Wild flowers of the Mediterranean

I am trying to identify these wild flowers that I saw on the hillside the other day in the Var.  But without a proper book, I am at a loss.  Can anyone add any names....preferably common ones?  

The one in the upper right covered by a young oak sapling, may be the "broom" family

Broom with a opalescent bluebell? 

 I know the yellow "broom" is everywhere, large and small flowers.  One of these is what the french call "Genet d' Espagne.  My little book says that there are 20 species in the Mediterranean. 

I know that is wild "honey suckle" at the upper right.

This may be a young plant from rose family and I don't know the grasses either.

I think the white daisy-like shape is "Camomile" and the pink blossoms in the young oak leaves is wild pea.

Lots of little white flowers everywhere. This guy "blended" so nicely.

No idea.

I would say a "wild pea".  I don't know the tiny whitish ones.

Some kind of thistle called a "Chardon" in french

Again, no idea of the name of these pretty little blue flowers.

Don't know....

I know this is wild sage and I would say the roses at left are "cultivated".

I think this is " Queen Anne's Lace"

This may be some kind of dogwood or wild rose

There are three or four different flowers here but I have no ideas.  Do you?

So you want my picture.....

Honey is sleeping and I get closer...

Honey: "So is this a good pose?"

"How about this ?"

"Alright, alright.... I'll look at the camera, satisfied?

"Don't pose, act natural?   How about this? "

Rhone American Cemetery

For many of us born after, only film, photos and documents can give us an idea of the horrors and losses of the second "great" war.   The immensity of the sacrifice ( and I mean that in all its senses) is brought home when one sees some evidence left behind of WWII. 

Last week I was taken to see the Rhone American Cemetery at Draguignan where 861 white marble headstones sit in stark contrast to the serene surroundings.  It is a cemetery kept in immaculate order by the Americans.   The French government has granted free use of the land as a permanent burial ground without charge or taxation.   It is probably the smallest of all of the American cemeteries on French soil memorializing WWII and it is   beautifully designed and rendered.

The men laid here mostly represent the American death toll of Operation "Dragoon" whose objectives were capturing the ports of Toulon and Marseille, trapping the German Nineteenth Army, and joining the Allies in the north.  

 U.S. Twelfth and Fifteenth Air Forces,  plus British and French air units, rendered airlift and air support throughout these operations and in less than one month ( August 15-Sept 11, 1944) , Seventh Army had advanced 400 miles into France and then onwards to the end of fighting in Germany, May 1945.    

    

It may sound mawkish but if it weren't for the struggle and dedication of these men, it seems likely that non of us would be where we are now enjoying our lives as we do. 

 So visiting this stunning park is indeed sobering and even.... on such a day....ironically peaceful. 

Lily Rose

This is Lily Rose. 

 I met her first when she was a babe in arms .  

Now she is grown up and is a completely natural model. 

Lily has an English mother and a French father and a lovely French accent when she speaks English.  

She lives in the south of France and has her heart set on playing the cello.  She is waiting for an instrument to become available at her school so she can start.

 Lily Rose knows how to pose.  I didn't prompt her but just kept rolling..... one great shot after another. 

This photo reminds me of Renoir's faces...

It was fun to make photos of you Lily...we will do it again sometime.     Maybe modeling will let you save up for your own cello.

Back from Lorgues

Yesterday I took the train back from Les Arcs de Draguignan where I had spent four days with my friends, Victor and Svea.   These friends live in a secluded property in the Department of the Var, an area with wild forests and scrub and cultivated vineyards and fields.  

  It is my idea of an ideal retreat.   The closest village to the property is twenty minutes away, the town of Lorgues.  http://www.beyond.fr/villages/lorgues.html   They also have a wing of their house with a separate entrance, that they rent out for a "gite".   Some people stay for three months to see all the area.  With the pool and garden , it all makes an ideal setting.  Here is their site:  www.frenchholidaycottage.com   There were some Americans there when I arrived,  their second time around. 

Victor and Svea have four dogs and four cats which each have separate areas of the house (since they don't all get on).  All but one of them were strays found at the animal shelter. 

  Honey Puss dominates the kitchen and Effie , a Lhaso Apso  and Manon, a big white shaggy girl ( possibly a small "Griffon" of which there are many varieties) have the owner's bedroom at night.  The rest are scattered about the house.   One pusscat lives in the gardening room.   

  The dogs get walked everyday into the forest.  Alex, the long haired "dachshund" was attacked last week by a wild boar (sanglier in French) protecting her twelve baby piglets.  She gave him a nasty nip.  It was a friend who volunteered to walk the dogs at 5h30 in the morning.  Maybe not a good hour for a promenade.

Alex, Effie and Mau Mau dominate the couch

Friday a few of us ( there are always tons of people coming and going) got out of the busy house to do an excursion to The Gorge du Verdon http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verdon_Gorge and to have lunch at the small village of Rougon known for a little crepe restaurant.    

The Gorge du Verdon is France's compact, deep and beautiful "Grand Canyon" and is named for the turquoise color of the water that has cut through it century upon century. 

   It was a much appreciated drive through the countryside seeing the late blooming wild flowers along the roadsides.  I counted 20 different species when we pulled over to take a look at the wild roses and honeysuckle.   We have had a late spring and summer for flowers.

Two peaks which Victor and Svea have climbed many times and stayed the night at the observatory where there is a "refuge" and a great meal waiting for 12 plus guests for the night.

 This area is a favorite for climbers who rappel ( abseiling) off the Gorge or hike the surrounding hills.  There are "gites" ( rural accommodation) throughout the area to stay the night.   And the river attracts kayakers.   Small motor-less pedal boats and dinghies dot the man-made reservoir called Lac de Sainte Croix http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_of_Sainte-Croix  formed from the Verdon River leaving the Gorge.  Motor boats are not allowed on the lake as this reservoir is the drinking water for a large area of southern France including Nice.

Overlooking an old castle and the Lac de Sainte-Croix, the reservoir

Just one of 20 plus species in bloom now.

A friendly face in the white flowers.  Too bad I didn't have a carrot. 

Rougon , beside the village 

Under the parasol for lunch looking out to the River of Verdon ( Green River)

I had a chevre (cheese) , honey and pine nut crepe just to try their specialty.

The amazing thing is that this is just one of thousands of villages and beautiful corners of France.  They have a familiar similarity but it doesn't make one less curious and eager to visit each one.  Anyway, a get-away into the countryside is always a joyful thing.     Thanks, Victor and Svea.