Us Seniors: FLOWERS

France and Belgium have the most beautiful flowers we have ever seen. There seems to be something here that brings out the vibrant colors of all kinds of vegetation. We joke that it is because they have so many nuclear power plants here that the flowers have a glow from the radiation. Whatever it is, here are some of the pictures we took that show off this glorious part of our mission.

FLOWERS AS CROPS

Hill of sunflowers

Beautiful and the seeds are so tasty.

Lavender Fields Forever - they use them for fragrance and seasonings.

Not sure what the red is, maybe poppies grown for poppy seeds to go on bagels, etc.

These yellow flowers are grown as feed for cattle.

They often plant grape vines as decoration in the city, here they are in autumn red,

but we were so startled to see

this stalk of corn growing along the sidewalk not too far from our apartment in Bordeaux.

DECORATION ON OUTSIDE OF BUILDINGS (WINDOW BOXES, ETC.)

Arnold with Mon's monkey outside of City Hall with window boxes.

FLOWERS PLANTED ALONG THE WATER

FLOWERS IN YARDS

The brilliant blue of these Iris' must have inspired Van Gogh.

In front of our apartment in Cauderan (Bordeaux)

In front of the archive building in Bordeaux.

FLOWERS PLANTED ON GRAVES

FLOWERS IN CENTER MEDIAN ON STREETS

Hydrangeas in Bordeaux

FLOWERS IN ROUNDABOUTS
The roundabouts are each unique and some areas seem to try to outdo their neighbors.

WILDFLOWERS

Along the road ouside of Bordeaux.

Poppies will grow anywhere

Small red specks are poppies growing on wall.

A PLETHORA OF PARK POSIES

The following were taken in the park about 3 blocks from our apartment in Bordeaux.

PLANTS IN THE MALL

Orchids are very plentiful here. They seem to be easy to grow.

The following were found in the middle aisle of the mall in Mons.

SPRING BLOSSOMS

In the spring these yellow blossoms cover huge trees. One Sunday someone brought a large container full to decorate the chapel in Bordeaux. The whole building smelled wonderful. (Note the woman is typical of how women here dress up to go shopping, to the grocery store, anywhere outside of their apartments. You very seldom see a woman out wearing pants rather than a dress.)