Saturday 16 April 2011

Wisteria and shutters


            The house slumbered behind mauve shutters…

Although I’ve always thought the colour of the shutters on our property was grey-lavender, one of the traditional Provençal shades, it’s only now in heady springtime that I see it’s also a match for the rampant wisteria. The delicate mauve makes such a pretty counterpoint to the faded grey stones of the house and surrounding walls it seems as though it’s all part of the natural landscape.

When all the building work is finished, we’ll have to repaint the shutters and the campaign has already started to find the paint to recreate the exact hue. Our first experiments have been in “Figue Matte” (Matt Fig), which is yet another variation on a theme, and although it looks a little dark now, we're sure it will weather to the original.


There comes a moment in spring when plants and trees surge and become blowsy in the renewed heat and light, and so it is here. In our courtyard, the wisteria tangles with the branches of the olive tree and the two dance together against welcome blue skies. There’s a persistent hum as bees busy themselves in the blossoms. It isn’t always like this:
       
               This part of Provence is a country of contrasts: the bone-biting cold; the golden days of heat and the violent storms; sweetness of the soft perfumes that pulse in the sun and the treacherous changes of mood. The wind is the pacemaker of the day’s rhythms, from the summer zephyrs that sustain the spirit to the savage howling of the mistral.
                                                          From The Lantern


But spring is here now, and with it the sudden bursts of heat that presage summer. Wild flowers are jumping up from the grass, and we might even find marsh orchids again, alongside the columbine and Jacob’s ladder.
Time to put a table outside and have a lovely lunch of white asparagus and vinaigrette, and the freshest goat's cheese.

28 comments:

Airelle said...

lovely shutters! they look lavender to me allright, but the there are a lot of varieties of lavender...

K said...

I love the colour of your shutters. They're a cheerful colour without being too over bearing. This is a wonderfully summery post.

Anonymous said...

Tu nous fais rêver Deborah!... Ces couleurs, cette maison rustique, la glycine, le fromage de chèvre...
J'arrive avec une bouteille de Vacqueyras!

sharon santoni at my french country home said...

I see we picked the same post today !! How I love this "rampant" wisteria season
Sharon

Maureen said...

Lovely post. What a great choice of color for the shutters.

Dafeenah said...

How I miss that!! I grew up in the country side and now living in the "city" where there is no grass or any "green" of any kind it is extremely difficult. Whenever I see pics like yours I start having withdrawals and want to just run off to the "hills" somewhere. Your place is beautiful!! I am so gonna live vicariously through your place.

Dafeenah

Melissa said...

I can tell already that I will be visiting here often! The pictures are oozey a certain je ne sais quois that captures my heart!

Forest Dream Weaver said...

Beautiful writing,lovely images........can't wait to read The Lantern!!!

Happy weekend!

Muriel said...

So Deborah, do you consider yourself French or British now? It certainly feels like you have embraced the "sensibilite provencale!". You might be more French than you realise...

Chippy said...

Your shutters are a lovely colour. I love the colour purple in all it's variations - whether it be lavender or violet.

Just stopped by from the Lady Bloggers Society Tea Party :-)

Isabelle Gregson said...

Expect a mass migration coming your way over Easter! Figue matte sounds delish... Even though I have family down that way I'll stop by yours first and have some pissaladiere and then profiterolles for pudding. You won't even notice I'm there. Honest!

dawn said...

Via Lady Blogger via comment on my site..
THIS is a blog-home I can get lost in!! Your writing style is so admirable - I struggle with portraying images w/my words. All in style I am sure,, LOVE the cottage photos on this page
mutual follower! looking forward to another visit
`d

Danièle said...

Nature's pregnant time is always such a visual treat.

Crazy Life of a Writing Mom said...

What a beautiful color! I love that paired with minty green. Aren't flowers just amazing--I wish I was more of a gardener ;)

Carrie-Anne said...

Stopping in from LBS and what a beautiful site you have. I'm also looking forward to your US release of The Lantern. How exciting! Will definitely be checking in with the progress on your home too. ~Carrie-Anne
http://twoweekworship.org/

✿France✿ said...

COUCOU
J'adore les maisons de pierre et je travaille les pierres aussi chez moi.
Elle est géniale ta photo je ne connais pas cette fleur mais je la trouve très belle tu sais
Je t'embrasse

James Kiester said...

You have an absolutely beautiful property to enjoy. :-]

Unknown said...

It is cold and rainy here today. Your lovely post has made me smile. :)

joanna said...

Between the visual loveliness of your house, shutters and wisteria, you words are so vivid and enticing spring fever starts here. The quality of your writing will cause a stampede to your house and France, everyone will want to be there basking in the richness of life.
joanny

Omoy said...

That house could have been gold or an algae green it still would be wonderful love. Please send more pics, I can see the house whispering beautiful stories in your ear.

la fourchette said...

oh yes! This is all very welcome in these parts. The 'wisteria season' is so short and so very lovely. I'm like a little kid each and every year when those clusters of blossoms unfurl.

Debra Gray-Elliott said...

Lovely post. I love wisteria. We have it all over the place in the South. Thanks for stopping by.

Shane Pollard said...

Ooh Deborah,
I eagerly await the release in NZ and holding "The Lantern" in my hands! I'll spread the word among my franco friends here.
The shutters are a magical lavender colour which I've not seen before in Provence.
My French family have returned home, we had such a very special time together!
Thank you for joining my blog - I've just done my first post in 2 months - do pop in and say hello!
Shane

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful house to live in - I adore wisteria. The colleges are festooned with it at the moment and it is such a harbinger of summer.

Leovi said...

Marvels, I love those photos with flowering trees and that house with a beautiful wall and window that occurs mauve a nice contrast as well describe us.

Anonymous said...

Your shutters are a perfect match for the wisteria. This year, the wisteria is wonderful over here. We don't have any, not having space for it, but have remarked on so many occasions how extraordinary it is.

Jennifer said...

I love Wisteria. We have a beautiful Wisteria in our yard that the previous owner claimed to be 100 years old. Its so beautiful and unruly in its growth, stretching across the arbor and onto the surrounding fence

Denise said...

I found you through She Writes, but plan on staying because this is fabulous, and I'm hoping to see many more of these beautiful pictures along with the wonderful writing.

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