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Golden snowflakes and sweet perfumes: the radiant mimosa of Provence

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  5. Golden snowflakes and sweet perfumes: the radiant mimosa of Provence

Blooming into a thousand little winter suns, mimosa exhales a delicate, heady and powdery perfume. This emblematic tree flourishes in the expert hands of our passionate growers. You can also admire it along the alleys of the Var’s finest parks and gardens. Open your eyes wide and breathe in deeply to honour this pure floral treasure.

Mimosa maestros!

General rehearsal before the show

To kick off our stay in deepest mimosa country, in the beautiful Var area, let’s say hello to the local growers! A national gold standard, Julien Cavatore runs a family firm, where an impressive 7,000 mimosa trees and 200 varieties wait impatiently to light up their new homes. In addition to producing and selling, Julien offers valuable advice and, naturally, invites visitors to explore the Mimosa Route : 130 breathtaking kilometres between Grasse and the medieval (and aptly-named) town of Bormes-les-Mimosas! The route crosses Tanneron and its « forceries », where mimosa is encouraged to bloom in heated greenhouses. Augier, Bosi, Leze… the area is home to a plethora of reputed mimosa specialists. Last on the list but definitely not least: stop off at La Muscadine in Saint-Maxime to savour some delicious mimosa-flavour chocolate delicacies.

Flower fest

Sunshine-yellow mimosa

Begin your golden voyage in Le Rayol-Canadel-sur-Mer at Domaine du Rayol – Le Jardin des Méditerranées. Set at the foot of the Maures hills, mimosa reigns over this gorgeous, 49-acre park, offering visitors a fascinating foray into the many mimosa varieties spread across the globe. Make the most of the guided tours on offer to learn all about mimosa and how to obtain the best blooms. A breathtaking show awaits you in Bormes-les-Mimosas, at Parc Gonzalez, an official « Remarkable Garden », where mimosa trees roll out their luscious golden branches along stone terraces, offering a beautiful backdrop to the 3,000 m2 show of plants from the southern hemisphere. You can enjoy a guided tour from January 7th to March 31st, 2020. Finally, head to the Tanneron hills, home to Europe’s largest mimosa forest, for a show to remember. Accessible all year round, the forest literally lights up from January to February when the trees are in bloom. Tanneron is also where the last four seasons mimosa variety, particularly resistant to cold weather, is grown courtesy of Monsieur Blanc…

A fine bunch! 

Bedecked with sparkling yellow pompons

A legendary ritual in Ancient Greece and a showcase for political satires in Italy, flower parades first appeared in France in the early 20th century. Be sure to jot the Mimosalia fair in Bormes-les-Mimosa down in your 100% mimosa diary. Scheduled on January 25th and 26th, 2020, this event brings together around 70 exhibitors. On February 1st and 2nd, you can choose between the Corso de Sainte-Maxime parade and the Fête du Mimosa fair in the hilltop village of Tanneron. On the following weekend, Cavalaire-sur-Mer takes over with a nocturnal parade on the Saturday evening. And pride of place goes to the magnificent Corso Fleuri in Bormes-les-Mimosas: celebrating its centenary in 2020, this is one of Provence’s largest and most famous flower parades, where families proudly unveil their floats bedecked with flowers, prepared in the greatest secret. Twelve tons of mimosa branches and 80,000 flowers adorn the fifteen or so floats… Get ready for a colourful and fabulously fragrant show on February 23rd, 2020!

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