Friday, July 17, 2009

The flowers of France

'Tis my faith that every flower
Enjoys the air it breathes!

~William Wordsworth, "Lines Written in Early Spring," Lyrical Ballads, 1798

In the summer France really comes alive with the dazzling colours of flowers. I have recently been learning French and Latin names for wild flowers, and now other flowers too.

Which brings me on to a French man called Charles Plumier. Charles was born in Marseille in 1646 and aged sixteen he entered the religious order of the Minims. Although he studied mathematics and physics he later became a botanist. He was very sucessful and became the Royal Botanist in 1693. In 1696 he discovered the fuchsia on the island of Hispaniola the second largest island in the Caribean. He named the flower after Leonard Fuchs, who was a respected name in botany.

Fuchsia were first imported into Britain around 1789.

Fuchsia Buds frame the castle.



Fuchsia Tower

Fuchsia colour at the Lavoirs


The French word for breathe is respirer.

A French word to gain some knowledge is connaissance.

PS. I am very flattered that Carol (NotonlyinThailand) has interpreted one of my photographs on her blog here

PPS. I have also been posting pictures on a new French site here.

9 comments:

bindu said...

The combination of bright flowers and old architecture is so beautiful!

Jude said...

Beautiful photos, love the buildings

DAB said...

Love the pictures. Can't wait to my feet hit French soil in August :) TFx

LadyFi said...

Wow - those fuschia shots are just stunning!

French Fancy... said...

I love fuschias and luckily inherited a big one in the front garden that thrives on neglect - it comes up without fail, doesn't need feeding or any fancy things

claire p said...

I love Fuchsia's. We have one outside our window that is in our neighbours garden. You do live in a very lovely place.
BTW did your word challenge on FB, really pathetic score!!! Must try harder.

♥ Braja said...

Always informative and always lovely shots...thank you Blu.... :)

Carol said...

That was really interesting Blu!! I love coming to visit you...I always learn something new :-)

I am so relieved you liked the painting...I was ridiculously nervous about what you would think!!

I shall be back to peruse your new pictures once I have caught up on everyone's blog.

C x

John said...

Great photos - again!!