If you don't know what May flowers bring, ask any American. In spite of the gloomy weather this Spring, the flowers in Amboise have been spectacular. Plantings are done with different varieties so that there are always flowers in bloom.
The town works very hard at maintaining its reputation for flowers. In fact, France has a competition among the cities and towns (le concours des villes et villages fleuries) to be accorded a rating from one to four flowers (lowest to highest rating). The National Council gives the rating based on floral beauty of course, but there are also factors for sustainable development, respect for the environment, and for promoting tourism. Each city and village that is rated gets to post a sign along the roads entering to show that rating. Thus, Ta-Da, the sign on entering Amboise:
Ah,ah...Cherbourg gets 3 as well!
ReplyDeleteYour photo is gorgeous!
Le Petit-Pressigny where we have a house has 1 but for a small village the flowers are a great show.
ReplyDeleteI remember Amboise looking beautiful
It must be because of your garden, Anne !
ReplyDeleteI see that Petit-Pressigny is really close to Amboise. If the two towns got together we could have a four flower union !
Le Petit-Pressigny is tiny but does boast La Promenade, a very good Michelin star restaurant run by the Dallais family.
ReplyDeleteYou beat us on that count. There is not a Michelin star restaurant in Amboise, although there is one just 2km down the road (Château du Pray). I hope to make it La Promenade some time.
ReplyDeleteDo they smell as good as they look? What wonderful richness and colour, how wonderful too to be amongst them.
ReplyDeleteThe tulips don't have much of a smell but there are plenty of others that do. The wisteria smell is fabulous.
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