with poppies. I absolutely love them.

There are usually a few fields in the plain between Bonnieux and Lacoste and also around Roussillon.

You might enjoy my blog post about the poppies:

http://slowtraveltours.com/blog/poppies-in-provence/

Kathy

PhilippeProvence

In Provence April.... And you'll get to see many many many

judyjayp

Thank you everyone! Kathy, those pictures are so beautiful. They truly make me want to take a trip like this. I'm glad to see you have seen many of them near Bonnieux. Bonnieux is my favorite village in that area and if I go back (I went for the lavander last summer) I'd love to stay at LaBastide de Marie in Menerbes.

It seems like late May is the sweet spot.