when is the best time see lavender in full bloom in provence?

July

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Simone, if this is true, can you tell us a bit about the weather at that time? My friends talk about getting together to rent a gite in Provence some summer, but I'm wondering if the heat is unbearable in July? Can you be specific re the temperature highs and lows in July? what about the humidity? Or perhaps it depends on the elevation of the locale? Thanks.

Yeah, I think it can start blooming end of June, depending on that year's weather, and continue to mid-August but many fields are harvested by 3rd-4th week in July. July is your best bet. It really depends where you will be in Provence as to temps. The heat is not unbearable but it can get very hot during the day time (temps in 90s), night not so bad. If you are in the flatter parts it will be worse. I was there last July around Carpentras, the Vaucluse in general, down to Aix and the Luberon -- and it was 90s in day time, very hot, and I would not have liked it except I had AC in my car and I was having a nice time driving around viewing the countryside. Night wasn't too bad (I did not have AC where I stayed) except 1-2 nights when it was warmer than I would have liked to sleep. ANyway, in F, I would say the daytime highs were about 90-95 and the night time lows were maybe 75-85. Down in Aix, it was quite nice and even a little cool at night, though, with a breeze. I used a light blanket down there. The humidity wasn't too bad at all compared to where I'm from (mid-Atlantic US). I wouldn't want to rent a gite in the flatter areas, probably, like just to east of Avignon.

That's just what I need to know, thanks. Hope you can use this info, herb, since I've interrupted your thread. Christine, what else can you remember about Aix and vicinity that accounts for the cooler temps? Anyone else know something about cooler possibilities in July? 90 - 95 is too much like home, and I'm sure gites do not have ac. Thank you all.